The Essenes (es'-eenz) were a religious sect of Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD in Qumran, a plateau in the Judean Desert along the Dead Sea. The origin of the name Essene is debated. Some credible possibilities are either a version of the Greek word for "holy," or an Aramaic dialect term for "pious." Geza Vermes, a scholar and writer on religious history, traces the word to the Aramaic "Esaoin", meaning "followers of Esa". Vermes identifies this with Isa, an early name for Jesus ...

Including:

• Essenes - History
• Essenes - Beliefs
• Essenes - Rules and Customs
• Essenes - Dissolution
• Essenes - Parallels and Influences
• Essenes - Modern Essenes

Read more here: » Essenes: Encyclopedia - Essenes

Essenes

An early Jewish sect (second century BC-AD first century) known for their communism, apparent celibacy, and concern for purity. It is commonly believed that they were the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but \tTheir identification with Qumran is controversial.

(See also: Essenes, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

ESSENES

Christ -- myth or man -- was only theoretically attached to the Essenes. It's an assumption added on much after the fact. The "Messiah" of Xtianity was a formidable figure who had to be made palatable by throwing in a generous dollop of humanistic Essenianism.

So of course there would be similarities between the Essenes and the Xtians. The Xtians (as they have done with every rival for human attention ever since) took over the Essene trappings -- under linens, cap and bootstrap! If Xtianity could swallow an elephant, it would. A thousand years from now, if the world still stood, Elizabeth Clare Prophet would be hailed as the last Xtian saint because she raked in all the clutter of 20th Century occult cults, including the Anti-Christ, under one final, eschatological banner of Jesus.

It's interesting to me that the early Xtians also tried to swallow up their arch-rival, Gnosticism, along with Essenianism (the Essenes and Gnostics held many ideas in common), but while it tried to hold onto the Essenianism, it had to spit out the Gnostic medicine.

In fact, the more I think about it, the more hope I hold out for the Keristans, whom the Christians probably will never appropriate, because they can't. Its founder, an old, white-bearded geezer with young, hippie-like disciples, claims to have been told by a "voice" in his head at age 11 to form a new religion. In the second place, their mythos -- as written in comic book bible -- has Christ selling his (tennis) shoes to a cheap, plastic, children's doll, who is the true Goddess. What's more, the doll is brown.

(See also: ESSENES, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Christian Meditation: Trinity Divine and the Holy Streams 

"You have learnt that the laws of the Son of Man are seven. Now you shall know of the mystery of the three Holy Streams and the ancient way to traverse them; so shall you bathe in the light of heaven and at last behold the revelation of the mystery of mysteries: the law of God, which is One."

---The Teachings of The Elect from The Essene Gospel of Peace

This quote from one of JesusÕ little-known teachings provides not only a metaphor but also a much deeper insight as how to approach meditation.

Read more here: » Christian Meditation: Trinity Divine and the Holy Streams Trinity Divine and the Holy Streams

The Essenes were supposed to have come into existence as a protest following the purchase by Yehoshua Ben-Shimon II (Jason son of Simon) of the high priesthood from Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 175 BC. Subsequently the Essenes referred to Yehoshua ben Shimon and his genealogically unqualified successors as The Wicked Priest (Kohein ha-Resha lit. bad priest, instead of Kohein ha-Gadol). However, others have suggested that Queen Salome Alexandra's son Hyrcanus II (63 BC-?) and the other Roman collaborators that succeeded to him are the best qualified for the Wicked Priest appellation. Either way the new illegitimate priest ...

See also:

Essenes, Essenes - History, Essenes - Beliefs, Essenes - Rules and Customs, Essenes - Dissolution, Essenes - Parallels and Influences, Essenes - Modern Essenes

Read more here: » Essenes: Encyclopedia II - Essenes - History

Christian vegetarianism is the dietary practice of vegetarianism or veganism based on the belief that Jesus Christ, the twelve apostles and the early Messianic Jewish followers of Jesus (the Ebionites) were vegetarians. Some Christian vegetarians, such as Keith Akers, think that a movement away from simple living and vegetarianism began with Paul, and that they need to return to pre-Pauline early Christianity. However critics suggest that the decision to be vegetarian or omnivore is purely a personal choice, as there are many pass ...

Read more here: » Christian vegetarianism: Encyclopedia - Christian vegetarianism

Alexander Jannaeus (also known as Alexander Jannai/Yannai), king of Judea from (103 BCE to 76 BCE), son of John Hyrcanus, inherited the throne from his brother Aristobulus, and appears to have married his brother's widow, Shlamtzion or Shlomtzion or "Shelomit", also known as Salome Alexandra, according to the Biblical law of Yibum ("levirate marriage"), although Josephus is inexplicit on that point. His likely full Hebrew name was Jonathan; he may have been the High Priest Jonathan, rather than his great-un ...

