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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx</link><description>





IAA / PSC
The controversies surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls are still lively, 2,000 years after they were written, and more than half a century after they were found hidden within the caves of the Judean desert. To get a sense of the mysteries</description><dc:language>en-US</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)</generator><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4839</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 03:37:55 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4839</guid><dc:creator>Thomas, Calgary</dc:creator><description>It's truly mind boggling how much isn't known from that time and equally mind boggling that faith has to substitute for facts. Ok, so there was a tribe that put these together for hundreds of years. How did they manage to live amongst all the rest for so long in the region? </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4844</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:02:32 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4844</guid><dc:creator>Celestial-Virgin, T&amp;#232;nochtitl'an, Ancient Mexico</dc:creator><description>The "Are-the-Facts" of historical value are mostly regarded as reliable sources. That is how most recent religions from past written texts are regarded as to obtain and reveal the "Truth". They are accepted at plain site, as if people back then where all-knowing. As species of all sorts of life-forms evolve, so does (did) their understanding of religious insight. It is plain stupid and naive to assume that people and tribes and clans back then knew all the answers. Every scripture derives out of eighter the imagination or simply the idea's of that specific individual and/or group. The understanding of religious idea's of back then are no different then nowaday's "Da Vinci Code" - fiction. It sprang out of the beliefs/imaginations/ideoligies of a single or multiple mind.

Hence: the bible, the koran, the tora....

However, the Dead Seascrolls are different. They as many secret cults derive from the ancient rites and rituals of pious and chaste and enlightened secret societies. The Knight's Templars, The Stonehenge Cult, The Solar Temple-worshippers etc. They each kept their "religion" strictly secret. So secret that historical refferences are very hard to find. The so-called world-religions are worldwide spread. And history reveals in what manner: brutal conversion by Crusades, Crucification, Decapatation, All-out war etc. up to this present day. If all those well-known non-secret world-religions are the so called "Truth"....then where is the evidence knowing the facts of this cruel harsh world? 

Back to the Dead Seascrolls: they contain incantations of a secret cult deriving from ancient Egypt. Alexander The Great and Ceasar before him joined forces with Egypts might and abundant wealth and rich cultural and immense spiritual religios history. The Egyptian symbolic scriptures (writings) mingeled with the Roman and Celtic language in order to understand eachother. The result was the written combined writings of the Dead Seascrolls which were hidden in underwater Dead Sea-caves, where they have been discovered in the late '60-s.

They contain incantations of Egyptian origin, combined with the understanding of Celtic Religion (Alexander The Great legacy).

This revelation can be verified by decoding the Dead Seascrolls-scriptures, using Ancient Egypt's symbolic language and in the context of Ancient Celtic influences.

Go and explore I should say....

Life is an adventure...

And we are sailing on its waves...

Greetings,

Celestial-Virgin
</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4845</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:23:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4845</guid><dc:creator>Celestial-Virgin, T&amp;#195;&amp;#168;nochtitl'an, Ancient Mexico</dc:creator><description>PS. Salt preserves and dries out (Egypt's mummy-balseming rites)...

Greetings,

Celestial-Virgin</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4852</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 11:27:07 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4852</guid><dc:creator>Wayne, Anna, IL</dc:creator><description>I see this as the creator "God" doing his work and allowing us to SLOWLY....put the puzzle together. 

Like starting out in kindergarden and going thru till graduation from high school. We will not at once, but over time put the puzzle together.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4865</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:48:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4865</guid><dc:creator>Clifford Ward, Dripping Springs, TX</dc:creator><description>These scrolls and other such writings should be treasured by all religions.  They are, in fact, mankind's treasures.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4866</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:52:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4866</guid><dc:creator>Adam, Brisbane, Australia</dc:creator><description>While Qumran may not have been the Essene 'Monastery' that earlier archeologists thought, there's no reason to doubt an Essene connection with the Scrolls. The historical parallels are too many and varied. That the Scrolls have been dated to a 300 year spread of writing by 'Essenes' and their sympathisers, means we should be careful in assuming they meant the same thing at all times to the same people. 300 years is a long time for any group to stand still.

