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Essenes Gospel and its falsification Dez 18

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all. This brotherhood, to which the Baptist promised not<br />

only health, the end of hunger in the world <strong>and</strong> true happiness,<br />

yet also eternal life, succeeded in attracting people in<br />

droves.<br />

For the Roman rulers, the brotherhood represented a massive<br />

threat, because the Romans would have lost their authority<br />

through the renunciation of currency <strong>and</strong> economic<br />

controls. Nothing was henceforth bought or sold. The brothers<br />

were autonomous <strong>and</strong> no one wanted to make the inferior<br />

work for money. Everyone was welcome to the Brotherhood.<br />

At first, the sick joined the Brotherhood, where they<br />

recovered their health.<br />

Slaves regained their freedom in the community, <strong>and</strong> women<br />

were no longer subjugated. Homeless people acquired a<br />

family <strong>and</strong> beggars no longer went hungry. All found their<br />

place <strong>and</strong> a task in the Essene Brotherhood, regardles of<br />

origin <strong>and</strong> personal situation. Those who had regained their<br />

original purity could experience special feelings of happiness<br />

completely unknown to ordinary people.<br />

This Brotherhood was a model for the whole world, <strong>and</strong> it<br />

exp<strong>and</strong>ed even beyond the province, such that the Roman<br />

economy gradually became affected. Roman authority suffered<br />

<strong>and</strong> the Emperor feared the Essene Baptist might seize<br />

the sceptre of power.<br />

By the time the Romans became aware of the effects of the<br />

doctrine, it was already too late. Consequently, the doctrine<br />

of the Baptist <strong>and</strong> the brotherhood, which referred to <strong>its</strong>elf as<br />

Christians, were forbidden. Their habitations were destroyed<br />

<strong>and</strong> the <strong>Essenes</strong> were dispersed. Those who did not want to<br />

relinquish their faith in the message of the Baptist were persecuted,<br />

captured <strong>and</strong> murdered. There began the actual persecution<br />

of Christians, which was justified in the Roman’s<br />

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