Sectarianism in Qumran : a cross-cultural perspective / Eyal Regev.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Regev, Eyal.

Series:

Religion and society (Hague, Netherlands) ; 45.

Religion and society, 1437-5370 ; v. 45

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judaism--History--Post-exilic period, 586 B.C.-210 A.D.

Judaism.

Jewish sects.

Christian sects.

Qumran community.

Dead Sea scrolls.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (456 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : Walter de Gruyter, c2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Sectarianism in Qumran: A Cross-Cultural Perspective explores the sectarian characteristics of the system of beliefs and laws of the two major Qumran sects of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the yahad and the Damascus Covenant, using theories of sectarianism and related topics in sociology, anthropology and the study of religion. It discusses Qumranic moral and purity boundaries, cultic rituals, wealth, gender, atonement, revelation mysticism, structure and organization and compares them with those of seven sects of the same (introversionist) type: the early Anabaptists, Mennonites, Hutterites and Amish, Puritans, Quakers and Shakers. The sociological and historical relationship between the Qumran sects and the related movements of 1 Enoch, Jubilees and the Essenes are analyzed in detail, in order to understand the socio-religious background of sectarianism in Qumran and its subsequent variations. Throughout the chapters, differences between the yahad, the Damascus Covenant and the Essenes are observed in relation to social boundaries, social structure, gender relations, revelation and inclination towards mysticism. Points of resemblance and difference are traced between the Qumran sects and the early-modern Christian ones, and several different patterns of sectarian ideology and behaviour are noticed among all these sects.

Contents:

Front matter

Preface

Table of Contents

Introduction: From Scrolls to Sects

Part I Sectarian Ideologies in Qumran

Chapter 1. Sectarian Ideologies and Social Theory: From Separation to Revelation

Chapter 2. Abominated Temple and Moral Community: Purity, Morality and Sectarian Boundaries

Chapter 3. Dynamic Holiness and Pre-Sectarianism in the Temple Scroll and MMT

Chapter 4. Structure, Organization, and the Relationship between the yahad and the Damascus Covenant

Part II. Related Movements: 1 Enoch, Jubilees and the Essenes

Chapter 5. 1 Enoch and the Origins of Sectarian Tension

Chapter 6. Jubilees' Reform Movement

Chapter 7. The Essenes: An Outgrowth of the Qumran Movement?

Part III. A Comparative Study of Sectarianism: The Qumran Sects and the Anabaptists, Mennonites, Hutterites, Amish, Puritans, Quakers and Shakers

Chapter 8. Comparing Sectarian Rituals and Organizational Patterns

Chapter 9. Gender and Sectarianism: Between Celibacy and Intimacy

Chapter 10. Eliminating the Power of Wealth

Chapter 11. Mysticism and the Holy Spirit

Conclusions

Abbreviations

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [391]-425) and index.

ISBN:

9783110896640

3110896648

OCLC:

811407747