Qumran Community
What type of community you think the Qumran group was using the categories developed by sociologists of religion.
A sect is a religious organization that is relatively small and is not closely integrated into a bigger society. A sect often is in conflict with some of the values and norms of the larger society. In most cases, a sect has detached itself from a larger denomination as it pursues to restore what its followers believe to be the original denominational views. The small size of sects makes them lack bureaucracy and also ecclesiae (“Sociological Classifications Of Religious Movements”). Sects also often do not have clergy who are officially trained. The worship services are characterized by intense emotion, which is more than the typical denomination where the worship is restrained and formal (University of Minnesota).
According to Collins, the Essene were a sect. In the 2nd BC, they were separated from the rest of the Jewish community when Jonathan and Simon Maccabeus both usurped the High Priest’s office. This office conferred religious and secular authority to the office bearer. Simon felt it was his duty to persecute the Essenes against the usurpation. This resulted in the Essenes running away and hiding in the wilderness. They had a leader who was referred to as the Teacher of Righteousness. Some of the scholars state that the Qumran were a monastic community and lived apart like other Essenian communities in the tribe of Judea. The Qumran community members devoted their time to prayer, worship, studying scriptures, and manual labor. They took their meals in one common place as messianic banquet prophetic celebrations. They also practiced baptism, which was a symbol of repentance and a way of becoming one of the people ‘Elect of God.’
Outline the goals and organization of the community examining issues such as what it hoped to achieve, how it fit into God’s plan for Israel, and how it functioned.
The Essene went into hiding from persecution and lived around the Qumran area. The community turned to visions of the apocalypse of the wicked priests being overthrown from Jerusalem as their community’s ultimate building and endurance. They believed that the community was the true Israel and the true priesthood.
In the Damascus Document, there are two main sections. The first is the ‘exhortation’, which outlines the sect’s religious teachings and puts an emphasis on the fidelity of the covenant God made with the Israelites as well as the strict observance of holy days, including the Sabbath. This section also introduces the enigmatic leader, who is referred to as the Teacher of Righteousness. Scholars have never identified who the said Teacher was. The Teacher, however, was opposed by the wicked priest who ruled over Jerusalem then and had him persecuted before sending him into exile. The sect believed that a messianic age would begin after 40 years had passed following the death of their Teacher (Dead Sea Scrolls -2004).
The second section contains a list of laws the people should abide by. The statues primarily dealt with ritual purity, vows, guidelines that would help in conducting community assemblies, and judge selection. The section also outlined a Guardian’s duties, including the instruction and admission of new members (Dead Sea Scrolls -2004).
The community wanted to achieve a pure religion among the Israelites and opposed the new priesthood structure. They also wanted to live according to what they believed was God’s instructions of holiness. They were not allowed to depart from any of God’s commands. The rules stipulated that they were to adhere to all the commands of God and could not in any way stray from them. Those that embraced the rules of the community were ushered into God’s Covenant. The members were not to serve any foreign gods and were to fear the laws of God and write them in their hearts. To ensure that the people did not stray, there was a council comprising 12 men and 3 priests versed perfectly with the Law (Taylor).
The way that the community functioned was in line with God’s original plan of the Israelites. God had told the Israelites repeatedly that He desired for them to worship Him only and remain holy all the days of their lives. God had also given a list of laws, mostly found in the Book of Leviticus, instructing the Israelites on what they should and should not do. Further, God had said that a priest could not hold the position of a ruler as priests were ordained from the tribe of Levi, and their duties were spelled out for them (Numbers 3:10, 3:38 and 16:40). When the Israelites broke this command and made rulers from priests, the Qumran moved away from them to live a life that the Lord God had commanded.
God, on several occasions, warned through the prophets (Ezekiel 8:6; Amos 5:3; Ezekiel 9:8; Romans 9:29-30) that if the Israelites strayed from the covenant He had with them, then He would destroy them and live a remnant. The Qumran were the remnant even as the Roman Empire took the Israelites as their slaves.
What it would be like for you if you were living in the midst of a group like the Qumranites. Would you like it? Why or why not?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. I would like to stay among the Qumran and follow the precepts of God. The world we live in is defiled, and sin is so openly celebrated. Living among these sect members would give me the peace of not having to live amid open sinfulness. However, I would also not like to be under a supreme religious leader, especially because I know I have a High Priest in heaven who intercedes for me and pays the sacrifice for me to enter heaven. I am already the Elect because Jesus Christ is my advocate and High Priest. Following a human being as the giver of truth and knowledge and also as an approver of my righteousness has been negated by the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God on Calvary. My duty is to let others know that they can enter and become the Elect when they accept the free gift of salvation and not hide in a sect.
Works Cited
Collins, John Joseph, and John J. Collins. Beyond the Qumran Community: The Sectarian Movement of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2010.
“Sociological Classifications Of Religious Movements”. En.Wikipedia.Org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements.
Taylor, Joan E. The Essenes, the scrolls, and the Dead Sea. Oxford University Press, 2014.
The Community Rule- Extracted pages from The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls -2004 pdf.
University of Minnesota. “17.4 Types Of Religious Organizations”. Open.Lib.Umn.Edu, https://open.lib.umn.edu/sociology/chapter/17-4-types-of-religious-organizations/.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
We’ll write everything from scratch
Question 
The Nature of the Qumran Community
Introduction: One of the big questions that we are addressing in class is who were the Qumranites. But just as important as knowing the name of the group is knowing what kind of group they were. This assignment is designed to help you with the latter.
Qumran Community
Part A: Scholars who study patterns of human societies and social relations are called sociologists. Sociologists have attempted to classify the different types of religious communities that exist. So your first step is to read the following articles that briefly outlines various types of communities. After reading the articles, consider which type of community the people of the Dead Sea Scrolls most resemble based on what you have learned so far. What are the reasons for your conclusion? Here are the articles:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociological_classifications_of_religious_movements
Part B: Next, read “The Rule of the Community”, also known as 1QS or Serekh ha-Yachad. This was one of the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered. For your convenience, Its text is presented at the end of the question prompt (Attached). As you read 1QS you can see that it sets out to state the goals and organization of the community. Make note of any passages that deal with these matters. At the same time, you might want to reconsider your conclusion about the type of community the Qumranites represented.
Write: Now that you have researched and thought, you are ready to write. Based on all you have done, write a 2-3 page essay stating:
- first what type of community you think the Qumran group was using the categories developed by sociologists of religion.
- Next, outline the goals and organization of the community examining issues such as what it hoped to achieve, how it fit into God’s plan for Israel, and how it functioned.
- Finally, in one paragraph conclude by reflecting on what it would be like for you if you were living in the midst of a group like the Qumranites. Would you like it? Why or why not?
*use the sources provided*
Complete the order form and upload all of your files, including any instructions, rubrics, or other materials provided by your instructor. 
Complete the order payment after filling in the order form. We’ll receive your order and assign it to a writer.
The assigned writer will complete your paper and forward it to our Editing Team for review and approval.
Once approved by the editor, the completed paper will be uploaded to your account for you to download, review and approve.