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Mandaeanism is a religion which has been classified by scholars as Gnostic (a blanket term for various mostly mystical religions and sects, in the first century AD). Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that Mandaeanism be merged into this article or section. ... Gnosticism is a blanket term for various mystical initiatory religions, sects and knowledge schools, which were most prominent in the first few centuries AD. It is also applied to modern revivals of these groups and, sometimes, by analogy to all religious movements based on secret knowledge gnosis, thus can lead...

Since the 1st century AD the Mandaeans (Mandai) have mainly lived in the borderland areas of Iraq and Iran. Many have fled the region since the 1990s due to the unstable political climate and have migrated worldwide. This situation has deteriorated considerably since the fall of Saddam Hussein; over half of the community have emigrated and there is now considerable concern about the community's long-term viability. There is no official census of the Mandaeans; conservative guesses at current population size have been made in the range of 50,000 to 70,000. (1st century BC - 1st century - 2nd century - other centuries) The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 to 100. ... // Events and trends The 1990s in its most obvious sense refers to the years 1990 to 1999, but has held a strong influence into the 2000s. ... Saddam Hussein Wikinews has news related to this article: Saddam Hussein Saddām Hussein ʻAbd al-Majīd al-Tikrīti, sometimes spelled Hussayn or Hussain; (Arabic صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي; born April...

In reference to their connection to the Qur'an as the Sabians, Mandaeans are called Subi by their Muslim neighbors. The Mandaeans have also been called the "Christians of St. John" (a misnomer, since they are not followers of Jesus) based on a comment made by Portuguese monks in the 16th century. The Mandaeans may also be the same "Nasoraeans" indicated in the works of Epiphanius. The Mandaeans have remained separate and intensely private—what has been reported of them has mostly come from outsiders. The Quran (Arabic: al-qurān, literally the recitation; also called Al Qurān Al KarÄ«m or The Noble Quran; or transliterated Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Sabian is a term that has been more or less inaccurately used to describe at least 3 religious groups (see Mandaeanism, Harranians or Sabeans, and Sabaeans). ... Islām is described as a dÄ«n, meaning way of life and/or guidance. ... The Baptism of Christ, by Piero della Francesca, 1449 John the Baptist (also called John the Baptizer or Yahya the Baptizer) is regarded as a prophet by at least three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Mandaeanism. ... Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and an important prophet in Islam. ... A Roman Catholic monk A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Nasoraean or Nasaraean is the name of a pre-christian Jewish sect described by Epiphanius. ... Epiphanius (clearly manifested) was the name of several early Christian scholars and ecclesiastics: Epiphanius of Salamis, bishop of Salamis in Cyprus, died 410, author of Panarion Epiphanius of Constantinople, died 535, Patriarch of Constantinople 520—535 Epiphanius Scholasticus, known only as the assistant of Cassiodorus who compiled the Historiae Ecclesiasticae...

The Mandaeans are labeled as gnostics due to the Mandaic word manda, which can be translated as knowledge, the same word as "gnosis" in Greek. Thus Mandaeanism can be seen as a "Gnostic" religion. It is the only remaining Gnostic religion — excluding revivals like the Manichaean Orthodox Church [1] — still in practice. The Mandaic language is the liturgical language of the Mandaean religion; a vernacular form is still spoken by a small community in Iran around Ahwaz. ... Look up Gnosis on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The word gnosis (from the Greek word for knowledge, γνώσις) has several uses. ...

Part of the Mandaean ritual dress, called a rasta, includes a white turban symbolizing the great mystery of radiance, light and glory.

Mandaean beliefs

The Mandaean religion has a more strict dualistic nature than most Gnosticism. Instead of a large pleroma, for the Mandaeans there exists a clearer division between light and darkness. The ruler of darkness is called Ptahil (similar to the Gnostic Demiurge), and the originator of the light (i.e. God) is only known as "the great first Life from the worlds of light, the sublime one that stands above all works". When this being emanated, other spiritual beings became increasingly corrupted, and they and their ruler Ptahil created our world. The term dualism can refer to a variety of doctrines, mainly in theology and philosophy, each involving the purported existence of two opposites of some kind. ... Pleroma generally refers to the totality of Gods powers. ... The term Demiurge (or Yaldabaoth, Yao, Ialdabaoth and several other variants, such as Ptahil used in Mandaeanism) refers in some belief systems to a deity responsible for the creation of the physical universe and the physical aspect of humanity. ... Emanationism is a component in the cosmology of certain religious or philosophical systems that argue a Supreme Being did not directly create the physical universe, but instead emanated into different spiritual powers that created the world. ...

