Freethought & Rationalism Archive

DonaldW112 · 05-15-2002, 08:44 AM

So I was wondering what the II community thinks about Barbara Thiering and her pesher method for using the Dead Sea Scrolls to reinterprete the gospels. She has at least two books on the subject Jesus the Man: New Interpretations from the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scroll.

She is apparently a well-respected scholar in the area. I am currently half way through one of her books.

The main premise is that the gospels tell an outside story and that only someone who knows how to read it can understand the inside story. The inside story is that Jesus was a man, not of virgin birth, was married, had at least one child so far (I am not through the book yet). Was put up on the cross but survived and helped to write the gospels (John was first). Basically, none of the stories in the gospel mean exactly what they say.

Anyone studied this work? Opinions?

Donald

CX · 05-15-2002, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonaldW112:
So I was wondering what the II community thinks about Barbara Thiering and her pesher method for using the Dead Sea Scrolls to reinterprete the gospels. She has at least two books on the subject Jesus the Man: New Interpretations from the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scroll.

She is apparently a well-respected scholar in the area. I am currently half way through one of her books.

The main premise is that the gospels tell an outside story and that only someone who knows how to read it can understand the inside story. The inside story is that Jesus was a man, not of virgin birth, was married, had at least one child so far (I am not through the book yet). Was put up on the cross but survived and helped to write the gospels (John was first). Basically, none of the stories in the gospel mean exactly what they say.

Anyone studied this work? Opinions?

Donald

I'm not sure Barbara Theiring is necessarily a "well respected" scholar. I think she is somewhat on the fringe. In any case I don't know a lot about her work, but what I ahve read seemed kooky to me. She certainly attracts a lot of wackos (like our own Offa).

Haran · 05-15-2002, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonaldW112:
She is apparently a well-respected scholar in the area.

Please... Please... Please... Read lots more works on the subject and then check your statement again.

Read just about any scholar of the DSS and you will find out how 'well-respected' she is. Only knowledge can combat this popular junk scholarship.

Sometimes I feel the battle against popular junk scholarship is a losing one...

Haran

Kosh · 05-15-2002, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DonaldW112:


Anyone studied this work? Opinions?

Donald

I've got that second book you listed and started
reading it years ago. Never made it through all
the way. I lost interest when I realized that
she seemed to be just making it up as she went
along. Perhaps she has good research/evidence
to back her interpretations, but I didn't see
it presented in the book. She just started telling
a story that you were supposed to believe...
basically the same thing Hovind does when he
starts in on his fictional geological model of the Great Flood.....

DonaldW112 · 05-15-2002, 12:22 PM

___________________
I've got that second book you listed and started
reading it years ago. Never made it through all
the way. I lost interest when I realized that
she seemed to be just making it up as she went
along. Perhaps she has good research/evidence
to back her interpretations, but I didn't see
it presented in the book. She just started telling
a story that you were supposed to believe...
basically the same thing Hovind does when he
starts in on his fictional geological model of the Great Flood.....
________________________________

I appreciate all the replies. This is exactly how I feel reading the book. The only source I had for her being a "well respected scholar" was from the amazon reviews (not a good source and I apologize). That is why I posted the question here. A friend sent me the book. I will not make it a priority to finish!

Vorkosigan · 05-15-2002, 01:39 PM

Please... Please... Please... Read lots more works on the subject and then check your statement again.

Thiering is definitely considered a fringe scholar.

Sometimes I feel the battle against popular junk scholarship is a losing one...

Judging from the widespread belief in gods and other fictional entities, I share this feeling....

Vorkosigan

Sensei · 05-16-2002, 07:34 PM

Not so much a reply, as a related question. Where is a good internet source to research the DSS?

Thanks,

Sensei

Peter Kirby · 05-16-2002, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sensei:
Not so much a reply, as a related question. Where is a good internet source to research the DSS?

Thanks,

Sensei

I love it and use it, but for serious research, the internet is not the first place to look. I suggest finding a copy of _The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English_ by Geza Vermes.

(Edited to add the Internet Infidels link and get rid of the stupid smily face that you sometimes get by accident.)

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140278079/InternetInfidelsA/" target="_blank">The DSS on Amazon.com</a>

best,
Peter Kirby

[ May 16, 2002: Message edited by: peterkirby ]

offa · 05-22-2002, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CX:


I'm not sure Barbara Theiring is necessarily a "well respected" scholar. I think she is somewhat on the fringe. In any case I don't know a lot about her work, but what I ahve read seemed kooky to me. She certainly attracts a lot of wackos (like our own Offa).

offa · 05-22-2002, 04:36 PM

offa here, alive and well

I just dropped in while listening to a baseball game. I have not posted for months and am very flattered in being remembered.
I am not hung up on religion and I appreciate what Barbara Thiering has done for me. She has made me a free man.
While you fundies are hung up on GOD and Virgins giving birth I just sit back and chuckle about horny priests and a war against terrorism.
TERRORISM IS RELIGION.

thanks,
offa

05-15-2002, 08:44 AM	#1
DonaldW112 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 45	Barbara Thiering and the Dead Sea Scrolls So I was wondering what the II community thinks about Barbara Thiering and her pesher method for using the Dead Sea Scrolls to reinterprete the gospels. She has at least two books on the subject Jesus the Man: New Interpretations from the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scroll. She is apparently a well-respected scholar in the area. I am currently half way through one of her books. The main premise is that the gospels tell an outside story and that only someone who knows how to read it can understand the inside story. The inside story is that Jesus was a man, not of virgin birth, was married, had at least one child so far (I am not through the book yet). Was put up on the cross but survived and helped to write the gospels (John was first). Basically, none of the stories in the gospel mean exactly what they say. Anyone studied this work? Opinions? Donald

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05-15-2002, 12:22 PM	#5
DonaldW112 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Schenectady, NY Posts: 45	___________________ I've got that second book you listed and started reading it years ago. Never made it through all the way. I lost interest when I realized that she seemed to be just making it up as she went along. Perhaps she has good research/evidence to back her interpretations, but I didn't see it presented in the book. She just started telling a story that you were supposed to believe... basically the same thing Hovind does when he starts in on his fictional geological model of the Great Flood..... ________________________________ I appreciate all the replies. This is exactly how I feel reading the book. The only source I had for her being a "well respected scholar" was from the amazon reviews (not a good source and I apologize). That is why I posted the question here. A friend sent me the book. I will not make it a priority to finish!

05-15-2002, 01:39 PM	#6
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Please... Please... Please... Read lots more works on the subject and then check your statement again. Thiering is definitely considered a fringe scholar. Sometimes I feel the battle against popular junk scholarship is a losing one... Judging from the widespread belief in gods and other fictional entities, I share this feeling.... Vorkosigan

05-16-2002, 07:34 PM	#7
Sensei New Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4	Not so much a reply, as a related question. Where is a good internet source to research the DSS? Thanks, Sensei

05-22-2002, 04:36 PM	#10
offa Regular Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Monroeville, Ohio, USA Posts: 440	offa here, alive and well I just dropped in while listening to a baseball game. I have not posted for months and am very flattered in being remembered. I am not hung up on religion and I appreciate what Barbara Thiering has done for me. She has made me a free man. While you fundies are hung up on GOD and Virgins giving birth I just sit back and chuckle about horny priests and a war against terrorism. TERRORISM IS RELIGION. thanks, offa

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