Dear Russel,
I can accept a skeptical resistance to the idea that there was a complete
dependance on adoption by Essene groups to sustain their numbers.
In my view, CELIBACY was a recent development in the Essene
movement. Perhaps celibacy was actually spearheaded by those
members of the Essene movement who were high in the ranks of
the Jerusalem priesthood. Priests are always looking for ways to
more vigorously *project* an image of saintliness or "other
worldliness"...
and certainly celibacy would be an effective way of doing this, without
making it *mandatory* on an entire community (universality would just
dilute the special nature of those "saints" who actually are celibate).
Further, there is also the economic benefits of limiting the clan size
of the Highest Priests who benefit from the tithes of the community
at large. As wealthy families in the Western world have long realized,
in a culture where knowledge and learning are the primary skill sets
(as in the ranks of a priestly caste), having large clans can be more
a liability than an asset. That is why Western families (and other
newly prospering regions of the world) continue to have smaller
and smaller families. But I digress. Let's get back to the key
point....
Russell, please. Do you **really** intend to dismiss out of
hand the historicity of Essenes adopting ANY children? There is
no basis for you to do so. There is not a single source that
disputes the idea that they received children from the surrounding
community ("dedicated to the gods", or even just thrown over
the threshold!). So for you to somewhat capriciously decide that
you will not accept the ancient witnesses to this rather benign
viewpoint makes me less likely to trust your judgment in matters
that loom far larger than whether or not saintly men felt capable
of raising abandoned or dedicated children.
I can understand your belief that a kernel of a story became
a myth for complete celibacy. But now you are saying "oh,
by the way, there is no kernel either."
George
For private reply, e-mail to George Brooks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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