The Qumran

5 Pages 1270 Words

The sect of the Qumran is a sect of Jews so devout to their perception of the Judaic God that they chose to segregate themselves from the rest of Judaic society. A society which they labeled the ‘men of falsehood.’ The Qumran sect existed in a state of fear from what they perceived to be a wrathful God. This fear overtook the sects being and manifested itself in the form of spiritual purification. This form of purification was thought necessary to become as close to their God as possible. Further, the idea of purification dominated the individual of the sect, and as that individual gave their being to God they also gave up their individuality to the collective society. This group society formed their lives in a strict order in fear of offending their God, and thereby obtaining purification. The strive for personal purification moved on to a collective purification. With even grander aims than the societal purification, it grew into a manifestation of Gods army as the sect envisioned itself as ‘the war of the sons of light against the sons of darkness.’

The group of the Qumran is a puritan group who chose to segregate themselves from the rest of the Judain society; “they shall separate from the congregation of the men of falsehood and shall unite…” (IQS 5.1-6.8, ln 4-5) Further the author of the Qumran establishes the materialistic, impious nature of the ‘men of falsehood.’ The covenant or promise of Gods truth to Israel is the key to the Qumranite faith, and anyone who betrays this truth is to be dealt with in harsh terms of punishment by God. “For they sought smooth things and preferred illusions…and they justified the wicked and condemned the just, and they transgressed the Covenant and violated the Precept.” (CD I. I-2. I3, 27-32)

Strong terms are used in the Qumran to establish a solid sense of their exclusion from the rest of society. The author relates to prominent biblical names in relatio...