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| '''Manichaeism''' was one of the major ancient religions. It seems to be completely extinct today. It was founded by ], who lived approximately 210-275 C.E. in western ]. Mani was raised as an | |||
| '''Manichaeism''' is an ancient religion founded by ], who was born in ] and died circa A.D. ]. Its believers claim to be ], but other Christian groups reject their beliefs as heretical. Manichaeism has often been associated with ], another early form of Christianity that has also been rejected as heretical by most Christians. | |||
| schismatic Christian (an ]) but, upon reaching maturity he split | |||
| with his origins and created a new religion intended to combine all the | |||
| existing religions. The large existing religions, most notably Christianity and Zoroastrism, refused to be combined. Mani died in prison awaiting | |||
| execution by the Persian Emperor. | |||
| The Manichees made every effort to include all known religious traditions. As a result they preserved many heretical Christian works, such as the Acts of Thomas, that would have been lost otherwise. Mani was eager to describe | |||
| Mani was brought up as a ],and he claimed to be a prophet sent to complete the message of ], ], ] and the ]. | |||
| himself as a "disciple of Jesus Christ", but the great church rejected him as a heretic. | |||
| After Mani's death, Manichaeism spread to both the east and the west. It became popular in the ], and for a while it was a major competitor to what is now accepted ]. ], for instance, was a Manichee for several years before switching to ]. In the east, Manichaeism spread as far as western ]. | |||
| The Manichean church spread both east and west. It's most famous western convert was ] who, after a few years, changed sides and became an orthodox Christian. In the east it spread along the trade routes as far as China. | |||
| The main principle of Manichaen theology is ], the belief that the universe is run by two gods, one good and the other evil, these two gods of of equal power and in a constant battle for supremacy. | |||
| The Manichee church had no central organization and, if Augustine can be trusted, no appreciable intellectual appeal, at least in the west. In the east it seems to have been destroyed by Islam. | |||
| After some early successes Manichaeism then entered a decline. It is now mainly practised by obsucre and persecuted groups in southern Iraq and has no more than a few thousand followers at most. | |||
| The most striking principle of Manichee theology is it's ]. The | |||
| Several mediaeval ] sects, such as the ], the ] and the ] were perhaps influenced by Manichaeism. | |||
| universe is a battlefield for control between an evil material god and a | |||
| good spiritual god. Christians recognized the evil god in Satan but, of | |||
| course, could not accept the idea that Satan had as much power as Jehovah. | |||
| How much influence the Manichees actually had on Christianity is still being | |||
| Compare with: ] | |||
| debated. It has been suggested that the ] and the ] were only superficially orthodox Christians and were, in essence, Manichees. | |||
| The record is confused because medieval writers used Manichee as a synonym for heretic. ] and his followers apparently tried to absorb | |||
| what they thought was the valuable part of Manicheaism into Christianity. | |||
| In the case of the Cathars it seems that the Cathars adopted the Manichee | |||
| principles of church organization but none of its theology. | |||
Revision as of 19:54, 7 June 2002
Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. It seems to be completely extinct today. It was founded by Mani, who lived approximately 210-275 C.E. in western Persia. Mani was raised as an schismatic Christian (an Elkasite) but, upon reaching maturity he split with his origins and created a new religion intended to combine all the existing religions. The large existing religions, most notably Christianity and Zoroastrism, refused to be combined. Mani died in prison awaiting execution by the Persian Emperor.
The Manichees made every effort to include all known religious traditions. As a result they preserved many heretical Christian works, such as the Acts of Thomas, that would have been lost otherwise. Mani was eager to describe himself as a "disciple of Jesus Christ", but the great church rejected him as a heretic.
The Manichean church spread both east and west. It's most famous western convert was Augustine of Hippo who, after a few years, changed sides and became an orthodox Christian. In the east it spread along the trade routes as far as China.
The Manichee church had no central organization and, if Augustine can be trusted, no appreciable intellectual appeal, at least in the west. In the east it seems to have been destroyed by Islam.
The most striking principle of Manichee theology is it's dualism. The universe is a battlefield for control between an evil material god and a good spiritual god. Christians recognized the evil god in Satan but, of course, could not accept the idea that Satan had as much power as Jehovah.
How much influence the Manichees actually had on Christianity is still being debated. It has been suggested that the Bogomils and the Cathars were only superficially orthodox Christians and were, in essence, Manichees. The record is confused because medieval writers used Manichee as a synonym for heretic. Priscillian and his followers apparently tried to absorb what they thought was the valuable part of Manicheaism into Christianity.
In the case of the Cathars it seems that the Cathars adopted the Manichee principles of church organization but none of its theology.