Manicheanism in the context of "Ancient Near Eastern religion"

⭐ In the context of Ancient Near Eastern religion, Manicheanism is considered a later tradition that primarily drew its monotheistic elements from which two earlier belief systems?

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Manicheanism

Manichaeism (/ˌmænɪˈkiːɪzəm/; in Persian: آئین مانی, romanized: Āʾīn-i Mānī; Chinese: 摩尼教; pinyin: Móníjiào) was a major world religion founded in the third century CE by the Parthian Iranian prophet Mani (216–274) in the Sasanian Empire. Variably described as a Christian heresy and a Gnostic movement, Manichaeism was an organized and doctrinal religious tradition in its own right. It taught an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good spiritual world of light, and an evil material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of the divine.

Mani's teachings were intended to integrate, succeed, and surpass the "partial truths" of various prior faiths and belief systems, including Platonism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Marcionism, Hellenistic and Rabbinic Judaism, Gnosticism, Ancient Greek religion, Babylonian religion, other ancient Mesopotamian religions, and the Greco-Roman mysteries. Some forms of Manichaeism viewed Mani as the final prophet after Zoroaster, the Buddha, and Jesus. The canon of Manichaean scripture included seven works attributed to Mani, written originally in the Syriac language. Manichaean sacramental rites included prayers, almsgiving, and fasting. Communal life centered on confession and the singing of hymns.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

👉 Manicheanism in the context of Ancient Near Eastern religion

The religions of the ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some examples of monolatry (for example, Yahwism and Atenism). Some scholars believe that the similarities between these religions indicate that the religions are related, a belief known as patternism.

Many religions of the ancient near East and their offshoots can be traced to Proto-Semitic religion. Other religions in the ancient Near East include the ancient Egyptian religion, the Luwian and Hittite religions of Asia Minor and the Sumerian religion of ancient Mesopotamia. Offshoots of Proto-Semitic religion include Canaanite religion and Arabian religion. Judaism is a development of Canaanite religion, both Indo-European and Semitic religions influenced the ancient Greek religion, and Zoroastrianism was a product of ancient Indo-Iranian religion primarily the ancient Iranian religion. In turn these religious traditions strongly influenced the later monotheistic religions of Christianity, Mandaeism, Druzism, Gnosticism, Islam, and Manicheanism, which inherited their monotheism from Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier
LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Ancient Near Eastern religion ← Religions of the ancient Near East
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Persian language → Romanization of Persian → Chinese language → Pinyin → Major religious groups → World religions → Parthian Empire → Iranian peoples → Mani (prophet) → Sasanian Empire → Heresy in Christianity → Gnosticism → Dualistic cosmology → Conflict between good and evil → Divine light → Platonism → Christianity → Zoroastrianism → Buddhism → Marcionism → Hellenistic Judaism → Rabbinic Judaism → Ancient Greek religion → Babylonian religion → Ancient Mesopotamian religion → Greco-Roman mysteries → Zoroaster → The Buddha → Jesus → Manichaean scripture → Syriac language →