Manichaeism

'Manichaeism (or Manichaeanism) was a religious movement founded in the third century CE, of which Augustine of Hippo was a member in his youth. Although it gained some popularity in the Roman Empire, its centre of influence was north-east Persia (modern-day Iran), and floirished between the thirs and fifth centuries CE. It had died out by the end of the sixteenth century, although there have been modern attempts to revive it as Neo-Manichaeism.

Origin and beliefs

Manichaeism was named after its founder, Mani or Manichaeus (c.217–277), a Persian religious teacher who took the Zoroastrianism in which he had been brought up and combined it with Christian (especially Gnostic) and Buddhist beliefs. Its central doctrines were dualistic in a fairly straightforwardly Zoroastrian way, positing human life (and the world in general) as a battle between the forces of good and evil, but Mani added the more Christian notion that matter is evil, and also advocated celibacy and an ascetic life in general. Manichaeism accepted the notions of life after death in either heaven or hell and of individual judgement, together with the Zoroastrian account of creation, Bundahishn.

Manichaeans took the side of light in the great battle, their aim being to escape from the evil of the material through strict ascetisicm.

The Manichaeans were condemned as heretics by the Zoroastrian magi, as well as by the Christian church (who saw the religion as a version of Gnosticism).

Organisation

After Mani's execution in Persia in about 277, he was succeeded by the Twin, who lived in Babylon. THe religion had a very hierarchical structure; below the Twin were five grades: twelve teachers, seventy-two bishops, 360 elders, the Elect, and the Hearers. The Hearers were the only grade permitted to marry; the Elect included women.

References

• Charles Allberry [ed.] Manichaean Manuscripts in the Chester Beatty Collection Volume II, part II: "A Manichaean Psalm Book". Stuttgart: W. Kohlammer, 1938
• Antony Flew & Stephen Priest [edd] A Dictionary of Philosophy. London: Pan Books, 2002
• Iain Gardner & Samuel N.C. Lieu [edd & transl.] Manichaean Texts from the Roman Empire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-521-56822-6
• John R. Hinnells [ed.] The Penguin Dictionary of Religions. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1984
• Francis Legge Forerunners and Rivals of Christianity, From 330 B.C. to 330 A.D. (1914); reprinted in two volumes bound as one, New York: University Books, 1964
• R. McL. Wilson "Mani and Manichaeism" in Paul Edwards [ed.] The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London: Collier Macmillan Publishers, 1967
• Gregor Wurst "Die Bema-Psalmen" in Journal of Near Eastern Studies 60:3 (July 2001), pp 203–204.
• Soren Giversen The Manichaean Coptic Papyri in The Chester Beatty Library Volume III: "Psalm Book part I" facsimile edition, Cahiers d'Orientalism XVI. Geneva: Patrick Crammer, 1988
• Soren Giversen The Manichaean Coptic Papyri in The Chester Beatty Library Volume IV: "Psalm Book part II" facsimile edition, Cahiers d'Orientalism XVII. Geneva: Patrick Crammer, 1988

External links

• Neo-Manichaeism
  • Order of Nazorean Essenes