Original Research

Manichaeism: Its sources and influences on Western Christianity

Johannes van Oort
Verbum et Ecclesia | Vol 30, No 2 | a362 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v30i2.362 | © 2009 Johannes van Oort | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 26 November 2009 | Published: 16 December 2009

About the author(s)

Johannes van Oort, Faculty of Theology, Chair for Ecclesiastical History, Utrecht, Netherlands

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it will discuss the origins of Manichaeism, a gnostic-Christian world religion that was founded by the prophet Mani (216-276). My discussion of the origins of Manichaeism may serve as an excellent example to illustrate what ‘Gnosis’ or ‘Gnosticism’ actually was. Second, the paper will outline how Manichaeism, being an alternative form of Christianity and even an alternative Christian Church, seemed to have exercised a considerable infuence on Catholic Christianity.

Keywords

gnostic-Christian; Futtuq; asceticism; Codex Manichaicus Coloniensis; Mani

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Crossref Citations

1. Mani (216–276 CE) and Ethiopian Enoch
Pieter M. Venter
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doi: 10.4102/hts.v70i3.2095