Mandaeans believe that Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad were false prophets; instead they acknowledge John the Baptist, whom they see as one of their greatest teachers. There is some confusion that the Mandaeans came after John the Baptist, while in fact they existed before him; according to Mandaean dogma, Mandaeanism was the original religion of Adam. In the Mandaean library of scriptures there is a book of John called Sidra d Yahia, which includes a dialogue between John and Jesus. They also have a hierarchical clergy, practice frequent baptism, and hold public worship on Sundays. They deplore fasting and monasticism, and believe in peace above all. Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Latin Abrahamus, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, recognized by Christianity, and a very important prophet in Islam. ... Moses or Móshe (מֹשֶׁה, Standard Hebrew Móše, Latin Moyses, Tiberian Hebrew Mōšeh, Arabic موسى Musa), son of Amram (Imran in Arabic) and his wife, Jochebed, a Levite. ... Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and an important prophet in Islam. ... Muhammad is a common Muslim male name. ... A prophet is a person who is believed to communicate with God, or with a deity. ... The Baptism of Christ, by Piero della Francesca, 1449 John the Baptist (also called John the Baptizer or Yahya the Baptizer) is regarded as a prophet by at least three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Mandaeanism. ... According to the Book of Genesis in the Christian Bible and Judaisms Torah, and to Islams Quran, Adam was the first man created by God. ... Jesus, also known as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and an important prophet in Islam. ... Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, and Sikhism, and has its origins with the Jewish ritual of mikvah. ... Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ...

There are many Mandaean scriptures, the most important being the Ginza Rba, a collection of history, theology, and prayers. On the Internet, the Ginza Rba is often confused with the Qolusta, which was translated by E.S. Drower in her book titled "The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans." The language used is called Mandaic, a language closely related to Aramaic. Ginza Rba (in Mandaic, which translates into The Great Treasure) or Siddra Rba (The Great Book) is one of many holy scriptures of the Mandaean religion. ... The Mandaic language is the liturgical language of the Mandaean religion; a vernacular form is still spoken by a small community in Iran around Ahwaz. ... Aramaic is a Semitic language with a 3,000-year history. ...

Influences

According to the Fihrist of ibn al-Nadim, Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, was brought up within the Elkasite (Elchasaite) sect. The Elchasaites were a Christian baptismal sect which may have been related to the Mandaeans. The members of this sect, like the Mandaeans, wore white and performed baptisms. They dwelled in east Judea and northern Mesopotamia, from where the Mandaeans migrated to southern Mesopotamia, according to the Harran Gawaitha legend. Mani later left the Elkasaites to found his own religion. In a remarkable comparative analysis, Mandaean scholar Säve-Söderberg demonstrated that Mani's Psalms of Thomas were closely related to Mandaean texts. This would imply that Mani had access to Mandaean religious literature. This leads to the question of just how close the origins of the Elchasaites, Mani, and the Mandaeans are to one other. Ibn al-Nadim (Abu al-Faraj Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Muhammad ibn Ishaq),(died September 17, 995 or 998) was the author of the Kitab al-Fihrist, was a a Arab Shiite scholar and bibliographer. ... Mani (in Persian مانی), born in western Persia (approximately 210-276 A.D.), was a religious preacher and the founder of Manichaeism, an ancient gnostic religion that was once prolific but now considered extinct. ... Manichean priests, writing at their desk, with panel inscription in Sogdian. ... Elkasites were members of an ancient Jewish sect, whose name was taken from its founder, Elxai. ... Desert hills in southern Judea, looking east from the town of Arad Judea or Judaea (יהודה Praise, Standard Hebrew , Tiberian Hebrew ) is a term used for the mountainous southern part of historic Palestine, an area now divided between Israel and the West Bank, and, in a few geographical definitions of Judea... Sumerian list of gods in cuneiform script, ca. ...

See also

• Jerusalem In Mandaeanism
• John the Baptist
• Johannites
• Mandaeism

Jerusalem and the Old City. ... The Baptism of Christ, by Piero della Francesca, 1449 John the Baptist (also called John the Baptizer or Yahya the Baptizer) is regarded as a prophet by at least three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Mandaeanism. ... A sect of Nestorian/Gnostic Christians who deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, and instead posit that the true savior of the world (sent to fulfill Old Testament prophecy) was in fact John the Baptist, as he was performing baptisms before Jesus birth. ... It has been suggested that Mandaeanism be merged into this article or section. ...

External links

• Mandaeans.org - Majority of the information is in Arabic. Nice site from the United Kingdom.
• Mandaean World- Information on the Mandaeans including history, the Mandaic language and Literature
• Mandaean Association Union - The Mandaean Association Union is an international federation which strives for unification of Mandaeans around the globe. Information in English and Arabic.
• Mandaean scriptures: Ginza Rba and Haran Gawaitha texts and fragments -- Take note the book titled Ginza Rba is not the Ginza Rba but is instead "The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans" as translated by E.S Drower.
• Mandaean Book of John the Baptizer: This material is taken from G.R.S Mead's book called The Mandaean Book of John the Baptizer.
• Extracts from E. S. Drower, Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran, Leiden, 1962
• BBC: Iraq chaos threatens ancient faith