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"Indeed, modern methods, modern ways, nationalistic education, cinemas, cars, and all that make up the new Iraq, threaten the existence of this already dwindling community In Government schools, boys conform to a pattern in dress, manners, and thought Mandaean boys (including those of priestly caste) take to European dress and wear the sidaarah cap, and, when they return to their homes, neglect and slight the precepts of the priests In the stress of school, or later business or office life, ceremonial ablutions are seldom performed, while sons of priests cut their hair and shave, and so become ineligible for priesthood (see Chapter IX) One by one, as priestly perquisites diminish and incomes lessen, the calling becomes unpopulär If these conditions persist, the priesthood will gradually die out, and without priests to baptize, marry, and bury them, the Mandaeans as a sect must disappear There is a further drain on the community in the shape of apostates Subbiyah girls marry outside the faith and adopt their husbands’ creeds, and youths forsake a religion so incompatible with worldly advantage and town life In big towns the publicity of the river-side makes the prescribed ablutions and baptisms all but impossible"
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E. S. Drower