stillsmallvoice
July 22nd 2003, 07:44 AM
Hi all!
I saw this in today's Boston Globe & thought that our TWeb family might find it interesting:
Tiny sect fearful, hopeful in Iraq
By Paul Haven, Associated Press, 7/22/2003
BAGHDAD -- Tanks rumbled past on a nearby bridge yesterday and US helicopters soared
overhead, but by the bank of the Tigris River was a scene from thousands of years ago.
Hundreds of Sabaean Mandeans -- a tiny sect that views John the Baptist as savior -- waited in line
in gauzy, white tunics to submerge themselves in the ancient river. They were celebrating the eve of
their first New Year since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and many said they were just as worried
about the future as they were happy to see the dictator go.
''We expect there will be problems,'' said Satar Jabar Hello, 49, leader of the world's Sabaean
Mandeans, as he blessed a bearded, old man with holy water during the ceremony. ''We believe in
peace, but others maybe do not.''
Water is everything to the Sabaean Mandeans, who are baptized and married in it, and receive their
last rites by the river's edge.
The group, which believes that John, and not Jesus Christ, was the true Messiah, was allowed to
worship under Hussein. But the regime seized several of its temples, and the group was not allowed
to build new ones outside Baghdad. Like all groups in Iraq, they say many followers were among
the estimated 300,000 people murdered during Hussein's 23-year reign.
Still, they say the future might be even worse for their sect as fundamentalist Islamic groups begin to
assert control in a new Iraq. Majority Shi'ite Muslims, long oppressed by Hussein, appear poised
to take a commanding role in the emerging government, much to the Sabaean Mandeans' dismay.
''Under Saddam, we were more free, because he was against the Shi'ites and that protected us,''
said Furat Jabar, a woman waiting to be blessed in the river. ''But now, the Shi'ites hate us and
want us dead.''
Many Sabaean Mandeans expressed the same concerns during the all-day ritual.
In the ritual, followers cleanse themselves, then pray before a cross-shaped symbol, adorned by a
white baptismal cloak and an olive branch -- signifying light, life, and peace. Rites are conducted in
a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken in the Middle East in the time of Jesus.
They then are baptized in the river before sacrificing chickens and sheep that are eaten in a feast in
tribute to the dead.
Today and tomorrow, followers will lock themselves in their homes while they await the return of
angels sent to heaven to thank God and ask his blessing for the new year.
''This is the greatest day, when the earth was brought together and the stars were set in their places.
It is the beginning of the physical universe,'' said Hello.
Followers say there are between 80,000 and 200,000 Sabaean Mandeans in the world. The
majority are in Iraq, but some also live in southern Iran and tiny communities have emigrated to the
United States, Canada, and Europe. In Iraq most of the followers work as gold- and silversmiths,
and many are fine craftsman.
The religion combines aspects of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Gnosticism, but is considered
separate from each and generally does not accept converts.
Another Sabaean Mandean, Zahar Hassan, says life has been difficult since the Americans ousted
Hussein. Like most Baghdad residents, his family is suffering through a searing, hot summer without
electricity and with an erratic water supply.
But he said he welcomed the US-led invasion and says he is planning a memorial service for
followers of the faith killed by the former dictator -- including three of his uncles.
''We are flying with happiness since Saddam is gone,'' he said.
Furat Jabar says she's not so sure. She is angry that the sect has been shut out of the new
Governing Council set up by Iraq's US occupiers this month. The 25-member council, the
forerunner of a fully sovereign Iraqi government, includes Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and
even an ethnic Turk and an Assyrian Christian.
After waiting it out for years under Hussein, Jabar says she is thinking of emigrating to Europe,
where she has several relatives. She says anywhere she can perform baptisms will do.
This story ran on page A8 of the Boston Globe on 7/22/2003.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.
Link: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/203/nation/Tiny_sect_fearful_hopeful_in_Iraq+.shtml
Mandeism
Alternative Religion/ features/ Alternative
religion Facts
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 mainly 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 process.
Church/temple: A 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.
Link: http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_mandeism.htm
Here is a link to a Mandaean site: http://www.mandaeanworld.com/mandaeanworld1.html .