An interesting example is how the 'abomination of desolation' was interpreted - in 'Daniel' (c.160s BCE) it meant the desecrating sacrifice by Antiochus Epiphanes in the Temple in c. 167 BC, but by the 60s CE it meant the Romans in the Temple, and doubtless filled the minds of refugees from Jerusalem's destruction...</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4867</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 14:17:06 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4867</guid><dc:creator>Bill, Orlando</dc:creator><description>Ink and Blood is another exhibit featuring the Dead Sea Scrolls that is touring the country.  It tells a really intriguing story.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4868</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 14:18:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4868</guid><dc:creator>JIM SPAULDING</dc:creator><description>TO THOMAS FROM CALGARY: FAITH, NOT FACTS OR WORKS SANS FAITH, IS WHAT GETS YOU TO HEAVEN.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4872</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 14:57:50 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4872</guid><dc:creator>Jael, Greenville, SC</dc:creator><description>I saw the exhibit in Charlotte last spring, and like the first said, it was mind-boggling.  The displays and exhibits that were set up outside the scroll gallery were great prep-work for understanding the time period, but the scrolls themselves were what affected me the most.  The tiny, precise writing, thinking about the people crouching for days on end to produce them, the fact that the scrolls have survived for so long.  I don't see how anyone could come away without a sense of history and awe no matter what their personal religious beliefs or non-beliefs are.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4886</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:15:34 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4886</guid><dc:creator>mark slevan, Sabetha, Ks</dc:creator><description>when are the scrolls coming to Kansas city? And when can I get tickets to the event?</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4892</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:59:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4892</guid><dc:creator>Alan Boyle</dc:creator><description>Mark, specimens from the Dead Sea Scrolls will be shown at Kansas City's Union Station from Feb. 8 to May 13. Here's a link to the Web site and an article about the upcoming exhibit. Looks like tickets are already on sale: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14748149.htm" target=_new rel=nofollow&gt;http://www.kansascity.com/mld/&lt;BR&gt;kansascity/news/local/14748149.htm&lt;/A&gt; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href="http://www.unionstation.org/deadseascrolls/index.cfm" target=_new rel=nofollow&gt;http://www.unionstation.org/deadseascrolls/index.cfm&lt;/A&gt;</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4897</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:05:23 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4897</guid><dc:creator>Mitch Gilbert, Lakewood, CO</dc:creator><description>I would like to voice one small objection - Referring to the Dead Sea Scrolls as "Old Testament" is both historically (as there was no "New Testament" at the time of their creation) as well as objectionable to religious Jews to whom the designation "Old vs. New" implies at best "incomplete" (and, at worst, "superceded") of what is referred to among Jews as "Tanach" (This is an acronym of "Torah" - the first 5 books of Moses, "Neviim" - Prophets (Isaiah, Hosea, etc.), and "Ketuvim" or Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, etc.).  While I understand "Old Testament" to be colloquially common, "Tanach" is more accurate.
</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4898</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:07:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4898</guid><dc:creator>Alan Boyle</dc:creator><description>&lt;P&gt;By the way, it looks as if the "Ink and Blood" exhibit just finished its run at Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information, check out: &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P&gt;&lt;A target="_blank" href="http://www.inkandblood.com/"&gt;http://www.inkandblood.com/&lt;/A&gt; &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4899</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:13:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4899</guid><dc:creator>Attila Csanyi</dc:creator><description>The DSS are of incredible historical value for understanding the evolution of Near-Eastern religions.
Of the many sects of Judaism, the one producing the DSS appears to represent the greatest influence from the Persian Zoroastrianism and the closest connection to what became Christianity.
We can only hope that more understanding is gained by the scientific discovery of yet unknown details about the people who produced them. Attila, Albuquerque</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4901</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:17:36 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4901</guid><dc:creator>Alan Boyle</dc:creator><description>Dear Mitch: I was fond of the phrase "oldest Old Testament," and so I thought I'd stretch the letter of the law to write that in. But if it has the potential to give offense, the phrase isn't worth it ... so I've changed it to the Bible. Thanks so much for the feedback.