[[Image:Yin_yang.jpg|thumb|right|600px|The diagram of the yin and yang as illustrating the Manichean doctrine of separate, opposite and equally ultimate Principles of Light and Darkness.]]'''Manicheanism''' (Manichaeism), was a belief system that teaches that there exists two separate, opposite and equally ultimate Principles: the Light and the Darkness. This concept is known as [[dualism]], and it is the [[heart]] and soul of Manicheanism.
Several origins of Manicheanism have been noted.:
* One is that this dualistic [[religion ]] was founded by [[Mani]], a Persian sage, in the third century after [[Christ]]. Mani synthesised [[Christian]], [[Buddhist ]] and [[Zoroastrian ]] elements into his religion. He taught that there were two gods, one good, one evil.
* The second is that the founder of Manicheanism was [[Manicheus]], who lived in [[Mesopotamia]]. Manicheanism assimilated much of the Christian message, re-interpreting it to fit the [[Gnostic ]] belief system.
Manicheanism was once a major world religion, but even though it has since completely vanished, . Although it continues faded out in Europe before the [[medieval era]], the movement gave rise to have an effect on western Christian theologythe [[Cathars]] (also known as the [[Albigensians]]). Manichaeans were divided into two orders, the elect and the auditors.
[[St. Augustine ]] of Hippo was a Manichee before he converted to Christianity. He became disillusioned with Manicheanism for several reasons.
A revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manicheanism.
Reference: Charles E. Curran, “Natural Law and Contemporary Moral Theology,” in Contraception: Authority and Dissent, ed. Charles E. Curran (New York: Herder & Herder, 1969), pp. 151-175.==See also==[[Syncretism]]
==Sources== Reference: Charles E. Curran, “Natural Law and Contemporary Moral Theology,” in Contraception: Authority and Dissent, ed. Charles E. Curran (New York: Herder & Herder, 1969), pp. 151–175. [[Category:Heresies]][[categoryCategory:religionReligion]]