Manichaeism Manicheism noun
- the system of religious doctrines, including elements of Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc, taught by the Persian prophet Mani about the 3rd century ad . It was based on a supposed primordial conflict between light and darkness or goodness and evil
- mainly RC Church any similar heretical philosophy involving a radical dualism
Derived FormsManichee, nounWord Origin for Manichaeism C14: from Late Latin Manichaeus, from Late Greek Manikhaios of Mani Examples from the Web for manichaeism Historical Examples of manichaeism
Manichaeism was thus able to satisfy the new wants of an old world.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 5
Various
It is a mistake to suppose that he accepted any kind of Manichaeism as his solution of the problem of the universe.
Victor Hugo
In reality his thought is much more permeated with Christian feeling than with Manichaeism.
Victor Hugo
Augustine stayed for a year in Rome, occupied in literary work, particularly in controversy with Manichaeism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 8
Various
Manichaeism seemed to him to solve the mysteries of the world, and of his own experiences by which he was perplexed.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 8
Various
Word Origin and History for manichaeism Manichaeism n.
1550s, “the religion of the Manichees” (late 14c.) a Gnostic Christian sect named for its founder, Mani (Latin Manichæus), c.215-275, Syriac-speaking apostle from a Jesus cult in Mesopotamia in 240s, who taught a universal religion. Vegetarian and visionary, they saw “particles of light and goodness” trapped in evil matter and regarded Satan as co-eternal with God. The universe was a scene of struggle between good and evil. The sect was characterized by dualism and a double-standard of perfectionist “elects” and a larger group of fellow travelers who would require several reincarnations before their particles of light would be liberated.