G R S Mead

Gnostic John the Baptizer G R S Mead

Gnostic John the Baptizer (Selections from the Mandaean John-Book), was written by English historian, writer, editor, translator and Theosophist G. R. S. Mead, and originally published in 1924. In this work, Mead turns his hand to illustrating the beliefs of the Mandaeans regarding John the Baptist, who are a small and little-known religious community living mainly in Iraq. The group are the last group of traditional Gnostics left in the world, and because of this, their beliefs present a fascinating study of living Gnosticism. Whilst not Christians per se, they trace their lineage back to John the Baptist, of the Christian tradition, and before, to be commonly known as the Nazoraeans, however, they hold themselves aside from both Christianity and Judaism, both of which they regard, in true Gnostic fashion, as perverted versions of the true faith.