Dear All, Sometimes it's a disadvantage to be in a different time zone. Sometimes it's an advantage, as when 'while I was sleeping' Greg Doudna and Dave Washburn more ably answered George Brooke than I surely would have. Thank you both very much. To summarize what I see as some of the main points: The 'sectarian' documents from Qumran don't have to come from a sect we know from other sources. I don't see that we can even presume that 1QS is describing a real sect. Even granting the presence of some clearly Essene texts among the Qumran scrolls (which I am willing to do) doesn't necessarily mean that the scrolls were therefore an Essene library. It is a fallacy to say that one must find an existing theory convincing unless one can propose another theory. Not knowing is OK, and often the only honest scholarly response. Finally a point of logic: George Brooke wrote: "And this is the classic refutation that I find so "wanting". Saying there "crucial differences" [between the Scrolls and our other sources on Essenes] does not nullify an Essene hypothesis.... as long as there are no other real contenders for what we DO find in 1QS. It motivates one to explain the differences (regional or chronological) within the Essene movement. Hippolytus himself has a notoriously overlooked treatment of the Essene movement changing over time and being rendered into FOUR (4) factions. And yet I see no one examining this "on point" text for conclusions." and: "When someone shows that Essenes could *NOT* have written a manuscript..... this will be NEWS.... and I will be very interested in learning about that. Otherwise, all I perceive is "obstructionism" .... throwing road blocks in the way of the most encouraging line of investigation." How can we disprove an Essene connection when you can explain away any contrary evidence? Your theory is therefore irrefutable. Ian Young Sydney University For private reply, e-mail to Ian Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from Orion, e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: "unsubscribe Orion." Archives are on the Orion Web site, http://orion.mscc.huji.ac.il.