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4909</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:44:43 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4909</guid><dc:creator>Cathy Bird Streeter, Blairstown, NJ </dc:creator><description>I have the book "THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS". If our faith in God is based exclusively on the written word of the Bible we are in trouble. The Bible is the only historical document that allows us to go back five thousand years - as no other book exists that far back.We must base our belief in whichever God we choose to follow on faith alone, whether it is Judaism, Christianity, Islam or Buddhism. The dead sea scrolls merely give us historical data on life in that time period....nothing more. </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4915</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:04:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4915</guid><dc:creator>Wesley Patterson, Milledgeville, GA</dc:creator><description>I find that the DSS give us much more than a spill on historical data. Faith is based in God Himself, not on the Bible. However, the DSS provide pleasure to Christians as these writings are a restatement of our beliefs.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4922</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:02:59 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4922</guid><dc:creator>ziggy santino LA California</dc:creator><description>Everybody in the modern world capable of creative, logical, criminal,or any other trane of thought would love to have a reliable source tell them and explain "why" things are the way they are. Who and what we should believe in, and where and how we go anywhere after we die. Back in the day for example things were a little less complicated. Of course the quality of life was lower, unsanitary, mideviel, cut throat, poverish, and very prejudice. The passing of great ideas about; philosophy, religion, politics, military advancements, medicinal herbs, and fashion took a long and complicated road to reach other realms of people on earth. However, the ideas of importance were recognized and pushed along the unforgiving unexplored roads of the human world and put to use. Now a days it takes a matter of seconds to communicate with people at the furthest adjacent points on earth with minimal effort. Since this has become a reality and almost everyone can spread their "word" whether it be a fashion designer, screen writer, actor, doctor, scientist, or priest. The messages of spiritual importance have be shrouded with globalization, media, entertainment, and politics. As a human society we need to take a step back and analyse what we're doing to the generations to come. Nobody will have the answers for you the answers come from within and may take a life time to formulate a conclusion. Its the journey and the intention of your soul that is going to take people to the "truth". There is no more right or wrong, good vs. evil, love and hate, these are thoughts of the past. Humans have the capacity to hippocritical which throws everything out the door. Except a couple of things; one to love yourself, and two to be virtueos in your actions. With the intent of enlightenment.  </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4937</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:20:29 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4937</guid><dc:creator>John Platz, Port Washington NY</dc:creator><description>The importance of the DSS is not who wrote them or where they were discovered.  The significance comes from when they were discovered and the content.  The DSS contain several books of the Old Testament and they were written before the time of Christ.  In that the Bible was already considered legitimate by Islamic nations, Europe, and America, the independent discovery of the DSS represents a very powerful event in validating the Bible's authenticity.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4942</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:40:28 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4942</guid><dc:creator>joseph, waynesboro, pa</dc:creator><description>I enjoyed ziggy's comments however he lost me in his conclusion. He says 'There is no more right or wrong, good vs. evil, love and hate, these are thoughts of the past;' then proceeds to say that one must 'love yourself' and 'be virtuous in your actions.' If there is no more love or hate and good vs evil...then how does one love oneself or act virtuous? If there is no more good vs evil, and love and hate, then it is just as valid to hate oneself and commit evil acts? And how does one know if they are committing virtuous acts unless one can discern between good and evil?...p.s. the blog listed is not mine but a close friends</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4944</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:58:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4944</guid><dc:creator>Luanne Simones, Nashville, TN</dc:creator><description>How excited I was, as a young Christian, to learn that these fabulous scrolls had been discovered!  But I was also FRIGHTENED.  What if their ideas differed radically from my own cherished Bible!  What if their words did not coincide with my personal beliefs about God, the "Early Church," or some other close-held religious belief of my own!  But now, at 64 years, I am much more comfortable with religion in general, my own in particular.  I finally understand that God is what we make Him/Her to be (in the best sense); He/She is the essence of all good things, the Spirit of Kindness, Holiness, Purpose, and Beauty!  It matters not what the scrolls reveal about the people, or their god, of that era, except to enlighten us about their needs, goals, and resolutions. What matters MOST is how we use the small fragments of knowledge thus given to us from which to glean.  If only all people would see others' religious beliefs with an open heart...why do we try to make everyone fit into our own little basket?  How small!  Religion, because of its very personal nature, cannot be "one-size-fits-all."  It must be all-inclusive to be of lasting value.  Who cares about the details!  The finest goals of all Humanity are  "Kindness, Holiness, Purpose, Beauty..."  And these things are common to every person's most sacred beliefs.  Why do we fight?  Peace.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4945</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:39:54 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4945</guid><dc:creator>Mark, San Diego, CA</dc:creator><description>The article is a bit inaccurate in it's terminology.  The scrolls are Tanach not "old testament". Also the years should be B.C.E not BC, and C.E not AD.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4946</link><pubDate>Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:40:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4946</guid><dc:creator>Neto, Florida</dc:creator><description>How pompous is man to believe that any man has ever been instructed by a supernatural force. With never a real shred of evidence. C'mon, "God sent his ony son?" That is a terrible story- why cant god have as many sons as he wants?  How could Noah fit 2 each 30 million species in 400 foot boat? How can modern man accept that story especially after it has been found in the last 30 years that the flood story actually comes from the Assyrian people in the area long before Noah. Also, after Moses dies and Joshua takes over, he went and killed everyone(man, women and children) in his quest to steal land. Would god want children killed in his name?  Were they Evil? Religion is the cause for the problems in this world. If anything these findings only tell you that these early people were just that, early man. Wake up and check the facts- GOD IS PRETEND!  </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4950</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:00:19 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4950</guid><dc:creator>Barry Elliot Lake</dc:creator><description>Interesting, a few have it right, no way is there a god. We are all very selfesh, we have the knowledge to live peacefully and no one should be starving any where, let alone the thought of world war. We are as stupid as are ancestors thousands of years ago, arguing over relegion, money, taxes and land. What a joke to think we are modern, someone today kills someone and we put them in jail and foot the bill. Think about it, how far we have really come in 2000 plus years, yes we live in warmer shelters and drive cars and fly not a big accomplishment for 2000 years. Some day they will find our records and wonder what we were thinking.  </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4954</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:48:38 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4954</guid><dc:creator>Thomas O., Tokyo</dc:creator><description>To Jim Spaulding: get off of your soap box; this isn't a forum for proselytizing.  Thomas from Calgary was merely making a statement about the lack of facts from the time period. And I must agree. It is amazing how much we truly don't know from such an important time period. </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4956</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 00:51:39 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4956</guid><dc:creator>John Spears</dc:creator><description>Hmm... Is there a God? Is the Bible His message to us? Is the Bible historically reliable? Prior to the discovery of the DSS, many critics of the Bible claimed it had been distorted and edited extensively and could not be held as accurate. The DSS contained the book of Mark putting its writing less than 38 years after Jesus death. They contain the book of Isaiah matching to better than 98% the book of Isaiah as it was know prior to the DSS discovery. No other historical book can compare to the Bible's historical validation.  More fascinating is the prophecies that critics used to pass off as being written after the fact(Daniel, Isaiah) have now been shown to predate the fulfillment the fulfillment of many of the prophesies they contain. Blindly accepting the Bible as God's message isn't needed. The DSS add to the already ample evidence for its authenticity and inspiration. God said, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4957</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:26:48 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4957</guid><dc:creator>Alan Boyle</dc:creator><description>The claim that Christian writings are among the Dead Sea Scrolls is quite controversial ... It's based on an interpretation of very small fragments, and the mainstream view is that such a leap can't be made. There's more about this in the Wikipedia article on the scrolls: &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea_Scrolls#Christian_connections" target=_new rel=nofollow&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/&lt;BR&gt;Dead_Sea_Scrolls#Christian_connections&lt;/A&gt; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Lawrence Schiffman of New York University is quoted as saying that "despite some misinformation, no New Testament materials were found at Qumran." &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Nevertheless, some of the non-canonical texts found at Qumran certainly contain echoes of Christian passages ... and if nothing else, give a sense of the environment in which Christianity was forged.