Baptism

===Mandaean baptism===
{{main|Masbuta}}
{{See also|Ritual purification#Mandaeism|Mandaeism}}
[[File:Mandaeans 01.jpg|thumb|[[Mandaeans]] undergoing baptism (''[[masbuta]]'') in the [[Karun]] River, [[Ahvaz]], [[Iran]]]]
[[Mandaeans]] revere [[John the Baptist]] and practice frequent baptism (''[[masbuta]]'') as a [[Ritual purification#Mandaeism|ritual of purification]], not of initiation. They are possibly the earliest people to practice baptism.<ref name=McGrath>{{Citation|last=McGrath|first=James|title=The First Baptists, The Last Gnostics: The Mandaeans|website=YouTube-A lunchtime talk about the Mandaeans by Dr. James F. McGrath at Butler University|date=23 January 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvv6I02MNlc |access-date=3 November 2021}}</ref> Mandaeans undergo baptism on Sundays (''Habshaba''), wearing a white sacral robe (''[[Rasta (Mandaeism)|rasta]]''). Baptism for Mandaeans consists of a triple full immersion in water, a triple ''signing'' of the forehead with water and a triple drinking of water. The priest (''[[Mandaean priest|Rabbi]]'') then removes a [[Klila|ring made of myrtle]] worn by the baptized and places it on their forehead. This is then followed by a handshake (''[[kushta]]'', "hand of truth") with the priest. The final blessing involves the priest laying his right hand on the baptized person's head.<ref name="auto"/>{{rp|102}} ''Living water'' (fresh, natural, flowing water)<ref name="auto"/> is a requirement for baptism, therefore can only take place in rivers. All rivers are named [[Jordan River|Jordan]] (''[[Yardna|yardena]]'') and are believed to be nourished by the ''[[World of Light]]''. By the river bank, a Mandaean's forehead is anointed with [[sesame oil]] (''[[Misha (Mandaeism)|misha]]'') and partakes in a communion of [[Sacramental bread#Mandaeism|bread]] (''[[pihta]]'') and water. Baptism for Mandaeans allows for salvation by connecting with the ''World of Light'' and for forgiveness of sins.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/030609/9mandeans_2.htm |title=Mandeans |newspaper=US News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021205653/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/030609/9mandeans_2.htm |archive-date=October 21, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = Gnostic Ethics and Mandaean Origins | first = Edwin M | last = Yamauchi | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bBccilWD5n0C&pg=PA20 | publisher = Gorgias Press | year=2004 | isbn = 978-1-931956-85-7 | page = 20}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.mandaeanunion.org/History/EN_History_007.htm |title=History |publisher=Mandean union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317051057/http://mandaeanunion.org/History/EN_History_007.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref>