In dealing with a subject like this, it is necessary to clarify just what is meant by the term "Sabian." For sure, a lot of nonsense has been written concerning the Sabians, the Sabaeans, the Johannites, whether of Basra or Bosra or Bussora, and whether or not they were Nazarenes, Nasoreans, Nazaraeans, or Nosairi or Nusayri. In fact, though there are definite family ties that link each of these together, they are very distinct movements, representing links in a long and confusing causal chain. It is no longer acceptable to say that the Sabians of Harran and Baghdad are the same thing as the Mandaeans of Basra, because this is untrue. Further, it is no good to say that the Sabians of Harran and Baghdad, or the Mandaeans of Basra are the same as the Sabians of Bosra, because Basra and Bosra are two separate locations. Also, it is irresponsible to connect any of these with the Sabaeans of Saba, in southern Arabia, unless one knows history well enough and can connect the dots causally. There is a world of difference between the Sabaeans and the Sabians. There is also a world of difference between the Sabaeans of Arabia and the Sabaeans of Axum. Which came first, the chicken or the egg, you ask? Our answer: The Rooster! In fact, the Sabians of Basra, might not be referring to the Mandaeans at all, but to the Isma'ili, who were known as the Pure Brethren of Basra, who compiled the first encyclopaedia of knowledge, and who did have a profound influence on such notables as Raymond Lull and the First Qabalists, those of Narbonne.
The word, SABIAN, derives from the Arabic, Sabi'una, from , to baptize, according to some. Also, )bc (TzBA) == 93, which is of importance to all Thelemites. Elsewhere, we have found that the term refers to The Wise. There seems to be a confusion as to the term. Here is a list of people who have been confounded with the Sabians:
1. ELKESAITES, including the Nazaraeans, the Nazoreans, the Nasoreans, the Nazarenes, the Essenes, the Ebionites, the Sampsaeans, the Masbotheans, the Mughtasilahs.
2. MANDAEANS, including the Haemerobaptists, the Mughtasilahs, the Christians of Saint John, the Nazaraeans, the Yezidis.
3. YEZIDIS, including the Yezidis(Dasni), the Isma'ili, the Assassins, the Sufis, the Batinis, the Carmathians, the Ansayri, the Alawites, the Nusairi, the Druzes.
4. HARRANIANS, including the Sabians, the Sabaeans, the Pagans of Harran and Baghdad, etc.
5. SABAEANS, from SABA, in the Yemen, and the Red Sea Coastline of the Arabian Peninsula. From here came the Chaldaeans, the Nabateans, the Jafnids, the Ghassanids, the Wise Men of Damkar (Dhamar, the location of a very important and famous Islamic University).
6. SABAEANS, from the AXUMITE KINGDOM, in Ethiopia, the real land of Prester John. Cross-penetration between Yemen and Ethiopia brought the Sabaean culture to East Africa, and down the Nile to Egypt. Our research demonstrates and proves this to have taken place prior to the time of Akhnaten the heretic.
So that, while all these systems are different, technically, they are all connected to each other, like different sects of Gnostics are connected, though very different in language, usages, doctrinal elements. We must examine each of these, in succession, to see if we can gain Illumination as to the identity of the real sect which Initiated Hugues de Payen and Godefroi de Saint Omer.
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