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4958</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 01:36:40 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4958</guid><dc:creator>S P H </dc:creator><description>I dont know if any of you realize, but some of the treasures have been found that are detailed in the Copper Scrolls. They have been found by the archeologist Vendyl Jones. If any one has any info on the other treasures, contact me</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#4971</link><pubDate>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 03:56:35 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:4971</guid><dc:creator>Thomas, Calgary</dc:creator><description>Thomas of Tokyo: &amp;nbsp;Thank you. It's too bad such a discussion invariably invites proselytizing of various degrees [...] &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The truth about the DSS according to their recent history is this as I see it: &amp;nbsp;Some humanity in all its stupidity and greed has managed to wreck something that may have held the real answers about the world's religions (especially Christianity). Could it be the real truth was just too much for all to see? Are complete texts still "out there" or were they purposely destroyed? We will never know. So, if you need a religion and a "God", keep the faith.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14531</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:35:06 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14531</guid><dc:creator>Lazarus the Athiest</dc:creator><description>Just proves that foolishness is not confined to today. If someone had not made up these lies, someone would do it today. PT Barnum had it right, just ask a priest.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14534</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:12:15 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14534</guid><dc:creator>megan smith Asheboror, North Carolina</dc:creator><description>So, you have your own beliefs and they do not include religion.. Tell me why you have to impose your beliefs on others? I have come to know that religon is a necessity for many,many people. They begin and end their days with it. I would never try in any way to take that away from them. I could never sit back and hurt them with my ramblings about this thing that is their life. To do so would only bring me a sadness when I saw the hurt in their eyes.?  When a person has different beliefs than those around him, its much better to be respectful and keep your dern mouth shut.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14540</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 03:35:54 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14540</guid><dc:creator>Dale, Bolivar, Tn</dc:creator><description>&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;We live in a civilization that is prone to quickly destroying itself. Many are so focused on "nothing" that "nothing" is important to them, including life. Fighting an enemy to survive is out of mind, many enjoy fighting each other and themselves. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;Nobility, love, virtue, and honor is a foreign concept to people whose universe rotates around their ego and emotions. "If it feels good do it!" This is the montra of people who will destroy themselves, their own health, and the health and even life of others. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;In all the earth, there is nothing more noble than the teachings of the Bible. It is the story of the Creator of all things and His love for man, even though man did not deserve that love. Such things as "selfless love", you know - loving others that are not lovely, reflecting God's love for us. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;Why is there evil in the earth where people hurt each other and bad things happen? Simple, if you understand that mankind has "free will to choose". We can do things constructive to ourselves, others, etc or we can do things destructive to the same. Just like the law of motion - "for every action there is an opposite and reaction". What you sow (place into the earth) is what you reap". If you plant corn, you don't get turnips---you get corn! If you plant destructive words, actions, deeds, or ideas into the earth then you get destructive results. This is simple and non-religious facts. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;Before you tear down Christianity and hope for a life that is free of chaos, you better think. Just because some are fools and want to spread their misery rather than look for real truth, answers, and facts. This only reflects ego-centric self destruction - focused on problems only - and the stupidity to close ones eyes to the solutions to psychopathic self destruction -leaving destruction in their paths. One scripture says, "thinking themselves wise in their own eyes, they become fools". &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;I salute those who hold onto the noble things in life like love, joy, peace, patience, mercy, --- etc. &lt;/P&gt;
&lt;P style='clear:both;'&gt;Why is there problems in the earth?? Why wars? Why destruction? Look at yourself and see if you are part of the solution or part of the problem. Quit blaming God for not making a robot out of you, allowing you to "choose life or death -- choose life and live!".e, Bolivar, Tn &lt;/P&gt;</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14546</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:35:42 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14546</guid><dc:creator>Marjorie Ferguson, Billings, Montana</dc:creator><description>   I hope that the DDS comes to Billings Montana. Would love to see them. It is so wonderful that people of such  ancient times were able to preserve their thoughts and probably a lot of truths.I hope that our writings will help people hundreds of years from now learn something valuable. </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14548</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:54:13 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14548</guid><dc:creator>Harly, Seattle</dc:creator><description>My friend and I just saw the exhibit on Sunday afternoon, last.  We were both deeply impressed.

