From: Tim.ONeill@english.utas.edu.au (Tim O'Neill)
Subject: Re: B. Thiering and her new book
Organization: University of Tasmania (Australia)
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 02:13:54 GMT

In article <thurston.712260648@phyast.nhn.uoknor.edu>, thurston@phyast.nhn.uoknor.edu (Tad Thurston) writes:
> 
> 
> 
> Hey, has anybody read Barbara Thiering's new book called Jesus and 
> the Dead Sea Scrolls?   I just bought it and scanned it through, as well
> as being familiar with the PBS special that gave her theory some lip
> service.  Does anybody have some good refutations to her theory?  It 
> sounds pretty good and thorough to me, but I am interested in hearing
> some critical discussion by those much more knowledgeable in the field 
> than I am.  
> 
> Lemme have it!!!

It's total crap. I've been reading on the origins of christianity
for some years now and I've read some really stupid stuff (eg
'Holy Blood and Holy Grail'), but having just finished Thiering's
'Jesus the Man' I'd have to say she wins the prize for the greatest
load of unadulterated bullshit I've ever read.

For those who aren't in the know, Dr Barbara Thiering is a part-time
lecturer at Sydney University here in Australia. She'd published several 
books on the Dead Sea Scrolls in the late 70's and early 80's, but no-one
paid her any attention until the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
made a documentary on her 'revolutionary new discoveries' which they
screened on Palm Sunday in 1990. In the show she claimed that the scrolls
are contemporary with Jesus, that Jesus is the person that is refered to
in them as the 'Wicked Priest' while the leader of the scrolls community,
'the Teacher of Righteousness', was John the Baptist. She claimed that
the gospels were written in a kind of code, which could only be read
if you had the right key (she, of course, had the key). Using her
'pesher technique' Thiering proceeded to explain that such events as
the Virgin Birth and all the other miracles never actually occured,
but are actually coded references to various events in the history
of the dispute between John the Baptist and Jesus. Jesus wanted to
open the Essene/Dead Sea Scroll community up to accept all people, 
but John, she tells us, wanted to keep it exclusive. 

In the end Jesus is crucified (at the Essenes' community at Qumran)
but he doesn't die on the cross, but escapes the tomb and lives on
to a ripe old age: accompanying Paul on his journeys and finally
dying in Rome.

Most of the controversy after the ABC documentary was over her denial
of basic christian doctrines, and the debate fast became one between
christians and Thiering's supporters. What seems to have been
ignored is that all non-christian scholars consider Thiering's
ravings to be total bullshit as well.

All was quiet on the Thiering front until earlier this year when she
released a new book, 'Jesus the Man'. Before I read it I was aware of 
her theory's general outlines, but rejected it on the grounds that
the scrolls are dated to two centuries before Jesus. She has arguments
against the accepted dating of course, but they are seriously flawed
and have been universally rejected by scrolls scholars.

Nothing could have quite prepared me for how bad her book is, however.
Using her magic pesher technique, Thiering completely rewrites the
history of the Eastern Mediterranean. Herod the Great, she tells us,
was in the process of overthrowing the Roman Empire with the help
of Jesus' granfather and father. Pontius Pilate, the High Priests
Annas and Caiaphus and Simon Magus were all Essenes who were involved
in this plot for world domination. She can tell us, down to the last
minute, when major events occured. She can give us the seating arrange-
ments at the last supper (which was actually a negotiation session
between two factions of Essenes) and she gives us the exact facial
expressions and relative positions of Peter and Jesus during Jesus'
trial (which was actually an internal disciplinary inquiry at Qumran).
This is not simply overdramatised writing, she honestly believes that
she has 'uncovered' all this detail. Before I read her book I thought
she was a scholar who had got a bit carried away. Now, I can quite
honestly say that i wouldn't rule out the possibility that she is
mad: the book is really that bad.

If anyone really wants me to post a more detailed critique, as well
as information on why her re-dating of the scrolls is total crap I
will do so. Until then, my advice to christians and fellow non-christians
alike is'Avoid Thieirng's stuff like the plague (unless you want
a damn good laugh)
Tim O'Neill