Manichaeism
A cosmos torn between light and darkness — the faith Augustine left behind
Manichaeism was a dualist religion teaching a cosmic struggle between light and darkness, founded by Mani. It drew upon and rivaled Christianity, and Augustine, who had once been an adherent, later opposed it. Though properly a distinct religion, it functioned historically as a major rival and, from the Christian standpoint, a heresy. It is remembered especially for its formative role in shaping early Christian thought, not least Augustine's own.
How it traveled
- The Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes.— · 220explains
- Of the Manichæans.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407challenges
- A Commentary on the Acts of the ApostlesConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407challenges
- To Pammachius against John of JerusalemBethlehem · 420challenges
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430challenges
- Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called FundamentalHippo Regius · 430challenges
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430explains
- Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430applies
- On Two Souls, Against the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430challenges
- A Treatise Against Two Letters of the PelagiansHippo Regius · 430applies
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430applies
- On Marriage and ConcupiscenceHippo Regius · 430challenges
- Acts or Disputation Against Fortunatus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430challenges
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430challenges
- On the Morals of the Catholic ChurchHippo Regius · 430challenges
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430applies
- On ContinenceHippo Regius · 430challenges
- On the Profit of BelievingHippo Regius · 430challenges
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461challenges
- Book First. of the Knowledge of God the CreatorGeneva · 1564challenges
Key passages(20)
A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 4 [IV.]—Pelagians and Manicheans on the Praise of the Creature. These things being so, what advantage is it to new heretics, enemies of the cross of Christ and opposers of divine grace, that
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On Two Souls, Against the Manichæans · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 12.—From the Definitions Given of Sin and Will, He Overthrows the Entire Heresy of the Manichæans. Likewise from the Just Condemnation of Evil Souls It Follows that They are Evil Not by Nature
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Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the Manichæans · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 47.—He Compels to the Perpetration of Horrible Turpitudes. O abominable monster! O execrable perdition and ruin of deluded souls! I am not speaking of the blasphemy of saying these things abo
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Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Book II. Faustus claims to believe the Gospel, yet refuses to accept the genealogical tables on various grounds which Augustin seeks to set aside. 1. Faustus said: Do I believe the gospel? Certainly
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Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Book XXI. Faustus denies that Manichæans believe in two gods. Hyle no god. Augustin discusses at large the doctrine of God and Hyle, and fixes the charge of dualism upon the Manichæans. 1. Faustus s
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Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Book XXX. Faustus repels the insinuation that the prophecy of Paul with reference to those that should forbid to marry, abstain from meats, etc., applies to the Manichæans more than to the Catholic a
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon XVI. On the Fast of the Tenth Month. I. The prosperous must show forth their thankfulness to God, by liberality to the poor and needy. The transcendent power of God’s grace, dearly beloved,
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Reply to Faustus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
4. Manichæus indeed was not a prophet of Christ, but calls himself an apostle, which is a shameless falsehood; for it is well known that this heresy began not only after Tertullian, but after Cyprian.
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 2 [II.]—The Heresies of the Manicheans and Pelagians are Mutually Opposed, and are Alike Reprobated by the Catholic Church. The Manicheans say that the good God is not the Creator of all natu
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 25 [IX.]—He Shows that the Opinion of the Catholics is the Mean Between that of the Manicheans and Pelagians, and Refutes Both. But since, in these five particulars which I have set forth, in
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A Treatise Against Two Letters of the Pelagians · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 3 [III.]—The Catholics Praise Nature, Marriage, Law, Free Will, and the Saints, in Such Wise as to Condemn as Well Pelagians as Manicheans. Let every one who, with a catholic mind, shudders a
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Acts or Disputation Against Fortunatus the Manichæan · Augustine of Hippo
Acts or Disputation Against Fortunatus, the Manichæan. [Acta Seu Disputatio Contra Fortunatum Manichæum.] a.d. 392. This Disputation seems to have occurred shortly after the writing of the precedin
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 5.—Against the Title of the Epistle of Manichæus. 6. Let us see then what Manichæus teaches me; and particularly let us examine that treatise which he calls the Fundamental Epistle, [This is
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 43.—Conclusion. 49. And as this vision is greatly hindered by those fancies which are originated by the carnal sense, and are retained and modified by the imagination, let us abhor this heres
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 40.—Corruption Tends to Non-Existence. 46. But if any one does not believe that corruption comes from nothing, let him place before himself existence and non-existence—one, as it were, on one
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 19.—If the Mind Has No Material Extension, Much Less Has God. 21. So then, if the mind, so liable to change, whether from a multitude of dissimilar desires, or from feelings varying according
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 7.—In What Sense the Followers of Manichæus Believe Him to Be the Holy Spirit. 8. Besides, you should explain how it is that, while the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are united in equality of
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 28.—Manichæus Places Five Natures in the Region of Darkness. 31. "There dwelt," he says, "in that region fiery bodies, destructive races." By speaking of dwelling, he must mean that those bod
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 11.—Manichæus Promises Truth, But Does Not Make Good His Word. 12. "These," he says, "are wholesome words from the perennial and living fountain; and whoever shall have heard them, and shall
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Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called Fundamental · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 34.—Nature Cannot Be Without Some Good. The Manichæans Dwell Upon the Evils. 37. But perhaps you will say that these evils cannot be removed from the natures, and must therefore be considered
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