  The 365 day solar calendar favored by the authors of the text (but not mainstream Sadduces)was far ahead of its time. And the small pottery sundials make the point that some living at Qumran were watching the sun closely. 

 I can see that some of the caves yielding scrolls may well have been emergency deposit points for fleeing refugees from Jerusalem.  But several of the caves, so close to Qumran, and had so many pottery-protected texts, it is hard to escape the conclusion that they were routinely used for archives, or a safe-keeping hidden-library. 

 Perhaps others besides Essenes inhabited Qumran at times. But I have trouble believing these Asetics never inhabited Qumran.  And the term "Sons of the Light" echos the attributed words of Jesus so strongly, 'come unto me for I Am the Light' that i hardly feel this is credibly attributed to mere chance.  The Essenes were expecting, waiting for, a savior of some kind to deliver their world from tyranny.  Isn't it possible Jesus lived among the Essenes for a time, and thought long and hard about their message?  Perhaps he lived in Qumran.  I see no reason to rule out such a possibility.   </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#14550</link><pubDate>Tue, 14 Nov 2006 08:20:26 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:14550</guid><dc:creator>Steve Schwartz, Gesher Haziv, Israel</dc:creator><description>Living in Israel has given me the opportonity to see Qumran several times. It is amazing what the experts can interpolate from the little that exists. My own thoughts are that everyone is right - different people and different groups lived there at different times.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#183955</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2007 07:58:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:183955</guid><dc:creator>Becky Buffalo mn</dc:creator><description>All God wants from us is to love one another and be truthful to ourselves. He will show  us the light when we are ready. He doesnt care what church we belong too, or who we talk to, or what we have. We are here to learn for him. </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1016992</link><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2008 21:28:37 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1016992</guid><dc:creator>R. Uziel, Van Nuys, CA</dc:creator><description>Interesting! &amp;nbsp;The Book of Isaiah reveals and describes, in Isaiah 53, the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. &amp;nbsp;Had they known their own Scriptures, they would have known who He was! &amp;nbsp;The most recent San Diego exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls was interesting, as was seeing the Copper Scroll. &amp;nbsp;The essenes were part of an ascetic community pretty much into rituals and traditions, but did not know the Lord. &amp;nbsp;True love is Christ's love towards us. &amp;nbsp;It isn't too late to seek and find! &amp;nbsp;&lt;br&gt; &lt;br&gt; &amp;nbsp; </description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1020484</link><pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2008 17:37:34 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1020484</guid><dc:creator>Brandon, Austin, Texas</dc:creator><description>As interesting as the DSS are, they still do not prove that &amp;quot;God&amp;quot; exists. They are man-made things. They didn't simply appear magically. I find it hard to believe that &amp;quot;God&amp;quot; can create the Universe, yet can't publish a book, or broadcast VHF or radio waves. People will believe whatever they want to believe, and try to justify their beliefs through any means, but the simple facts are that no one knows who wrote these, when they wrote them or more importantly, why.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1036722</link><pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2008 22:30:44 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1036722</guid><dc:creator>arron clearwater fl</dc:creator><description>People do realize the letter J didn't come into existent until the 1500's and the letter shows up in the DSS that are to be older than 2000 yrs. You fall for lies and deception if you want too!!</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1160167</link><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:06:11 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1160167</guid><dc:creator>Sean Connolly, Corpus Christi, Tx</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;...the Dead Seascrolls are different. They as many secret cults derive from the ancient rites and rituals of pious and chaste and enlightened secret societies. The Knight's Templars, The Stonehenge Cult, The Solar Temple-worshippers etc. They each kept their &amp;quot;religion&amp;quot; strictly secret. So secret that historical refferences are very hard to find. The so-called world-religions are worldwide spread. And history reveals in what manner: brutal conversion by Crusades, Crucification, Decapatation, All-out war etc. up to this present day. If all those well-known non-secret world-religions are the so called &amp;quot;Truth&amp;quot;....then where is the evidence knowing the facts of this cruel harsh world?&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;No, the DSS aren't different. They were labeled as &amp;quot;Essene&amp;quot; documents due to the references by Pliny (who someone above thought was in Jerusalem. He was in fact Roman. And not in Jerusalem), Philo of Alexandria and Josephus. They are the results of that particular culture and share concepts with other previously known extra-biblical works (Book of Jubilees, 1 Enoch, etc). As with aforementioned extra-biblical works, the DSS take their backbone from those works we commonly view as &amp;quot;biblical&amp;quot;.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &amp;quot;Back to the Dead Seascrolls: they contain incantations of a secret cult deriving from ancient Egypt.