From ralphw@thebox.rain.com Sun Jun 16 02:16:43 1991 From: ralphw@thebox.rain.com (Ralph Winston) Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,talk.politics.mideast,alt.activism,soc.history,soc.misc Subject: Whatever Happened to the Dead Sea Scrolls? [part 2] Date: 12 Jun 91 08:59:59 GMT Organization: TheBox - Public Access Xenix One question continued to occupy my interest; what had become of the Scrolls? Why were none of them published for so many years? Sometimes I wondered whether they would survive or ever be made available to the public. However, we should note that even in the custody of the Jordanians, they were held in the strictest secrecy - and why? I could only surmise that extreme pressure has been exerted by both Christian and Jewish sources: from the former, because it would not be beneficial to them should it be established that this faith grew out of a Jewish cult and was, therefore, not an original revelation; nor would the Israelis wish the Scrolls released, since they were filled with fierce denunciation of Jewish religious leaders and civil authorities. It is my considered opinion and my sad conclusion that the Dead Sea Scrolls will never be given to the world unless basic changes occur: first, they must be removed from the custody of the Israeli government and, second, we must establish an intellectual climate in the western world in which scholars and ministers can discuss religious subjects without fear or reprisals, in the form of lost prestige, removal from lucrative positions, loss of salaries or other sanctions which can be enforced against anyone who dares interfere with the emoluments or the powers of those who are most powerful and influential in society. I think it is as simple as that. And at the back of my mind lingers a gnawing fear that instead of being translated and published, the leather or parchment on which the Scrolls are inscribed may be physically destroyed or become undecipherable before anything is done to release them. And it is highly significant that for several years there has been little or no discussion anywhere concerning the Scrolls. It seems that by ignoring the whole subject, its significance will die in the public consciousness. The Future of the Scrolls I can think of no possible valid reason why the Scrolls have been withheld now for nearly thirty years. If they could not be prepared for publication in that length of time, would a century or two centuries be enough? It seems to me that unless we can rescue them from their present custody and also achieve a new and different intellectual world climate, there is little hope that anyone now living will ever see any translation of these Scrolls. I consider what has happened and is continuing to occur in the matter of the Scrolls the greatest cover-up of important historical material that has occurred in modern history. _____________________________________________________________________ Conclusion 1. We know from the Scrolls, as well as from many passages in the New Testament, that both the Essenes and Jesus were bitterly opposed to the Jewish authorities, especially the religious. There can be little doubt that the Scrolls now crumbling into dust include many passages in which the Pharisees, Sadducees and the Scribes are excoriated in the most bitter terms and that the tyranny exercised by them over the dissident Essenes is described in full detail. 2. John Allegro, mentioned earlier, states that the Scrolls: "pose questions too hot for the scholars' liking - that has been the trouble with the Scrolls; they impinge so much on Judaism and on Christianity... they became a political football when the Israelis marched in and seized Jerusalem from the Jordanians in the war of 1967. They are now in Israeli custody and are still, so far as I am aware, locked up in cabinets in the basements of the museum in Jerusalem, where one bomb could destroy them anytime." 3. There is a general conspiracy to conceal the contents of the remaining Scrolls, and, if possible, to hasten their destruction. _____________________________________________________________________ The IHR has people available for lectures, debates, and radio and TV interviews who can come to your area. Write to the director at the address below for more information. 10 copies: $2.00 50 copies: $5.00 100 copies or more: 8 cents each THE INSTITUTE FOR HISTORICAL REVIEW 1822 1/2 Newport Blvd., Suite 191 Costa Mesa, California 92627 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you found this interesting, read the Dead Sea Scrolls update, next message. Ralph Winston -- TheBox Public Access Xenix - Gresham OR +1 503-669-7291 +1 503-669-7395