manikealaisuus

Manikealaisuus, also known as Manichaeism, was a major dualistic religion founded by the Persian prophet Mani in the 3rd century CE. It combined elements of Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Gnosticism. Manichaeism taught a radical dualism between good and evil, light and darkness, spirit and matter. The material world was seen as inherently evil, created by a dark, demonic power, while the spiritual world was good, originating from a benevolent God of light. Human beings were believed to be a mixture of these two opposing forces, with a spark of divine light trapped within the material body.

The goal of Manichaeism was the liberation of this divine light from the darkness of matter. This was to be achieved through rigorous asceticism, knowledge (gnosis), and adherence to Mani's teachings, which were revealed through scripture and art. Mani considered himself the final prophet in a line that included Zoroaster, Buddha, and Jesus. Manichaean communities were organized hierarchically, with an elect class of followers who lived a strictly ascetic life, and a larger group of hearers who supported the elect and followed less stringent rules.

Manichaeism spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, Persia, and into Central Asia and China, becoming a major rival to early Christianity. Its missionaries were active and its literature was translated into numerous languages. Despite its early success, Manichaeism faced persecution from both the Roman authorities and later the Sasanian Empire, and its influence gradually declined. While no organized Manichaean communities exist today, its theological ideas and practices have been seen by some scholars as having had a lasting impact on subsequent religious and philosophical thought.