Be well!
ssv :hi:
I saw this in today's Boston Globe & thought that our TWeb family might find it interesting:
Tiny sect fearful, hopeful in Iraq
By Paul Haven, Associated Press, 7/22/2003
BAGHDAD -- Tanks rumbled past on a nearby bridge yesterday and US helicopters soared
overhead, but by the bank of the Tigris River was a scene from thousands of years ago.
Hundreds of Sabaean Mandeans -- a tiny sect that views John the Baptist as savior -- waited in line
in gauzy, white tunics to submerge themselves in the ancient river. They were celebrating the eve of
their first New Year since the fall of Saddam Hussein, and many said they were just as worried
about the future as they were happy to see the dictator go.
''We expect there will be problems,'' said Satar Jabar Hello, 49, leader of the world's Sabaean
Mandeans, as he blessed a bearded, old man with holy water during the ceremony. ''We believe in
peace, but others maybe do not.''
Water is everything to the Sabaean Mandeans, who are baptized and married in it, and receive their
last rites by the river's edge.
The group, which believes that John, and not Jesus Christ, was the true Messiah, was allowed to
worship under Hussein. But the regime seized several of its temples, and the group was not allowed
to build new ones outside Baghdad. Like all groups in Iraq, they say many followers were among
the estimated 300,000 people murdered during Hussein's 23-year reign.
Still, they say the future might be even worse for their sect as fundamentalist Islamic groups begin to
assert control in a new Iraq. Majority Shi'ite Muslims, long oppressed by Hussein, appear poised
to take a commanding role in the emerging government, much to the Sabaean Mandeans' dismay.
''Under Saddam, we were more free, because he was against the Shi'ites and that protected us,''
said Furat Jabar, a woman waiting to be blessed in the river. ''But now, the Shi'ites hate us and
want us dead.''
Many Sabaean Mandeans expressed the same concerns during the all-day ritual.
In the ritual, followers cleanse themselves, then pray before a cross-shaped symbol, adorned by a
white baptismal cloak and an olive branch -- signifying light, life, and peace. Rites are conducted in
a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken in the Middle East in the time of Jesus.
They then are baptized in the river before sacrificing chickens and sheep that are eaten in a feast in
tribute to the dead.
Today and tomorrow, followers will lock themselves in their homes while they await the return of
angels sent to heaven to thank God and ask his blessing for the new year.
''This is the greatest day, when the earth was brought together and the stars were set in their places.
It is the beginning of the physical universe,'' said Hello.
Followers say there are between 80,000 and 200,000 Sabaean Mandeans in the world. The
majority are in Iraq, but some also live in southern Iran and tiny communities have emigrated to the
United States, Canada, and Europe. In Iraq most of the followers work as gold- and silversmiths,
and many are fine craftsman.
The religion combines aspects of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Gnosticism, but is considered
separate from each and generally does not accept converts.
Another Sabaean Mandean, Zahar Hassan, says life has been difficult since the Americans ousted
Hussein. Like most Baghdad residents, his family is suffering through a searing, hot summer without
electricity and with an erratic water supply.
But he said he welcomed the US-led invasion and says he is planning a memorial service for
followers of the faith killed by the former dictator -- including three of his uncles.
''We are flying with happiness since Saddam is gone,'' he said.
Furat Jabar says she's not so sure. She is angry that the sect has been shut out of the new
Governing Council set up by Iraq's US occupiers this month. The 25-member council, the
forerunner of a fully sovereign Iraqi government, includes Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and
even an ethnic Turk and an Assyrian Christian.
After waiting it out for years under Hussein, Jabar says she is thinking of emigrating to Europe,
where she has several relatives. She says anywhere she can perform baptisms will do.
This story ran on page A8 of the Boston Globe on 7/22/2003.
© Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.
Link: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/203/nation/Tiny_sect_fearful_hopeful_in_Iraq+.shtml
Mandeism
Alternative Religion/ features/ Alternative
religion Facts
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 mainly 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 process.
Church/temple: A 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.
Link: http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_mandeism.htm
Here is a link to a Mandaean site: http://www.mandaeanworld.com/mandaeanworld1.html .
Be well!
ssv :hi: