ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Manichaeism: Its sources and influences on western Christianity

 

 

Johannes van Oort^{I, II}

^IFaculty of Theology: Church History, University of Pretoria, South Africa
^IIFaculty of Theology, Chair for Ecclesiastical History, Utrecht, Netherlands

Correspondence

 

 

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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 influence on Catholic Christianity.

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

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Correspondence:
Johannes van Oort
Postal address:
Faculty of Theology
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, 0002
South Africa
E-mail: oort0109@planet.nl

Received: 10 July 2009
Accepted: 25 Nov. 2009
Published: 16 Dec. 2009
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