Would anyone like to provide information related to the Mandaeism religion?

Question

Please provide any information related to beliefs, practices, history, and archeology.

Answer 1

The mandaeans in many ancient records were known as the "daily baptizers". Today they live mostly on the borders of northern Iraq and Iran. Mandai means "knowledge of life". Like many of the mesopotamian religions, it has its base in figures like Abraham, Adam, etc. They have many of the same practices as early Christianity (baptism, communion, etc.), except they apply metaphoric interpretation to their rituals seeking inner personal improvement rather than conversion. During the middle ages they were referred to as the "Christians of St. John". They are a very secretive group with a tiered hierarchal structure so most people can't observe much about their rituals. A religious historian named Elizabeth Drower is the only known person to have lived extensively with them and she wrote a thorough book about their religion called "The mandaeans of Iraq and Iran by E.S. Drower".