[soc.religion.christian] Dead Sea Scrolls Controversy

ncramer@bbn.com (Nichael Cramer) (11/17/89)

In today's "Boston Globe" there was tantalizing but mostly content-free
article about some raging controversy surrounding the remaining unpublished
Dead Sea Scrolls.  Reference was also made to an on-going series of
editorials in _Biblical Archeology Review_.

Does anyone know what all this is about?

Thanks
NICHAEL

hall@vice.ico.tek.com (Hal Lillywhite) (11/20/89)

In article <Nov.17.03.49.32.1989.1755@athos.rutgers.edu> ncramer@bbn.com (Nichael Cramer) writes:
>
>
>In today's "Boston Globe" there was tantalizing but mostly content-free
>article about some raging controversy surrounding the remaining unpublished
>Dead Sea Scrolls.  Reference was also made to an on-going series of
>editorials in _Biblical Archeology Review_.
>
>Does anyone know what all this is about?


I haven't read the Globe article (It's not sold on the street
corners here in Oregon :-)) but maybe the controversy is over the
very fact that they are not published.  I have picked up from going
to a couple of lectures by Wilford Griggs and reading some things
(primarily by Hugh Nibley) that some people seem to be failing to
publish as promised in this area.  Apparently the scrolls were
divided among scholars in several countries.  Each was supposed to
do his research on what his portion contained and publish the
results.  Seems like there may have even been an agreed upon
publication date although my memory is hazy on that point.  Anyway,
many of these scholars have failed to meet expectations.  Nibley
commented something to the effect that if the current publication
rate continues we will be seeing "new" scrolls well into the next
century (remember, they were discovered in the middle of this one).
Part of the problem is apparently politics.  I gather that some of
the countries and cultures where these scholars reside are likely to
be upset by the contents of the scrolls so they don't dare publish.

If any suscribers to this newsgroup live where you can talk to a
knowledgeable scholar I (and I'm sure others) would apreciate it if
you would post his/her comments.

mls@attunix.att.com (Mike Siemon) (11/20/89)

In article <Nov.17.03.49.32.1989.1755@athos.rutgers.edu>,
ncramer@bbn.com (Nichael Cramer) writes:

> article about some raging controversy surrounding the remaining unpublished
> Dead Sea Scrolls.  Reference was also made to an on-going series of
> editorials in _Biblical Archeology Review_.

I don't read _BAR_, but the fooferaw is mostly a complaint by scholars
with no access to the scrolls that publication is

	1.  excessively slow (compared, for example, with Nag Hammadi)

	2.  access to materials is denied to all but the students of
	    the editors (in some cases), thereby effectively doing an
	    academic power play, to the major disruption of scholarship

	3.  some publication delays are charged to be because the texts
	    undermine long-held positions (academic or religious) of the
	    editors.

The editors' response amounts to

	-   dammit, this is hard work to do right; stop noodging.

It should be obvious that there is potential here for major flammage on
all sides.  I am unqualified to venture any substantive opinion on this.
-- 
Michael L. Siemon			Inflict Thy promises with each
cucard!dasys1!mls			Occasion of distress,
att!sfbat!mls				That from our incoherence we
standard disclaimer			May learn to put our trust in Thee