Central tenants
At its core, Manichaeism features a religious system that is extremely complex and multilayered. Borrowing ideas from Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism, Manichaeism presents a radically different worldview than any of its influences, lending to its ability to stand alone as a self-contained world religion.
Manichaeism presents a very dualistic theology as its central tenant, indicative of its Christian and especially Zoroastrian influences. Just as how Christianity uses the dualism of God/Satan, and Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda/Angra Mainyu, good and evil and light and dark are presented as polar opposites in Manichaeism. The ruler of light, the Father of Greatness, stand sin contrast to the King of Darkness. These two figures are by no means the only individuals in Manichean theological hierarchy; there are a multitude of divine beings under the dominion of both of these rules, similar to angels and demons, although the Manichaen system is not only more dense but extremely intricate in its hierarchy; repeating every detail here is something best reserved to an entire book.
However complex and alien the cosmogony of Manichaeism may be, at its core, many elements of Christianity are present. The eternal battle between good and evil is a typical element of the religion, as well as the centrality of Jesus in the salvation of its devotees is also emphasized. A significant difference in religious thought found in Manichaeism that separates itself from Christianity, though, is the role of the individual worshiper in the religion. In Manichaeism, worship and ritual are means to release the divine light particles imbued in the Earth and that which dwells on it; for a Manichee, one's life goal was to minimize the amount of dark particles being consumed, but to increase the amount of light particles in one's diet. At death, the light particles are released, bringing more power to the cosmic forces of light that do battle with the darkness in the grand scheme of things. Here, the average Manichee can directly influence the cosmic balance through daily action. Unlike Christianity, Manichaen believers have a direct stake in the world, with their actions either helping or hurting the divine forces of good. [1]
Manichaeism presents a very dualistic theology as its central tenant, indicative of its Christian and especially Zoroastrian influences. Just as how Christianity uses the dualism of God/Satan, and Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda/Angra Mainyu, good and evil and light and dark are presented as polar opposites in Manichaeism. The ruler of light, the Father of Greatness, stand sin contrast to the King of Darkness. These two figures are by no means the only individuals in Manichean theological hierarchy; there are a multitude of divine beings under the dominion of both of these rules, similar to angels and demons, although the Manichaen system is not only more dense but extremely intricate in its hierarchy; repeating every detail here is something best reserved to an entire book.
However complex and alien the cosmogony of Manichaeism may be, at its core, many elements of Christianity are present. The eternal battle between good and evil is a typical element of the religion, as well as the centrality of Jesus in the salvation of its devotees is also emphasized. A significant difference in religious thought found in Manichaeism that separates itself from Christianity, though, is the role of the individual worshiper in the religion. In Manichaeism, worship and ritual are means to release the divine light particles imbued in the Earth and that which dwells on it; for a Manichee, one's life goal was to minimize the amount of dark particles being consumed, but to increase the amount of light particles in one's diet. At death, the light particles are released, bringing more power to the cosmic forces of light that do battle with the darkness in the grand scheme of things. Here, the average Manichee can directly influence the cosmic balance through daily action. Unlike Christianity, Manichaen believers have a direct stake in the world, with their actions either helping or hurting the divine forces of good. [1]
Community
Like Christianity, Manichaeism had a centralized church that governed all Manichean organizations throughout the world. Based in Persia, the Manichean Church served as a central authority for the church, with a rigid hierarchy of clergy that mimics Orthodox and Catholic communities; there were Manichean bishops, priests, and monks, and all of these clergymen were part of a caste known as the Elect.
The Elect were the clergy of the Manichean community, and as such, they were in charge with the salvation of all of its worshipers. The laypeople, known as Adherents, held a symbiotic relationship with the Elect: the Adherents would provide the Elect with physical objects such as food, shelter, and clothing, and in turn the Elect would give religious teaching and ultimately release light particle through extreme ascetic practices. For example, the Elect were celibate like Catholic clergy, but observed even more extreme measures such as abstinence from alcohol and conforming to an extreme "vegan" diet that primarily included melons and cucumbers, food known for their high amounts of light particles. The Elect were also forbidden to harm other living objects, even plants, and also lived in abject poverty. This relationship between clergy and laity mirrors Christian hierarchies, but more closely resembles the Buddhist concept of the sangha, the relationship between monks and laypeople.
Adherents, while also held to high moral standards, were given exemptions from rules that the Elect had to follow, often due to necessity. The Elect could not harvest plants, so the Adherents were allowed to so that the Elect could have sustenance. Likewise, while the Elect were celibate, the Adherents could procreate, however birth control was often practiced, as having too much offspring was seen as entrapping the light particles within us further more on the Earth. Ultimately, the Manichean community, although resemblant of Christianity, was more tight-knit and required a closer relationship between laypeople and clergy. [2]
The Elect were the clergy of the Manichean community, and as such, they were in charge with the salvation of all of its worshipers. The laypeople, known as Adherents, held a symbiotic relationship with the Elect: the Adherents would provide the Elect with physical objects such as food, shelter, and clothing, and in turn the Elect would give religious teaching and ultimately release light particle through extreme ascetic practices. For example, the Elect were celibate like Catholic clergy, but observed even more extreme measures such as abstinence from alcohol and conforming to an extreme "vegan" diet that primarily included melons and cucumbers, food known for their high amounts of light particles. The Elect were also forbidden to harm other living objects, even plants, and also lived in abject poverty. This relationship between clergy and laity mirrors Christian hierarchies, but more closely resembles the Buddhist concept of the sangha, the relationship between monks and laypeople.
Adherents, while also held to high moral standards, were given exemptions from rules that the Elect had to follow, often due to necessity. The Elect could not harvest plants, so the Adherents were allowed to so that the Elect could have sustenance. Likewise, while the Elect were celibate, the Adherents could procreate, however birth control was often practiced, as having too much offspring was seen as entrapping the light particles within us further more on the Earth. Ultimately, the Manichean community, although resemblant of Christianity, was more tight-knit and required a closer relationship between laypeople and clergy. [2]
Bibliography
- Iain Gardner and Samuel N. C. Lieu, Manichaean Texts from the Roman Empire (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004).
- Michel Tardieu, Manichaeism, trans. M. B. DeBevoise (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2008).