Hi Diane,

I went over to the Q/E forum and read over some of the postings. Yes, there are a few scholarly postings, but in my view it seems to be chronically manned by rudderless whackos looking for some pseudo scientific reasoning to back up their baseless faith.

For example, one hot-shot says Roman coins have been "discovered" with microprinting around the rims, saying Year 1 of King Jesus, or some such crap, and that proves beyond any conceivable doubt that Jesus existed, was resurrected and is god mad flesh......sheeeessshhhhh!@!!!

Then again, I may be missing your point. Please clarify the value of said forum.

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

Answers

Ken - I was just about to post a question on Elain Pagel's and I see this new topic spring up. This is an even better synchronicity than your truck question. How did you manage this?

(I don't suppose that "defensive driving" techniques is an adequate answer to your truck maneuver?)

What is your take on Elaine Pagel's book The Gnostic Gospels? I was originally raised Catholic, grew disaffected, collected various and sundry writings of all sorts...

Anyway - it read pretty clearly to me and certainly obviated the party line. I realize it is a popularized edition, but as a cartoon sketch is it dependable?

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

Ken,

When I looked at that forum about six months ago, it was more "interesting." Just provided the link without seeing what they were saying now. Sorry.

As to the Essenes, think the digs at Qumran and Masada will provide clues, plus the Dead Sea Scrolls, etc. Have you read...

The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception; Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh (Contributor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ 0671797972/ref=sim_books/103-8560654-4536633

I hesitate to recommend another book as being way too out there but what the heck... I found it fascianting! (But then, I can guide past life regressions, so perhaps my understanding of the process lends a different perspective on the research endeavor).

Jesus and the Essenes, Dolores Cannon
http://www.amazon.com/exec/ obidos/ASIN/1886940088/qid=954432389/sr=1-2/103-8560654-4536633

I like to read. To suppliment my adventures, and pick up the leads n clues to the scattered puzzle pieces.

Diane

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

Hi y'all,

I find Baigent & Leigh, of Holy Blood, Holy Grail fame, to have a fascinating perspective, and they, or their researchers, do very nice work in digging up clues..... but ultimeately, they are cranks. They have a book to sell. The present a conclusion which will resonate with their pop audience.

Perhaps because they start with the faulty premise so many people start with - Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical person.

It is my firm belief Jesus is a personality wrapped in Pythagorean/Orphic/Gnostic/Essene philosophy, his core being transplanted from one KRISHNA JESEUS, as described in the ancient Bhagavat Gita. The parallel are just too close to be anything else.

Please visit:

Hare Jesus: Christianity's Hindu Heritage

The Origins of Christianity

At this time, I'm really not sure the Qumran settlement was Essene. I've real the translations of all the scrolls and fragments, as of 1998, and find many Essene elements, as well as Pharasee and Saducee (Zadok) elements. However, I do not believe their library would contain writings offensive to the community, so there must be a happy medium somewhere. Perhaps because most of the writings originate in the 2nd century BC, and the Essenes and Pharasees parted company shortly afterwards?

Also, I can't recall if it was Pliny or Philo who named the Essenes "jews by race", but the label seems to me to indicate they were a racial splinter of a parent group, as Eusebius points out, the Theraputea of Alexandria.

Oh well, I could go on ad nauseum.....

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000

Tom, I can't really comment on Pagels THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS, not having read it. Help me out. It seems, from the title, either she's adressing the Synoptic Gospels as Gnostic based on Irenaeus comment in AGAINST HERESIES, stating the Gnostics claimed Jesus ministry lasted one year, which is what Matt, Mark and Luke state; or it's a commentary on the Nag Hammadi library, identified as Gnostic based on its location in Egypt and its content, much of which aligns with known "Gnostic heresies".

Would you share your impressions?

thanks

-- Anonymous, March 30, 2000