Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms - Gerard Russell

Subtitled "Journeys into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East".

An interesting account of the author's exploration and contacts with several ancient religions now in the process of disappearing in their homelands.  He includes some history of the region, and the religious and political conflicts as well as an historical view of the various religions themselves.  His accounts of personal meetings and experiences are also interesting, although sometimes I wish he would include more of what he learned or experiences and less of the how and what of the meetings.

Religions he looks at are:

Mandeans - Iraq, especially the south and the marshes area; latter day Manicheans of sorts.

Yazidis - Turkey, Syria, Iraq

Zoroastrians

Druze - elect priestly cast; most members know almost nothing of their religion and beliefs strangely;     more a community and collection of traditions for most than a religion

Samaritans - a pre-Talmudic Jewish sect; very ancient; very small - currently about 800 followers

Copts

Kalasha - Afghanistan - like the Druze in that most members know almost nothing about the religion; a priestly cast; more of a tradition and community for most

In the introduction he mentions how some of these religions offer glimpses of an older way of conceiving and living religion, and I can see that in the ones that have esoteric knowledge, initiation and a closed priestly cast.  What is also interesting about them, is how hard a time they have when the followers are no longer a tight, small community but a diaspora of exiles and refugees.  They don't have the open structure and generalized knowledge that allows them to continue in this sort of scattered situation.

In the Epilogue, he looks at some of these communities in the United States.  He, and several people he interviews, mention how this exile from the homeland can often strengthen someone's practice and adherence as way of shoring up identity in this new foreign environment.  The religion becomes more  of a vehicle for maintaining social and personal identity, as well as cultural values.

A list for further reading at the end of the book.

The Mandeans of Iraq and Iran - E S Drowser
The Secret Adam - E S Drowser
Chronology of Ancient Nations - Biruni (AD 1000)
Year Amongst the Persians - Browne
The Turban for the Crown:  The Islamic Revolution in Iran - Said Amir Arjomand