The
Omega Scroll
Author: Adrian d’Hage
Pubisher: Penguin, 2006
Background information
In 1947, some ancient
scrolls were discovered in the Qumran caves near the Dead Sea. They are believed to have been written by a
Jewish monastic sect called the Essenes. According to Pliny (23-79 CE), the Essenes
were a celibate Jewish sect of hermits who lived in an area that might be
understood as the Qumran caves.
Josephus, Romano-Jewish scholar of the first century (37-100 CE), described
the Essenes as a monastic group or a mystery order that despised pleasure and
wealth. Josephus described the Essenes as
a community which did not allow any private property. He says that the sect had a 3-year probation
period after which one might be accepted as full-fledged member who would have
to rise before dawn, work for 5 hours, take a ritual bath after the work and
then have a communal meal. According to
Josephus, the members had some divination and healing powers. The Essenes were scholars in many ways. When the scrolls were discovered some 2000
years after they were written, the Catholic Church went out of its way to conceal
them. Why? Did the scrolls contain some information
about Jesus which the Church did not want the people to know?
On 28 Sep 1978, Pope John
Paul I died 33 days after his election as the Pope though he was in good
health. David A Yallop wrote a book, In God’s Name, giving ample evidence
that the Pope was killed by the cardinals in the Vatican because he intended to
modernise the Catholic Church.
The Novel
Adrian d’Hage makes full
use of both of the above details in his thriller novel, The Omega Scroll. A Catholic
priest named Giovanni Donelli and a Catholic nun named Allegra Bassetti are
selected for higher studies in a secular university in accordance with the
desires of John Paul I. The Pope dies
soon under mysterious circumstances.
Donelli is aware of the villainous politics that is played out in the
Vatican by Cardinal Petroni who has shady relationships with the Italian
Mafia. Petroni is also misusing the
funds of the Vatican Bank. John Paul I
orders an enquiry into these shady affairs of the Church. He also wishes to legalise
contraception. The Pope is a man of
integrity who wishes to bring Jesus back to the Church.
The emergence of the Dead
Sea Scrolls will soon change the destinies of both Donelli and Allegra. The novel tells the story of the priest and
the nun. But it is more about the
corruption that has corroded into the Catholic Church’s holy of holies, the
Vatican. Cardinal Petroni is the villain
who has no knowledge of love. “Those who
are incapable of love often substitute it with a desperate pursuit of power,”
says one of the characters in the novel (page 458). Cardinal Petroni is the typical power-seeker
who will indulge in any kind of manipulation in order to become the next Pope. The Dead Sea scrolls will be bought up by him
for enormous amounts of money and the Vatican Bank’s accounts will be
manipulated for that. Petroni has no
qualms about killing anyone who stands in his way to power.
The novel is a
thriller. But it is worth reading. It presents well researched material in the
form of popular fiction. The best things
is that the author has a noble vision to offer.
Unfortunately, Petronis rule the world.
Tragically, Petronis rule religions.
We, the ordinary mortals, can console ourselves with the dream world
suggested by Adrian d’Hage at the end of his novel.
hope to read it some day
ReplyDeleteAll the best, Nima.
DeleteSounds very interesting. And I'm very interested in religion. Will certainly try to get a hold of it.
ReplyDeleteThe book is balanced unlike other books of the type. It has both the good kind of religious people and the villainous type too. At a simple level, the plot is the classical fight between the good versus the evil.
DeleteAlthough it sounds interesting, I don't think I will read. Somehow when it comes to religion, I'm such a cynic that I hate reading everything related to it. :(
ReplyDeleteIt's your choice, Pankti. After all, religion can't be everyone's cup of tea. In fact, it shouldn't be... If there were less people interested in religion, the world would have been a much more peaceful place :)
DeleteNice review..:)
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteWill try reading this book
ReplyDelete