COMMUNITY AND MEMBERS
The Mandaean community are an ancient group of people who have survived harassment in their home countries in Iraq and Iran due to the Iraq Civil War that saw the number of Mandaean members decline due to prosecution. They have been forced to flee to nearby countries and some communities were forced to travel beyond the Middle East. Mandaeanism is referred to as the oldest surviving Gnostic religion which can be traced back to the 3rd century AD. The members of the community and the religion share the belief that there is only one god as Mandaeanism is a monotheistic religion. They believe that Adam was the first Mandaean to receive religous instructions from God. It has been said that the Mandaean people fall in between Judaism and Christianity however, they differ from the Jewish because they do not follow Torah's teachings nor are they Christain because they do not consider Jesus as God.
They recognise Adam, Noah and John the Baptist (Yayha Yahana) as their profits. The Mandaean community believe in repeated Masbuta (baptism) and thus the majority of members will occasionally go down to a river and baptise as it is believed to be a form of cleansing against sins committed. The Mandaean community and its members are an extremely unique and private group of people and do not encourage violence or force. They believe in marriage and reproduction amongst families to further expand the community and allow for the religion to live on as one is not able to convert to being Mandaean and a Mandaean is not able to convert out of the religion, one is simply born a Mandaean.
Who are the Mandaean community and their members?
"Ye the chosen ones...Do not rely on kings and rulers of this world, do not use soldiers and weapons or wars; do not rely on gold or silver, for they all will forsake your soul. Your souls will be nurtured by patience, love, goodness and love for life."
-Extract from the Right Ginza II.i.34
"Give alms to the poor. When you give do not attest it. If you give with your right hand do not tell your left hand. If you give with your left hand do not tell your right hand."
-Extract from the Right Ginza I.105
