The Hidden Scrolls: Christianity, Judaism, & the War for the Dead Sea Scrolls

Rating:
Summary: Men of Lies
Review: "The Hidden Scrolls" is a lucid outsider's look into the chaos that is Dead Sea Scrolls scholarship. Silberman's writing is constructed well with a flowing story of rich style. He shows us the consensuses that have been officially reached by the top, more "professional", scholars in the field. At this same time he reveals their own skullduggery. No, he doesn't mean the once embraced idea of conspired cover-up, but mainly their own theological evasiveness. This is due in part to the nature of scroll interpretation, which ends up being a subjective process. The humanist, Orthodox Jew, and fundamentalist Christian are all going to get a different message from a text surrounding a messianic figure. The people of the scrolls have so much in common with Christianity that the nexus can by no means be overlooked. Atleast one would think, but by looking at the differences betwixt the two, scholars manage to brush it aside. They identify Qumran as an isolated band of mystical monks, who though anticipated the End of Days and Final Judgement, occupied their massive library with events that occured centuries in their own past under Hasmonean rule. This is orthodoxy. By reducing them to this, "The 'Dead Sea Scrolls' became a harmless public fascination. But their revolutionary passion and outrage against injustice had been, consciously or unknowingly, stripped from them." Not only does he expose this inconsistency in the de Vaux orthodoxy, but even demythologizes the stories of their discovery and such. But in the inner circle of scholars, they only show disdain for alternative theories on the scrolls, and had given birth to sometimes angry, theological debates. This book is more appreciable to those who are already familiar with the saints and sinners of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It discusses their interactions and contributions, as well as their respective theories. While as Silberman thinks in light of evidence and not his scholarly contemporaries, it seems he at the same time avoids straying to the absurd. There is no "Jesus the mushroom buried in Qumran cave 7 occupied by Paul the Dinosaur's UFO" theory (OK I get a little carried away mocking the lunatic fringe, but o well..) He generally sees the voice of Jewish messianism in the scrolls, a movement that included Jesus Christ, and not the accepted tradition. This is an easy enjoyable book for those in the field of Scrolls research. Thumbs UP!!!

Rating:
Summary: Men of Lies
Review: "The Hidden Scrolls" is a lucid outsider's look into the chaos that is Dead Sea Scrolls scholarship. Silberman's writing is constructed well with a flowing story of rich style. He shows us the consensuses that have been officially reached by the top, more "professional", scholars in the field. At this same time he reveals their own skullduggery. No, he doesn't mean the once embraced idea of conspired cover-up, but mainly their own theological evasiveness. This is due in part to the nature of scroll interpretation, which ends up being a subjective process. The humanist, Orthodox Jew, and fundamentalist Christian are all going to get a different message from a text surrounding a messianic figure. The people of the scrolls have so much in common with Christianity that the nexus can by no means be overlooked. Atleast one would think, but by looking at the differences betwixt the two, scholars manage to brush it aside. They identify Qumran as an isolated band of mystical monks, who though anticipated the End of Days and Final Judgement, occupied their massive library with events that occured centuries in their own past under Hasmonean rule. This is orthodoxy. By reducing them to this, "The 'Dead Sea Scrolls' became a harmless public fascination. But their revolutionary passion and outrage against injustice had been, consciously or unknowingly, stripped from them." Not only does he expose this inconsistency in the de Vaux orthodoxy, but even demythologizes the stories of their discovery and such. But in the inner circle of scholars, they only show disdain for alternative theories on the scrolls, and had given birth to sometimes angry, theological debates. This book is more appreciable to those who are already familiar with the saints and sinners of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It discusses their interactions and contributions, as well as their respective theories. While as Silberman thinks in light of evidence and not his scholarly contemporaries, it seems he at the same time avoids straying to the absurd. There is no "Jesus the mushroom buried in Qumran cave 7 occupied by Paul the Dinosaur's UFO" theory (OK I get a little carried away mocking the lunatic fringe, but o well..) He generally sees the voice of Jewish messianism in the scrolls, a movement that included Jesus Christ, and not the accepted tradition. This is an easy enjoyable book for those in the field of Scrolls research. Thumbs UP!!!

Rating:
Summary: Better than fiction
Review: A thrilling and absorbing book. Neil Silberman walks the reader through the extraordinary, political, religious and intriguing tale to free the Dead Sea Scrolls from a small group of arrogant and eccentric scholars. In the telling the reader learns much of the content of the scrolls, which makes one question what is routinely passed on as the history of both Christianity and Rabbinic Judasim. Thoughly recommended reading.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating book
Review: I have read several books on the Dead Sea Scrolls and I found this the best. The author is not afraid to bring up several important but controversial issues. There is a lot of food for thought there as well as lot of colorfull history about the people that did the research on the scrolls.

Rating:
Summary: Bias what Bias?
Review: The author, although the renowned editor of archaeology magazine, has more than a little difficulty remaining unbiased all the way through this book. I would recommend the book but make sure you understand that in an emotionally charged subject such as the Dead Sea Scrolls Un-biased opinions are few and far between. The Dead Sea Scrolls at no time reference or even mention Jesus of Nazareth. The author in my opinion makes several assumptions regarding the validity and basis of biblical text. I enjoyed reading about the contrversy surrounding the scrolls and their control by the International Team. But could have done without many of the leaps the author decided to make. Overall it was a good read.