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;No, they don't. they contain completely jewish teachings. While it has long been acknowledged that Persian dualistic influence can be found in the scrolls, that is not to say they are therefore &amp;quot;Persian teachings&amp;quot;. Theyre not. They are thoroughly jewish.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &amp;quot;Alexander The Great and Ceasar before him joined forces with Egypts might and abundant wealth and rich cultural and immense spiritual religios history. The Egyptian symbolic scriptures (writings) mingeled with the Roman and Celtic language in order to understand eachother.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Again, no. Not one of those is read in the light of the other. Further, a grotesque conflation is suggested here. If I'm conservative, the seperation between Egyptian and Celtic cultures is 1,200 years. By the time of Julias Caesar, the Ptolomies had been in control of Egypt for a solid 300 years and while Egypts religious thought certainly changed over time, it also was dealing with greek though. So, again, another conflation of time and oversimiplification which tried to tie all 3 of them together. They don't tie together - and certainly not like that.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&amp;quot; The result was the written combined writings of the Dead Seascrolls which were hidden in underwater Dead Sea-caves, where they have been discovered in the late '60-s.&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And again, no. The DSS were first discovered in 1947 in a cave ABOVE the Dead Sea. Not underwater. The last discovered in 1956.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &amp;quot;They contain incantations of Egyptian origin, combined with the understanding of Celtic Religion (Alexander The Great legacy).&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;I don't know where you got this from, but it's certainly incorrect. There are no Egyptian incantations in any of the DSS. And the authors of these texts knew nothing of the Celts. It would take the Romans at the end of the 1st cent. bce to come into contact with them. And Alexander the Great certainly new nothing of them in the 3rd cent. bce.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &amp;quot;This revelation can be verified by decoding the Dead Seascrolls-scriptures, using Ancient Egypt's symbolic language and in the context of Ancient Celtic influences. Go and explore I should say.... Life is an adventure... And we are sailing on its waves... &amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Given the above completely fallacious premises, it stands to reason that your conclusion is wholly false and represents nothing more than bad New Age mysticism. Please, let's not spread disinformation.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As to the other above comments on Mark being found in the scrolls - no, it wasn't. Fr Jose O'Callighans proposal that a portion of Mark was found has been wholly discredited - even with Carston Theides attempt to shore it back up again in the late '90s. While 7Q5 itself has yet to be identified, other fragments have turned out to be copies of 1 Enoch in greek.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;While the biblical texts found among the caves do testify to a fairly reasonable transmission of the texts over the last 2,100 years, they also testify to the differences. For example, the differences between the Isaiah Scrolls (A &amp;amp; B) and our recieved versions of Isaiah (from the Masoretic texts and the Septuagint texts) the differences amount to well over 100. That's just one book alone. And while some differences are not great, others are. This is NOT just a case of &amp;quot;scribal errors and grammatical mistakes&amp;quot; (one of the more commonly used bad) apologetics).&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Really, it's best to understand the scrolls if one is going to comment on them. Winging it based upon what you think you may have heard on some TV show or whatever is hardly &amp;quot;research&amp;quot; and is certainly no basis for an erudite commentary.</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1684542</link><pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:06:35 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1684542</guid><dc:creator>Stephen, Albany, NY</dc:creator><description>I know the story of how the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. &amp;nbsp;A shepherd looking for a lost sheep found them. &amp;nbsp;But isn't it true that he used pieces as kindling and that's why there are various holes in them?</description></item><item><title>Scrolls of mystery</title><link>http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/09/26/4827.aspx#1948192</link><pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2009 22:31:49 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:1948192</guid><dc:creator>Sean Connolly, Corpus Christi, Tx</dc:creator><description>&amp;quot;I know the story of how the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. &amp;nbsp;A shepherd looking for a lost sheep found them. &amp;nbsp;But isn't it true that he used pieces as kindling and that's why there are various holes in them?&amp;quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Yes, it's true that some were used as kindling. Some were used to line shows with and others were given to children to play with. However, the lacunae (holes) in the texts were caused by rot, insects and worms.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The story of how they were found is questionable. The bedouin are known for their treasure hunting. Some scrolls were purposfully ripped into pieces so they could seel them in batches in order to make more money.</description></item></channel></rss>