[Vision2020] Karates are dull

[Phil Nisbet]

Mandeism is actually one of the fun ones Andreas.  They are the last of the 
Essenes of John the Baptist’s organization and have 20,000 folks right there 
in Iraq.  They still follow the bulk of Jewish religious practice, but also 
adhere to the Book of John the Baptist.

I have often wondered if perhaps why the Jesus thing got started was that 
it’s a lot nicer to have a symbol that’s a cross than a symbol that is a 
guy’s head on a platter.

Supposedly in the 20-70 CE timeframe, they were the big rivals for the 
Christians.

It’s a funny old world.

Mandeism


From: http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_mandeism.htm

History/Founder/important persons/saints: The exact origins of Mandeism are 
unknown, and scholars argue dates ranging from the first to the fourth 
centuries. Because they speak a form of Aramaic, some credence is given 
their claim that they are descended from followers of John the Baptist; 
others believe they may be descended from the Essene sect.

Current leader/governing body: Mandeans live in small communities in 
Southern Iran and Iraq.

Number of Adherents: About 20,000 in Iraq and Iran.

Clergy: Mandeans have an active priesthood that requires extensive training 
and a seven day initiation.

Church/temple: The Mandi, a small open-ended building with a pool (connected 
to a nearby river) for baptism.

Scripture: The Ginza, or prayerbook, and the Book of John the Baptist.

Required observances, dietary restrictions: Mandeans follow purity laws 
similar to those in Judaism. Men are required to wear white turbans.

Code of Conduct: Mandeans follow a complex system of Morals, much of which 
is laid out in the "Book of John." The main prohibitions are:

1 Blasphemy
2 Murder
3 Adultery
4 Theft
5 Lying and perjury
7 Being disloyal
8 Lust
9 Magic
10 Circumcision
11 Drinking alcohol
12 Charging interest
13 Mourning the dead
15 Divorce
16 Suicide
17 Self-mutilation, including tattoos and piercing

Holidays: Important holidays include the Mandean New Year, and the Dehwa 
Hnina (little feast). The Mandean calendar has twelve months of thirty days 
each; the intercalary days make up the difference, and are the time of the 
Greatest Mandean feast, the Panja.

Basic teachings and Beliefs: The Mandeans are the last remaining continuous 
Gnostic sect- Mandean is from the word "Manda," or "secret knowledge.". They 
practice weekly Baptisms as a sacrament, and claim to follow the teachings 
of John the Baptist. They reject Jesus as a false prophet, who mislead 
people and revealed religious secrets.

The Mandeans are considered by Muslims to be "People of the Book" and the 
Sabeans of Koranic legend, but Mandeans give Mohammed less credit even than 
Jesus, identifying him as a demon.

The practice of ecstatic rituals (see shamanism) may be another link to the 
early Gnostics, and the mysterious substance haoma bears and interesting 
linguistic similarity with the Hindu Soma.

Interestingly, the Christian New Testament tells of an episode where the 
missionary Paul encounters a group of "disciples," followers of John the 
Baptist, who have never heard of Jesus! (Acts 19) Part of the Mandean 
account of Jesus:

"While John lives in Jerusalem, gaining sway over Jordan and baptizing, 
Jesus Christ shall come to him, shall humble himself, shall receive John's 
baptism and shall become wise with John's wisdom. But then shall he corrupt 
John's sayings, pervert the Baptism of Jordan, distort the words of truth 
and preach fraud and malice throughout the world."

Symbols: The main symbol of the Mandean faith is a cross swathed in fabric, 
surmounted by a wreath.  (OK so I was only kidding about the guys head on a 
plate)

Phil Nisbet

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