The Secret Initiation of Jesus at Qumran

A remarkable work of scholarship that reframes the origins of Christianity in the light of findings from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following a lead given by a former Catholic priest Josef Milik, Robert Feather undertakes some scholarly and archaeological fieldwork which leads him to conclude that both John the Baptist and Jesus were members of the Qumran Essene community. Milik had originally excavated the headless corpse which he believed to be that of John the Baptist. Feather draws the same conclusion and also suggests a Qumran burial place for Jesus himself. He argues that Jesus's philosophy reflects that of the Essenes, a form of monotheism going back to the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. A consequence of this view is that the resurrection is spiritual rather than bodily. It also helps explain the antagonism of the Sadducees and the temple authorities, which ultimately led to his crucifixion. Although these claims may sound far-fetched, they are carefully argued and rival theories are thoroughly discussed. The arguments of the book deserve serious consideration.