Jesus & the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Unlocking the Secrets of His Life Story

I am impressed with Carlsbad Coastal Books- very well packaged so it would not be damaged in transit, the book was as good, it fit the description, as they stated it was. It arrived very quickly. Everything was so good, that when there was something else I was looking for, I went to see if Carlsbad Coastal Books had it in stock. Thank you!

This book gives a scholarly, and considered perspective on life in early Judaism during the time of Christ;a view based in years of research on largely ignored, and arguably misinterpreted portions of the dead sea scrolls.Much is revealed while tracing the circuitous path of history that leads to our contemporary language Bible.More is learned by way of understanding the effect of multiple translations, the ever changing context of history,and a myriad of traditions largely lost to the past.Far from doing a reverential disservice to the spiritual figure of Christ, this work views his lifeand philosophy from a thoroughly human perspective - in a cultural context steeped in inhumanity, with all the wonderand misery that that reality involves.This is not to say that this book is of exclusive interest to Christians. Any thoughtfully curious spectator of humannature and 'recorded history', whether devoutly religious, agnostic, secular humanist, or atheist will be fascinatedto trace the path of this singularly archetypal human life. This is the 'Rashomon' of christianity- the telling,and retelling of a life of devotion to one truth- that the only genuinely noble spirituality is one that is based inmutual respect, and a reverence for one common humanity. This then is the telling of the life of one man reviled bycontemporaries, an epic life whose legacy is one of myth, confusion, self service, blood lust, war, abject humansuffering, and ultimately hope.Barbara Thiering inadvertently begs the age old question of why some human beings voluntarily embrace the mutuallybeneficial concept of living by the golden rule of 'doing unto others', while the rest of humanity inexplicably careensthrough life and time in a predatory, punitive, and ultimately self destructive 'Danse Macabre'?

This book deserves to be read by every open-mindedperson who knows what the Christain story (as we havebeen told/taught it is all about). This book reveals anothercoded story that probably is the 'real' hisstory.Every brave reader needs to think hard about the 'truth'contained in Thiering's book. Critics should read it allthe way to the end and learn what the pesher is and howit works before leveling uninformed criticism.

If you are serious about understanding the "concealed" portions of the scriptures, and want more information than you will receive in general Bible Study classes, this book is for you. I would not recommend this book for new Christians. You will get more out of this if you are familiar with the Bible. It will be helpful if you take notes and make lists as you are reading this.

We had a paperback version of this book, but wanted a hard bound copy. Had read it earlier, but it's a volume we wanted for our library. The research is excellent and gives a different historical perspective from that in the Bible. While it does not always disagree, the "Riddle" discusses more about the group Jesus belonged to and its history. Jesus was a member of a religious group called the Essenes. We recommend the book to anyone interested in Christian and Essene history.

The first 160 pages tell the whole story. The extensive balance of the book is for theserious student of Jesus and his times. Ms. Thiering spent more than 25 years pullingall the pieces of the riddle together. She did a remarkable job. This book will notshake; but, rather reinforce the beliefs of Christians.

I first read this book in 1992, and was thunderstruck to find a book that agreed with my beliefs as to Jesus. This book is completely and utterly believable and makes total sense to me - as does the fact that Christians whose income depend on their religion as it stands today would criticize and oppose this book at every opportunity.

Fun readFound information that made me believe a lot of it is probably not true