What is Mandaeism?

Mandaeism is an ethnic, monotheistic, and Gnostic religion originating in the river valleys of southern Iraq and southwestern Iran. Adherents, known as Mandaeans, revere figures like Adam, Noah, and especially John the Baptist, whom they consider the greatest prophet. The faith places central importance on spiritual knowledge, or manda, and baptism.

What we know

• Mandaeism is a Gnostic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion that incorporates Greek, Iranian, and Jewish influences. [2]
• Mandaeans revere prophets such as Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem, and John the Baptist, while viewing Jesus as a false prophet. [2]
• The name Mandaean derives from manda, the Aramaic word for knowledge or gnosis, which is central to their salvation. [2, 4]
• The population has traditionally lived around the lower Karun, Euphrates, Tigris, and Shatt al-Arab waterways, but many have fled Iraq since the 2003 invasion. [2]

Still open

• The classification of Mandaeism as an Abrahamic religion is controversial and hotly debated because its doctrines differ significantly from mainstream Abrahamic faiths.

Where to go next

• how it workedWhy do Mandaeans baptize so frequently?
• what caused itHow has the Iraq War affected Mandaean communities?
• the bigger pictureWhat are Abrahamic religions?
• compared withWhat is Gnosticism?
• whereWhere is Khuzestan province?
• an unexpected connectionHow does Mandaeism relate to the mysterious Sabians of the Quran?Mandaeans historically identified as the Sabians mentioned in the Quran in order to secure legal protection under Islamic law.

Sources

• [1]Mandaeism (Wikidata Q205754) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Mandaeism · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Abrahamic religions · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Manda (Mandaeism) · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Islam · CC BY-SA 4.0