Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls Author:Edmund Wilson Israel and the Dead Sea Scrolls is a masterful work by the late scholar, critic and author Edmund Wilson who, in 1954, became intrigued by the discovery of the scrolls of the Essenes and the possibility that the Jewish sect was a precursor to Christianity. His fascination took him to Israel where he studied the revelations of t... more »he scrolls; his account of their history and significance was first published in 1955. In his text, Wilson conveys his passion for the things represented by his quest for meaning: history, politics, ancient lore. Drawing upon his findings, he presents a compelling reconstruction of Biblical times, offering evidence that the Essenes practiced a religion very similar to Christianity, including celebration of a messiah and partaking of holy sacraments.« less