Malachi151

I know that Allegro's reputation was hurt when he proposed the psychedelic mushroom theory, which may not be that far fetched actually, but still, how is this book of his considered today and if anyone here has read it, is it worth getting and are there some points that it makes that should be noted?

Toto

The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Christian Myth (or via: amazon.co.uk)

This review on bibleinterp wants to rehabilitate him, but it seems that he interpreted the DSS as the writings of an Essene Community, which is not currently accepted to the same extent it was a few decades ago. But there still may be some value in the book.

Malachi151

What is this business about Simon Magus? I have seen the name before but didn't think much of it. Was Simon Magus a "myth" or a person? I have always seen him described as a real person, sort of the "anti-Jesus".

Damn, this Jesus story is like an onion....

Toto

Simon_Magus is fairly helpful as an introduction. There is an essay by GRS Mead.

Malachi151

Yeah I read that already. It seems that Simon was believed to have been a real person by the same defenders of Jesus, but the first link you posted was the first I have read saying he was also a myth, which would not surprise me, but what is the support for Simon being a myth, is it just as difficult as that of Jesus?

Toto

Yup. It's the same general problem of how much history you can recover from tales of someone who flew through the air.

Casper

Marcion was unaware of him, unless Paul was Simon. Maybe all three were one and the same? :devil1:

Malachi151

Yeah, this makes my head hurt.....

Toto

So you're finally starting to understand.

dog-on

I agree with Casper. There is some strange connection between Simon Magus, Marcion and the Apostle of the Heretics. Perhaps Marcion new Simon simply as The Runt with Saul being introduced only later to make it kosher!