Essenes and scrolls

[spin]

I will be happy to debate any person or group of people who would like to support the case that the Essenes (of Josephus's four Jewish sects fame) are responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls.

This will mean dealing with the evidence for the case and not just with the opinions of scholars.

It would be good to have such a debate on the books for future reference.


spin

[Haran]

Originally posted by spin
I will be happy to debate any person or group of people who would like to support the case that the Essenes (of Josephus's four Jewish sects fame) are responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls.

So do you buy Golb's theory? If not, I'd like to see your evidence and where you take it, although I'm not really looking for a debate on the issue, myself.

[spin]

Originally posted by Haran
So do you buy Golb's theory?

The bit that Golb got from Rengstorf about the scrolls coming from Jerusalem I buy.

The scrolls were plainly not produced at Qumran. (Would anyone like to contemplate almost 800 scribes working at Qumran?)

If not, I'd like to see your evidence and where you take it, although I'm not really looking for a debate on the issue, myself.

I was offering to debate anyone who was game to defend the Essene connection. I don't need to replace it with something to show that the Essene connection is crap. Once we get there, one can present an alternative. (The house has got to come down before you can reuse the same plot. Of course, you could just keep modifying the original, but the result is almost always a slipshod compromise.)


spin

[Toto]

Are you proposing a formal debate? If so, I can move this to the formal debate area (if you haven't cross posted it.)

[Amaleq13]

Originally posted by spin
I was offering to debate anyone who was game to defend the Essene connection.


This is yet another non-reply:) to your challenge but would you mind clarifying for me whether you also deny an Essene presence at Qumran or do you accept that Essenes lived there but deny that they produced the scrolls?

I probably lack sufficient knowledge to participate but I would lurk the crap of such a debate.:D

[Apikorus]

I'd be willing to take up the case for identifying Qumranians with Essenes, although I am hardly committed to it. Mostly I think it would be fun to exchange with an expert like spin so I could learn more about this subject. I don't have very much time though and I can't promise to post more than once a day, if even that frequently.

[Toto]

It sounds like we have the makings of a formal debate. Posting once a day or once a week is quite acceptable.

I will copy this to the Formal Debate Set up area.

[KnightWhoSaysNi]

Originally posted by Apikorus
I'd be willing to take up the case for identifying Qumranians with Essenes, although I am hardly committed to it. Mostly I think it would be fun to exchange with an expert like spin so I could learn more about this subject. I don't have very much time though and I can't promise to post more than once a day, if even that frequently.

Hi Apikorus,

The duration between posts in formal debates is quite flexible. Debate participants can choose whatever duration is convenient for them. The current McHugh/Drange debate, for example, is only a monthly schedule.

I'd recommend looking at the FD Rules and Procedures (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=56978) and debate format suggestions (http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60770) to get a feel for formal debates.

Jason