[Charles Gadda]

By describing them as "Christ-centered," I am simply referring to their exclusive focus on this aspect and this interpretation, on fitting the archaeological evidence into this schema at the expense of others. I don't dispute that this is one legitimate avenue of research--nor, indeed, that the individuals in question have the right to defend their theory and to be "included." Whether they should be allowed to set the agenda of a major exhibit, and whether Spielberg's Holocaust foundation money should have been given to one of them under such circumstances, is another question. For the general scholarly background of the dispute, see historian Norman Golb's Forward editorial.

[RobbyS]

Golb makes some good points, but in defense of the “christological” emphasis, I must say that after the discovery of the scrolls, the first interpretations uniformly aimed to discredit Christianity, in part by asserting the lack of originality in Christianity. Indeed, this was nothing more than an continuation of the Enlightenment project, which has been to prove the falsity of Christian claims. Even a concern for history got pushed aside as advocates for this point of view rushed to impress their anti-Christian theories on the public consciousness. I certainly agree that the findings illuminate a very complex world of First Century Judaism, one which was only sketched for us by Josephus. I agree that should be the focus. But the fact is that there is a “war going on between Christians and anti-Christians. It is to be expected that one or the other would try to set the agenda. Unfortunate, but expected.