Essenes Gospel and its falsification Dez 18
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
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 />
28