When he discovered that Samaritans still exist, John Howard de Selby attempted to become one. This proved difficult given that the religion does not accept converts. They regard themselves as the genuine and pure old-style Israelites.
The history of the people of this ancient religion remains debatable, but we know that in 772 BCE they were conquered by the Assyrians.
The Samaritans (or Bene Yisrael) and the ancient Israelites were closely related. They may have once been one people, but they divided in a religious schism. Eventually the Maccabees, not supportive of diversity, crushed the Samaritans.
Today the remaining 1,000 Samaritans live in two small villages in or near Israel. Their religious book is the first five books of the Torah or Old Testament. They pray in Hebrew, and the Israelis, after rejecting them, have granted the Samaritans the right of return. De Selby has twice been denied Israeli citizenship.
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