The Mandeans- A Gnostic Christian Minority in Iraq & Iran
Mandaeism, or Mandaeanism, is a monotheistic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. Its followers are called Mandaeans. They revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enosh, Noah, Shem, Aram and especially John the Baptist.
Mandaeism has historically been practiced primarily around the lower Euphrates, Tigris and rivers around the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. This area is currently part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran. Persecution in Iraq has caused many Mandaeans to leave for diaspora populations in Europe, Australia and North America.
There are thought to be between 60,000 and 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide. Until the 2003 Iraq war, almost all of them lived in Iraq.The 2003 Iraq War reduced the population of Iraqi Mandaeans to approximately 5,000 within four years. Most Iraqi Mandaeans fled to Syria and Jordan under the threat of violence by other Iraqis and the turmoil of war.
The Mandaeans have remained separate and intensely private-what has been reported of them and their religion has come primarily from outsiders.
Mandaeism has historically been practiced primarily around the lower Euphrates, Tigris and rivers around the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. This area is currently part of southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province in Iran. Persecution in Iraq has caused many Mandaeans to leave for diaspora populations in Europe, Australia and North America.
There are thought to be between 60,000 and 70,000 Mandaeans worldwide. Until the 2003 Iraq war, almost all of them lived in Iraq.The 2003 Iraq War reduced the population of Iraqi Mandaeans to approximately 5,000 within four years. Most Iraqi Mandaeans fled to Syria and Jordan under the threat of violence by other Iraqis and the turmoil of war.
The Mandaeans have remained separate and intensely private-what has been reported of them and their religion has come primarily from outsiders.
Modern Persecution of Mandeans
In Iraq, Mandeans are subject to harassment by Islamic extremists. There are also reports of attacks on women who refuse to veil themselves. Most Iraqi Mandeans have fled as a result, and the Mandean community in Iraq faces extinction in Iran.
Mandeans are not subject to sectarian violence as they are in Iraq, but are prohibited from fully participating in civil life by the Gozinesh Law (passed in 1985). This law makes access to employment, education, and a range of other areas conditional upon a rigorous ideological screening, the principal prerequisite for which is devotion to the tenets of Islam. These laws are regularly applied to discriminate against religious and ethnic groups which are not officially recognized by the state.
Mandeans are not subject to sectarian violence as they are in Iraq, but are prohibited from fully participating in civil life by the Gozinesh Law (passed in 1985). This law makes access to employment, education, and a range of other areas conditional upon a rigorous ideological screening, the principal prerequisite for which is devotion to the tenets of Islam. These laws are regularly applied to discriminate against religious and ethnic groups which are not officially recognized by the state.
Readings on Mandeaism & Gnosticism
Books and other material to help you delve deeper into the ancient texts.
More on Middle Eastern Issues
If you are interested in Middle Eastern issues, be sure to check out these related pages:
Related Links
If your curiosity has been piqued, the links below will direct you to more readings about this obscure ancient religion related to Christianity.
- Who are the Mandeans?
- Short article on the Mandean religion
- Mandeaism~ Wikipedia
- Wikipedia entry for the Madean religion.
- Mandean Union
- Homepage of the Mandean Association Union, with detailed information about the sect's history and modern status.
- Mandean Scripture
- The Ginza Rba, or Great Treasure, is the main scripture of Mandeaism.
- Ginza Rba, in Translation
- English language translation of portions of the Ginza Rba.
- Mandeans~an Iraqi Minority
- Wikipedia article on Mandeans as an Iraqi minority.
Did This Lens Open Your Awareness?
I am hoping that everyone who reads this lens learns abut a people/place/religion they may not have heard of before, or at least learn something new about them that will help broaden their horizons, open them to further research or deeper understanding.
Please leave your thoughts here.
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CrypticFragments
Jun 20, 2009 @ 5:47 pm | in reply to spirituality | delete
- thanks for your visit!
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spirituality Jun 20, 2009 @ 3:46 am | delete
- Good start - the Mandeans, as the only surviving Gnostic group, are very fascinating indeed. You need to reread your 'Modern Persecution of Mandeans ' section as it contains some glaring spelling and grammar mistakes.
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by CrypticFragments
Tammy Winand was born and raised in south central Pennsylvania. Her passion for far off places and cultures developed through contact with foreign pen... more »
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