Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness
War Scroll
Reader question: Prof. Schiffman, is it your opinion that the forces of Light (Judaism) were arrayed against those of the Kittim Darkness during the occupation as demonstrated by some of the Dead Sea Scroll material; i.e., 4Q491-496, 4Q285, 11Q14, etc? Do you believe that this paradigm still holds true in this present age?
Answer: I assume that by “occupation” you mean the Roman conquest of Judea in 63 BCE. The sectarians used Kittim to refer to the Romans before the conquest took place. I do not personally subscribe to the ideology of the Qumran War Scroll and similar documents that you refer to, that some small sect of righteous Jews is arrayed against a dark world of other Jews and all non-Jews. I see most of my fellows world-citizens, of all religions, as good people who unfortunately need to struggle against the forces of darkness that assault our common humanity, often in the name of religion.
2 Responses to Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness
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Thank you very much for taking your valuable time in answering this question. The answer suits me fine. The primary motive for the question wasn’t the battle of Jews vs Jews and/or other faiths/cultures, but as you so deftly percieved, then answered.
Quote:
“I see most of my fellows world-citizens, of all religions, as good people who unfortunately need to struggle against the forces of darkness that assault our common humanity, often in the name of religion.”
Awesome.
What a great truth.