Religions of Iran by Richard Foltz

Author:Richard Foltz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: -
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Published: 2013-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

Mani Hayy! Manichaean Revival in the Modern Age

The Internet is now home to several self-proclaimed neo-Manichaean communities. On one site, the Church Revived and Triumphant of the Holy Prophet Mani offers the following invitation:

Welcome Converts to the Sacred Light of Truth! In the name of the Father and the Light of Truth, Liberator of the Soul and Mind from the base Darkness of Sin, Materiality, and the Flesh—greetings! We, the Synod of Bishops of the Neo-Manichaean Church, declare our willingness to accept candidates for membership. To join, a dedicant must answer one question: Do you, dedicant, declare yourself an eternal servant of the Holy Light of Truth, as revealed to the Holy Prophet, Mani the Blessed, and an everlasting enemy of the Darkness of Materiality and Flesh? As Brethren of the Light, we shun the material world that is Darkness and decay; therefore, we exist as a Body of believers only on the Internet, which is composed, after all, of pure Light travelling as electromagnetic radiation from computer to computer.36

Another site, belonging to the Order of Nazorean Essenes, proposes a revised form of Manichaeism (“A Synthesis of Buddhism, Zarathustrianism and Gnostic Christianity”) suitable to the modern age, complete with gender equality and ecological awareness:

THE MODERN ORDER of MANI differs slightly from the ancient Manichaean movement in that it allows female Electi to openly hold office, and allows Electi to pluck from the Cross of Light [that is, harvest the fruits of the earth] as well as openly marry within the Bridal Chamber. It is therefore not “orthodox” in the sense of the Eastern Denavar Manichaeism, but “orthodox” in the sense of being an evolved restoration of Syrian, or Mihr Manichaeism, mingled with older orthodox Nazorean roots.37

One assumes that Mani, who preached in whatever terms were most familiar to his audience, would only have approved.

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