Mani, The Founder Manicheism

"The Prophet" Mani from the 3rd century AD was the founder Manicheism, a kind of "religion" which, though already vanished now, in his day has so many followers. Derived from the Middle East, Manicheism widespread. To the west until it touches the Atlantic Ocean coast, to the east to reach the Pacific Ocean coast. Religion can survive thousands of years.

Mani founded the religion is a mixture of interest from various religions that have existed before. Mani admitted Zoroaster, Buddha, and Jesus as the true prophet. But, he admitted to "revelation" that is more recent and more complete than all those who called ahead.

Although Buddhist and Christian elements there were in the religion of Mani, the doctrine of the most impressive (at least for Westerners) came from the dualistic Zoroastrian. Mani taught that the world is not ruled substance sole power, but part of the ongoing battle between two forces. One of them is a crime pokokpokok by Mani diidentifisir with darkness and objects; the other is the good points of light rays diidentifisir and soul. Sounds superficially like the Christian views of God and the Devil; but, in the schools of evil and good Manicheism considered basically have a balanced force. The consequence of this belief is a philosophical paradox of the existence of evil, which makes confused Christian and Jewish philosophers, but there was no problem at all in the teaching of philosophy Manicheism.

Just awful no place here expound the religious schools of Manichaeisrne. But, to be called that as a consequence of their identification is that the human soul and the basic goodness of the human body's main crimes, Manicheism adherents believe that all sexual relations - even to raise offspring purposes - should be shunned. There are also restrictions eating meat and drinking wine.

Cursory retrospect, it seems unlikely begituan kinds can doctrine had many adherents. But, the restrictions were not applied for ordinary members of the church adherents Manichaeis, but merely applied for a small group of people called "The people of choice." Ordinary members of the so-called "listeners" are allowed to have a wife or mistress, may reproduce, may ganyang meat, to drink wine and so on. There are various religious worship ceremony that binds the members. There are distributors of religious worship ceremonies that bind members of the "listeners" to follow and they are required to support the groups' chosen people, "but dipikulkan moral code into their shoulders is not exceedingly burdensome. (Of course, many other religions also prohibit marriage for priests, but not adherent, adherent mostly). Spirit of the "chosen people" directly into heaven when they die, while the road to heaven for the "listeners" a little convoluted. But, some Manichaeis sects, such as the name Cathari sect, believed that "listeners" can enter heaven as "chosen people" and in addition, they acquired a kind of relief for a still life.

Mani was born in 216 in Mesopotamia who was then a part of the Persian Empire under the rule of Arsacid or Parthian dynasty. Mani himself pure Persian and have a relationship with the authorities Arsacid. Most of the Persians embraced such beliefs Zoroasterianisme but Mani was raised from the family embraces a religious sect who had a strong influence of Christian doctrine. He's got religious views when he was only twelve years old and began to preach his new religion when he was twenty-four years. At first not so successful in his hometown. But once he traveled to the northeastern part of India and to attract local authorities to be his followers, it appears progress-progress.

242 years he returned to Persia and then have a listening audience including King Shapur sermon also be adherent, he was very impressed with the utterances allowed Mani and his new religion spread throughout the Persian Empire. (Empire of the latter is sometimes called the Sassanid Empire after a new empire was established around 226). After about thirty years later, under King Shapur I and Hormizd I, Mani taught her religion without any hindrance and a large number of followers. In that time period, delegates also sent to other countries. But, the success of Mani cause resistance from the Zoroastrian religion priest who became the official state religion of Persia in the reign of the Sassanid dynasty. Around the year 276, after rising throne a new king named Bahram I, Mani was arrested and thrown into prison. And after having tortured for twenty-six days, Mani died.

During his life Mani wrote several books: one in Persian, one in the Syrian language (a Semitic language closely related to language in the life Aramais Isa). These books are the official religion of Mani's book. When religion is destroyed, the books were gone. Some of them had found in the 20th century

From the beginning, Manicheism is a religion that attracted passionate adherents. In the Mani is still alive, her religion has many followers from India to Europe. After Mani's death, the religion continues to spread, extend to the west until it touches Spain and to the east until it touches the Chinese in the west. Peak in the 4th century, who was competing fiercely with the Christian Religion. (St. Augustine is an adherent Manicheism for nine years). But after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman state, Manicheism punched-out and religions around the year 600 was almost completely disappeared in continental Europe.

But, in Mesopotamia and Iran he still had legs. From where Manicheism spread to Central Asia, Turkestan and western China. In the late 8th century religion became the official religion of the Uighurs in charge of the western regions of China and Mongolia. Also spread almost all over China to the east coast and from there jumped to Taiwan. But, the progress of Islam in the 7th century, eventually wiping out Manichaesime. Starting the 8th century Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad with the clearing firm Manicheism and drop it in a very short time he was in Mesopotamia and Iran. Starting from the 9th century, religion was a swift decline in Central Asia and the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century is practically a fatal blow. But, Marco Polo found incidentally still adherent Manicheism community in the eastern part of China in 1300.

Meanwhile, the various sects that originated from Manicheism first appeared in Europe. Paulician sects emerged in the area of the Byzantine Empire from the 7th century. Bogomil sect, sect strongest in the Balkans, spread around the 10th century. But the most striking in Europe is Cathari (better known as the Albigensian, derived from the name of the town Albi in France which is the basis of its strength). In the 12th century, the sect had acquired Chatari many adherents in Bropa, especially in the south of France. Albigensian sect, although their doctrine closer Manicheism, considers themselves Christians; orthodox church officials they consider apostate. Finally, Pope Innocent III Pope of the most tolerant and the strongest of the century popes was called "holy war" to eliminate them. "Holy war" that began in 1209; by the year 1244, after causing many casualties and extensive destruction in the south of France, the Albigensian sect completely destroyed. But, the sect was not abolished until Catharism century-I 5.

Each religion has a major influence on their adherents. For this reason, the founder of the religion though the slightest can not a person who has influence. (Unfortunately, but not to be trifled with, the teachings of Mani always digasak by various major religions).

Mani personal role in establishing a new religion was remarkable. He founded it, he designed his theology and arrange its moral codes. True, many of his ideas came from earlier thinkers, but that raise Manilah various streams of thought into the new system is clear. He also made changes to the Manicheism in his sermons, religious organizations develop and write scriptures. Rare co-founder of the religion has adherents of a mass movement was so great. Clearly, the establishment of religion could not exist in the world without his presence, and in this connection Mani, as leaders of other religions, have a meaning far more important than the inventor of scientific fields.

Therefore, Mani rightly gained a place in this book: the question, where? Obviously, he must be placed well below the founders of major religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism), the amount of billions of followers throughout the period. On the other hand, despite Zoroasterisme and Jainism still exists today, while Manicheism extinct, apparently in his prime Manicheism have far more than the followers of both religions and have a greater influence to the world in general. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.