Elkesaites

Dr. Ray Taylor on The Nazorean Current, Manichaean Gnosis & Orthodox Deception

Aeon Byte Gnostic RadioJul 23, 2026

Religious studies scholar Dr. Ray Taylor argues that Christianity did not grow out of the Jerusalem Temple. He traces it instead to a 'Nazorean current' of daily-baptizing, gnosis-keeping sects around John the Baptist. He connects this current to the Mandaeans, the Elkesaites, Simon Magus and Mani, and claims later orthodox writers built a false line of apostolic succession to bury these rival streams.