what is manichaeism?

Question

i heard this word and would want to know what it means thankyou

Answer 1

2 results for: manichaeism
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source Man·i·chae·ism (mān'ĭ-kē'ĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
n.
The syncretic, dualistic religious philosophy taught by the Persian prophet Manes, combining elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Gnostic thought and opposed by the imperial Roman government, Neo-Platonist philosophers, and orthodox Christians.
A dualistic philosophy dividing the world between good and evil principles or regarding matter as intrinsically evil and mind as intrinsically good.

Answer 2

Manichaeism Pronunciation

Answer 3

Reindeer Herder's answer is good. I'd just like to continue the link between Manichaeism and Christianity. The reason why the two belief systems clashed was that Mani clained he was the continuer and completer of the work begun and carried on by Noah, Abraham, Zoroaster, Buddha and Jesus. He ended up crucified and his followers were violently persecuted. Yes, Augustine was initially attracted to it, but manichaeism denies God as the Creator so cannot be compatible with Christianity. Over the centuries, as the church grew into the Catholic faith, it would accuse small Christian groups who wouldn't bow to its power of manichaeism. One such group, the Paulicians, were so hounded by Rome, they were scattered and driven into political alliance with Islam, leading to the fall of Constantinople. So although there might be little of manichaeism around today, it played a profound part in history.

Answer 4

Manichaeism (in Modern Persian آیین مانی Āyin e Māni) was one of the major ancient religions of Iranian origin. Though its organized form is mostly extinct today, a revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manichaeism. However, most of the writings of the founding prophet Mani (Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ) have been lost. Some scholars argue that its influence subtly continues in Western Christian thought via Saint Augustine of Hippo, who converted to Christianity from Manichaeism, which he passionately denounced in his writings. Those writings continue to be enormously influential among Catholic and Protestant theologians.

Manichaeism originated in 3rd Century Babylon (a province of Persia at the time), and reached, over the span of the next ten centuries, from North Africa in the west, to China in the East. The original texts of Manichaeism were composed in Syriac-Aramaic.

Answer 5

Manichaeism (in Modern Persian آیین مانی Āyin e Māni) was one of the major ancient religions of Iranian origin. Though its organized form is mostly extinct today, a revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manichaeism. However, most of the writings of the founding prophet Mani (Syriac, ܡܐܢܝ) have been lost. Some scholars argue that its influence subtly continues in Western Christian thought via Saint Augustine of Hippo, who converted to Christianity from Manichaeism, which he passionately denounced in his writings. Those writings continue to be enormously influential among Catholic and Protestant theologians.

Manichaeism originated in 3rd Century Babylon (a province of Persia at the time), and reached, over the span of the next ten centuries, from North Africa in the west, to China in the East. The original texts of Manichaeism were composed in Syriac-Aramaic. As they spread to the east, the writings of the religion passed through Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, and ultimately Uyghur Turkish and Chinese translations. As they spread to the west, they were translated into Greek, Coptic, and Latin. As Manichaeism passed through time, location, and language, it also adapted new religious deities from the surrounding religions into the Manichaean scriptures. Thus, as the original Aramaic texts moved eastward and were translated into Iranian languages, the names of the Manichaean deities (or angels) were often transformed into the names of Zoroastrian yazatas.

Because Manichaeism is a faith that teaches dualism, in modern English the word "manichaean" has come to mean dualistic, presenting or viewing things in a "black and white" fashion.

Answer 6

Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions established by the Persian prophet Mani in the 3rd century CE. Based on the Zoroastrian tradition and incorporating elements of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and other fairths, Mani saw himself as a great religious teacher akin to Buddha and Jesus.Though its organized form is mostly extinct today, a revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manichaeism.

Answer 7

Etymology: Late Latin manichaeus, from Late Greek manichaios, from Manichaios Manes died ab A.D. 276 Persian founder of the sect
1 : a believer in a syncretistic religious dualism originating in Persia in the third century A.D. and teaching the release of the spirit from matter through asceticism
2 : a believer in religious or philosophical dualism
- Manichaean or Manichean adjective

Answer 8

Literally it's a religion that started in Persia just after the time of Jesus. It is named after its prophet Mani.

The main thing it is known for is being denounced by Christianity. Mani was described himself as a disciple of Jesus, but the Christian church rejected him as a heretic. It has become a code word for dualist philosophies and heresies.

Dualism believes there are two natures, one good and one evil. God and Satan are competitors and there is evil in the world because god is not omnipotent.

Answer 9

Its an extinct religion in which people (worshipped?) Light and Dark / Good and Evil as equal. They believed there couldnt be One all powerful God because he would need to have an EQUAL all powerful evil Opposite. A sort of dual theology i guess.

Answer 10

Put simply, it is a belief that the forces of good and evil are warring in the world, and that neither is superior.