How about the Shabaks? Do you know anything about them?

The NYT had an article recently about the 50,000 Mandean Gnostics who live in the swamps of southern Iraq, but are not being persecuted by Muslims.

Gnostics?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/0.../ 06deutsch.html

i think muslims classify them as sabians.

Let's not forget the Samaritans (as in "Good Samaritans") and also the pagan Kalash people of Pakistan.

the pagan Kalash people of Pakistan.

you can thank the british for that. the "kafirs" across the border in "free afghanistan" were forcibly converted in the late 19th century. the kafir kalash are converting to islam in high numbers, but apparently their high birth rates also result in stable numbers.

The NYT had an article recently about the 50,000 Mandean Gnostics who live in the swamps of southern Iraq, but are not being persecuted by Muslims.

Gnostics?

Perhaps, though some theorize the Mandaeans - who also go by the name Nasoreans (Nazarenes) - might actually be the descendants of the Essenes or the Qumran community (or both if the hypothesis that the two are one and the same are correct) who fled ancient Judea for southern Iraq. They are rather secretive but are said to consider St. John the Baptist the founder of their sect and describe Jesus as a former leader who betrayed their cause.

No wonder most world religions arised from these regions.

Mild form of schizophrenic patients might not be considered abnormal in middle east if crazy idea is accepted as `holy'

Razib,

Can you do a post on the Babis/Azalites, the forerunners to the Bahais? There are still a few thousand Babis in Iran.

Can you do a post on the Babis/Azalites

LOL. i didn't know that babis were still around! you learn something new every day....