Including:

• Alexander Jannaeus - Civil war against the Pharisees
• Alexander Jannaeus - Alliance with the Essenes
• Alexander Jannaeus - Coinage

Read more here: » Alexander Jannaeus: Encyclopedia - Alexander Jannaeus

The Dead Sea Scrolls comprise roughly 850 documents, including texts from the Hebrew Bible, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran (near the ruins of the ancient settlement of Khirbet Qumran, on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea). The texts are of great religious and historical significance, as they are practically the only remaining Biblical documents dating from before AD 100. Dead Sea scrolls - Date and contents. According to carbon dating and textual analysis, t ...

Including:

• Dead Sea scrolls - Date and contents
• Dead Sea scrolls - Interpretations
• Dead Sea scrolls - Essenes
• Dead Sea scrolls - Sadducees
• Dead Sea scrolls - Temple library
• Dead Sea scrolls - Christian connections
• Dead Sea scrolls - Other theories
• Dead Sea scrolls - Significance
• Dead Sea scrolls - Discovery
• Dead Sea scrolls - Cave 1
• Dead Sea scrolls - Cave 2
• Dead Sea scrolls - Cave 3
• Dead Sea scrolls - Cave 4
• Dead Sea scrolls - Caves 5 and 6
• Dead Sea scrolls - Caves 7–10
• Dead Sea scrolls - Cave 11
• Dead Sea scrolls - Publication
• Dead Sea scrolls - Vatican conspiracy
• Dead Sea scrolls - The scrolls in fiction

Read more here: » Dead Sea scrolls: Encyclopedia - Dead Sea scrolls

Christian David Ginsburg (1831-1914), Jewish scholar, was born in Warsaw on 25 December 1831. Coming to England shortly after the completion of his education in the Rabbinic College at Warsaw, Ginsburg continued his study of the Hebrew Scriptures, with special attention to the Megillot. The first result of these studies was a translation of the Song of Songs, with a historical and critical commentary, published in 1857. A similar translation of Ecclesiastes, followed by treatises on the Karaites, the Essene ...

Read more here: » Christian David Ginsburg: Encyclopedia - Christian David Ginsburg

Qumran (Khirbet Qumran) is located on a dry plateau on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea in Israel. It is best known as the nearest centre to the hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Since the discovery of the scrolls, extensive excavations have been done. Jewish ritual baths and cemeteries have been found, a large cistern, a large dining or assembly room, an alleged scriptorium, and a guard tower. The site was constructed sometime between 150 and 130 BC. Most scholars believe it was home to a Jewish sect, most often said to be the Essenes; others have proposed that it was a villa for a single weal ...

Including:

• Qumran - External link

Read more here: » Qumran: Encyclopedia - Qumran

Esoteric Christianity refers to the occult study and the mystic living of the esoteric knowledge related to what adherents view as the "inner teachings" of early Christianity, seen as a Mystery religion. The term is thought by some to be originally associated with the Essenes and the Rosicrucians. Some modern-day practitioners believe that the foundational teachings of Esoteric Christianity were publicly presented to the world in the early 20th century (1) in an effort to establish a future universal religion as mankind, with a ...

Including:

• Esoteric Christianity - Biblical foundations
• Esoteric Christianity - Biblical counterpoints
• Esoteric Christianity - 20th century Writings

Read more here: » Esoteric Christianity: Encyclopedia - Esoteric Christianity

Catechumen (from Latin catechumenus, Greek carijxobucvos, instructed) is an ecclesiastical term applied to those receiving instruction in the principles of the Christian religion with a view to baptism. Quoting Shaye J. D. Cohen: From the Maccabees to the Mishnah (1987) "The Sadducees were the aristocratic opponents of the Pharisees. The Essenes were a group of religious and philosofic virtousi, living a utopian life of the sort that would provoke the admiration of Jews and non-Jews alike. Josephus mentions ...

Including:

• Catechumen - External link

Read more here: » Catechumen: Encyclopedia - Catechumen

Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area between the cities of Essen and Dortmund. Population (November 2003): 393,324. Bochum - History. Although Bochum was founded in the 14th century, the town was insignificant until the 19th century, when coal mining and steel industry emerged in the Ruhr area, leading to the growth of the entire region. The population of Bochum increased tenfold between 1850 and 1890. Between 1960 and 1973, all the mines were cl ...

Including:

• Bochum - History
• Bochum - Twin cities

Read more here: » Bochum: Encyclopedia - Bochum

The Book of Enoch refers to several ancient works attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah. Though many scholars consider the books to be pseudepigraphal, various groups, including the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Essenes, reguard parts or all of the books to be inspired Scripture. The currently known texts are usually dated to Maccabean times (ca. 160s BC). Most commonly, the phrase Book of Enoch refers to 1 Enoch, which survives completely only in Ethiopic language as far as we know. There are als ...

Including:

• Book of Enoch - History
• Book of Enoch - Rediscovery
• Book of Enoch - Content
• Book of Enoch - The book is made up of five sections:
• Book of Enoch - Names of the fallen angels

Read more here: » Book of Enoch: Encyclopedia - Book of Enoch

Big Bertha (German: Dicke Bertha; literal translation "Fat Bertha") is the name of the L/14 model of heavy mortar-like howitzers built and used by Germany during World War I. The name "Big Bertha" is often mistakenly applied to the Long Max and Paris Gun railway guns. Designed in 1904 and produced by the Krupp factories in Essen, Germany, in 1914, the L/14 howitzer was a movable 42 cm siege mortar with shells weighing 820 kg each and a maximum range of 15 km, with a maximum elevation grade of 80 degrees. Only 4 of them were bui ...

Including:

• Big Bertha - Links

Read more here: » Big Bertha: Encyclopedia - Big Bertha

The Rosicrucian Order is a legendary and secretive Order dating from the 15th or 17th century. It generally is associated with the symbol of the Rose Cross, which is also found in certain rituals beyond "Craft" or "Blue Lodge" Freemasonry. The Rosicrucian Order is viewed among earlier and many modern Rosicrucianists as an inner worlds Order, comprised of great "Adepts." When compared to human beings, the consciousness of these Adepts is like that of demi-gods. This "College of Invisibles" is regarded as the source permanently b ...

Including:

• Rosicrucian - Origins
• Rosicrucian - History
• Rosicrucian - Influence on Freemasonry
• Rosicrucian - Rose Cross: Alchemy and Divine Sciences of Healing & of the Stars
• Rosicrucian - The Manifestos
• Rosicrucian - Modern groups
• Rosicrucian - Esoteric Christianity groups vs. Para-Masonic groups
• Rosicrucian - List of 'Para-Masonic' groups
• Rosicrucian - List of 'Esoteric Christianity' groups
• Rosicrucian - Reference literature

Read more here: » Rosicrucian: Encyclopedia - Rosicrucian

Essenes (probably from Hebrew asa to heal)

Described by Josephus as one of three principal sects among Jews from about the middle of the 2nd century BC; the title Healer, often equivalent to savior or teacher (cf therapeutae). They were a sect of Jewish theosophy, rather exclusive, adhering to Jewish tradition in some respects though regarded as heretical in others.

Their cardinal principles were active benevolence and self-discipline. They had an esoteric school guarded by secrecy, accessible through novitiate and degrees. Josephus, describing the rule of a community, presents the picture of a tranquil life, divided between practical avocations, assemblies, and ritual observances.

(See also: Essenes, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Essenes. A hellenized word, from the Hebrew Asa, a "healer". A mysterious sect of Jews said by Pliny to have lived near the Dead Sea per millia seculorum - for thousands of ages. " Some have supposed them to be extreme Pharisees, and others - which may be the true theory - the descendants of the

Benim-nabim of the Bible, and think that they were ‘Kenites and Nazarites.

They had many Buddhistic ideas and practices; and it is noteworthy that the priests of the Great Mother at Ephesus, Diana-Bhavani with many breasts, were also so denominated. Eusebius, and after him De Quincey, declared them to be the same as the early Christians, which is more than probable. The title ‘ brother’, used in the early Church, was Essenean ; they were a fraternity, or a koinobion or community like the early converts."

(Isis Unveiled.)

(See also: Essenes, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Essen Germany - Roads. The Ruhrschnellweg runs directly through the city, dividing it roughly in half. A tunnel was built in the 1970s when the then-Bundesstraße was upgraded to autobahn standards, so in the inner city district near the main station, the A40 is hidden from public view. Other major autobahns include the A 52 which crosses the city limits at Kettwig, continues past the fairground through the southern borough of Rüttenscheid, then merges with the Ruhrschnellweg at the Autobahndreieck Essen-Ost jun ...

See also:

Essen Germany, Essen Germany - Transportation, Essen Germany - Roads, Essen Germany - Public transport, Essen Germany - Twin cities, Essen Germany - Sights in Essen

Read more here: » Essen Germany: Encyclopedia II - Essen Germany - Transportation

Essen spent all his working life at the National Physical Laboratory but caused some embarrassment to his employers in (1971) when he published The Special Theory of Relativity: A Critical Analysis in which he questioned Einstein's theories. He retired in 1972 and died in Great Bookham, Surrey. ...

See also:

Louis Essen, Louis Essen - Early work, Louis Essen - The speed of light, Louis Essen - Atomic clocks, Louis Essen - Time standards, Louis Essen - Later life, Louis Essen - Honours

Read more here: » Louis Essen: Encyclopedia II - Louis Essen - Later life