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From the Manichaean texts it appears that the good God has foreseen the entire development of the world. He permits [[Seven Deadly Sins|wickedness]], so that at the end of time the light may shine out with a ‘higher’ quality in a New Jerusalem. This is an ''[[Eschatology|eschatological]] dualism''. There is an evolutionary perspective in Manichaeanism: everything will be better.

From the Manichaean texts it appears that the good God has foreseen the entire development of the world. He permits [[Seven Deadly Sins|wickedness]], so that at the end of time the light may shine out with a ‘higher’ quality in a New Jerusalem. This is an ''[[Eschatology|eschatological]] dualism''. There is an evolutionary perspective in Manichaeanism: everything will be better.

The Messalians, or Euchites<ref>"Euchites"—not to be confused with the early 5th century bishop [[Eutyches of Constantinople]] and the heresy of [[Eutychianism]].</ref> ("Those who Pray"), are an heretical Christian sect that originated in Mesopotamia early in the fourth century, influenced by dualistic faiths like Zoroastrianism. The name 'Messalian' comes from the Syriac ܡܨܠܝܢܐ (mṣallyānā), meaning 'one who prays'. They teach that each person is born with an inner demon, and only intense prayer can drive it out. Messalians believe that God can be perceived by the carnal senses, and that this perception is necessary to reach perfection. Messalians teach that once a person has experienced the essence of God they are freed from moral obligations or ecclesiastical discipline ([[Antinomianism]]). They also believe that Lucifer is the elder son of God and a force for good, and that incest is sacred since it was practiced by the children of Adam and Eve. They have male and female teachers whom they honor more than the [[clergy]], the ''perfecti''. Messalian doctrine declared that the ''perfecti'' can commit incest, considering it sacred as it was practiced by the children of Adam and Eve. However, most historians agree that this was untrue in relevance to evidence from real history.  

The Messalians, or Euchites<ref>"Euchites"—not to be confused with the early 5th century bishop [[Eutyches of Constantinople]] and the heresy of [[Eutychianism]].</ref> ("Those who Pray"), are an heretical Christian sect that originated in Mesopotamia early in the fourth century, influenced by dualistic faiths like Zoroastrianism. The name 'Messalian' comes from the Syriac ܡܨܠܝܢܐ (mṣallyānā), meaning 'one who prays'. They teach that each person is born with an inner demon, and only intense prayer can drive it out. Messalians believe that God can be perceived by the carnal senses, and that this perception is necessary to reach perfection. Messalians teach that once a person has experienced the essence of God they are freed from [[Morality|moral]] obligations or ecclesiastical discipline ([[Antinomianism]]). They also believe that Lucifer is the elder son of God and a force for good, and that incest is sacred since it was practiced by the children of Adam and Eve. They have male and female teachers whom they honor more than the [[clergy]], the ''perfecti''. Messalian doctrine declared that the ''perfecti'' can commit incest, considering it sacred as it was practiced by the children of Adam and Eve. However, most historians agree that this was untrue in relevance to evidence from real history.  

Messalianism was condemned as heretical in a [[synod]] of A.D. 383.  

Messalianism was condemned as heretical in a [[synod]] of A.D. 383.  

The main source of doctrinal information is the work of Euthymius Zigabenus, who says that they believe that God created man's soul but matter was the invention of Satan, God's older son, who in seducing Eve lost his creative power. For Bogomils "the Logos was not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal Word incarnate, but merely the spoken word of God, shown in the oral teaching of Christ". Concerning the Bogomils themselves, something can be gathered from the polemic ''Against the Newly-Appeared Heresy of the Bogomils'' written in Slavonic by Cosmas the Priest, a 10th-century Bulgarian official. The Slavonic sources are unanimous on the point that the teaching of the priest Bogomil was Manichaean. The names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", were said to be Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter. Zealous missionaries carried the doctrines of Bogomil far and wide.  

The main source of doctrinal information is the work of Euthymius Zigabenus, who says that they believe that God created man's soul but matter was the invention of Satan, God's older son, who in seducing Eve lost his creative power. For Bogomils "the Logos was not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal Word incarnate, but merely the spoken word of God, shown in the oral teaching of Christ". Concerning the Bogomils themselves, something can be gathered from the polemic ''Against the Newly-Appeared Heresy of the Bogomils'' written in Slavonic by Cosmas the Priest, a 10th-century Bulgarian official. The Slavonic sources are unanimous on the point that the teaching of the priest Bogomil was Manichaean. The names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", were said to be Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter. Zealous missionaries carried the doctrines of Bogomil far and wide.  

The central teaching of the Bogomils, based on a dualistic [[cosmology]], was that the visible, material world was created by the devil. Bogomils explained the earthly sinful corporeal life as a creation of Satan, an angel that was sent to Earth. Due to this duality, the church believes that their doctrine undervalues everything that is created with matter. Thus, they denied the doctrine of the incarnation and rejected the Christian conception of matter as a vehicle of grace. They rejected [[Baptism]], the [[Eucharist]], and the whole organization of the [[Orthodox Church]], but their rejection of the [[sacrament]]s and the entire organization of the Orthodox Church made them heretics, and they were therefore sought out for conversion and, in some cases, persecution. The moral teaching of the Bogomils was just as consistently dualistic. They condemned those functions of man that bring him into close contact with matter, especially marriage, the eating of meat, and the drinking of wine. In fact, the moral austerity of the Bogomils invariably was acknowledged by their fiercest opponents.

The central teaching of the Bogomils, based on a dualistic [[cosmology]], was that the visible, material world was created by the devil. Bogomils explained the earthly sinful corporeal life as a creation of Satan, an angel that was sent to Earth. Due to this duality, the church believes that their doctrine undervalues everything that is created with matter. Thus, they denied the doctrine of the incarnation and rejected the Christian conception of matter as a vehicle of grace. They rejected [[Baptism]], the [[Eucharist]], and the whole organization of the [[Orthodox Church]], but their rejection of the [[sacrament]]s and the entire organization of the Orthodox Church made them heretics, and they were therefore sought out for conversion and, in some cases, [[persecution]]. The moral teaching of the Bogomils was just as consistently dualistic. They condemned those functions of man that bring him into close contact with matter, especially marriage, the eating of meat, and the drinking of wine. In fact, the moral austerity of the Bogomils invariably was acknowledged by their fiercest opponents.

In their original monarchian dualist story, Bogomils taught that God had two sons, the elder Satanail and the younger Michael. Satanail rebelled against the father and became an evil spirit. He created the lower heavens and the Earth and tried in vain to create man, though in the end he had to appeal to God for the Spirit. After creation, Adam was allowed to till the ground on condition that he sold himself and his posterity to the owner of the Earth, Satanail.  

In their original monarchian dualist story, Bogomils taught that God had two sons, the elder Satanail and the younger Michael. Satanail rebelled against the father and became an evil spirit. He created the lower heavens and the Earth and tried in vain to create man, though in the end he had to appeal to God for the Spirit. After creation, Adam was allowed to till the ground on condition that he sold himself and his posterity to the owner of the Earth, Satanail.