Essenes: Monastic, Ascetic Mystics

Question 1

Name:

Answer 1

Unknown origin

Question 2

Origin

Answer 2

• Reactionary movement meant to counter corrupt Sadducean priesthood
• Identified with various groups including Hassidim, Zealots, greek influence or iranian influence

Question 3

Segments of Society

Answer 3

-Scattered throughout the villages of Judea , Qumran community

Question 4

Key Tenets

Answer 4

• Very strict ascetics
• Monastic, took vow of celibacy, some did marry for the purpose of procreation
• Rigidly adherent to the law, strict rendering of ethical teachings
• Considered other literature as authoritative, in addition to the hebrew scriptures
• Believed and lived a life of pacifism
• Rejected temple worship and offerings as corrupted
• immortal soul, no bodily resurrection
• Apocalyptically oriented

Question 5

Activities

Answer 5

• Devoted to copying and studying the manuscripts of the law
• community oriented
• long probationary period and ritual baptisms of those wishing to join
• highly virtuous and righteous
• extremely self-disciplined
• diligent manual labourers
• great importance to daily worship
• upheld rigid Sabbath laws
• Maintained a non-levitical priesthood
• rejected worldly pleasures as evil
• rejected matrimony, but did not forbid others to marry