Round 19: Tossup 5

An illustrated scroll titled for this rite depicts it being performed 360 times before Hibil Ziwa descends into the World of Darkness (10[1])to capture Ruha. The Valentinians’ Gospel of Philip lists this rite as the first of five stages leading to the “bridal chamber.” (10[1])Sethian Gnostics called this rite the Five Seals. A Jewish sect whose name (-5[1])prefixed this rite with (10[1])“Hemero” performed it daily. (10[1])A form (10[1])of this rite called masbuta (“mas-BUT-ah”) is performed on Sundays (10[2])at a yardna (10[2])(“yard-NAH”). This rite (10[1]-5[1])was performed daily by the Elcesaite (“el-KESS-ay-ite”) community into which Mani was reportedly born. (10[1])The Essenes may have inspired the use of this rite by Mandaeism’s (10[1])greatest (10[1])prophet. (10[4])This rite likely [emphasize] descended from (10[1])Jewish tevilah (“tvee-LAH”) rituals performed in mikveh. (-5[1])For 10 points, (10[1]-5[1])name this rite habitually performed by the central figure of the Mandaean Book of John (10[1])until his execution by Herod. ■END■ (10[3]0[1])

ANSWER: baptism [or word forms like baptizing or being baptized or baptist; accept The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa; accept Hemerobaptists; accept masbuta until read; prompt on immersion or submersion or affusion or aspersion; prompt on descriptions of going into water; prompt on descriptions of pouring or sprinkling water]
<Editors, Religion> | S. Playoffs 10 (Editors 10)
= Average correct buzzpoint

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