Manichaeism teaches a ''cosmic dualism'': that the good and evil powers are equally present through all the [[eon]]s of creation, including the [[Universe|physical creation]]. Moreover the world (heaven and earth) was created by a being from the kingdom of light, the living spirit. In each [[eon]], light and darkness struggle with one another to extract and purify the light. On earth it is the Manichaean priests (the ''electi'' "Elect"), who have the task of distilling light by consuming ritual meals. The light in plants and flowers is distilled by digestion. This form of cosmic dualism can be called ‘horizontal dualism’ <ref>van Schaik</ref>. | Manichaeism teaches a ''cosmic dualism'': that the good and evil powers are equally present through all the [[eon]]s of creation, including the [[Universe|physical creation]]. Moreover the world (heaven and earth) was created by a being from the kingdom of light, the living spirit. In each [[eon]], light and darkness struggle with one another to extract and purify the light. On earth it is the Manichaean priests (the ''electi'' "Elect"), who have the task of distilling light by consuming ritual meals. The light in plants and flowers is distilled by digestion. This form of cosmic dualism can be called ‘horizontal dualism’ <ref>van Schaik</ref>. |