Changes

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 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 [[Clericalism|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 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 [[Clericalism|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.  

400 - 5th century

400 - 5th century

One of the earliest Christian dualist sects, [[Marcionism]], originated in eastern [[Anatolia]]. In fundamental opposition to orthodox catholic Christianity they promulgated the doctrine that the God of the Old Testament was an evil [[Demiurge]] that enslaved the spirits of human beings in mind-darkening prisons of physical matter (human bodies), in opposition to the Good God of the spiritual realm of light who sent Jesus to reveal the truth of divine ''gnosis'' "knowledge"<ref>There are suggestions of the beginning of a doctrine of false ''gnosis'' in the New Testament. For example, in 1&nbsp;Timothy 6:20-21 "''contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge''", "avoiding profane ''and'' vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" KJV. See parallel passages at http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-20.htm.</ref>. The church Marcion himself established, appeared to die out around the 5th century, but currents of speculative gnostic and dualist thought continued in opposition to the doctrines of the Councils of [[Council of Nicaea|Nicaea 325]], [[Constantinople I|Constantinople 381]], [[Council of Ephesus|Ephesus 431]] and [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon 451]].

One of the earliest Christian dualist sects, [[Marcionism]], originated in eastern [[Anatolia]]. In fundamental opposition to orthodox catholic Christianity they promulgated the doctrine that the God of the Old Testament was an evil [[Demiurge]] that enslaved the spirits of human beings in mind-darkening prisons of physical matter (human bodies), in opposition to the Good God of the spiritual realm of light who sent Jesus to reveal the truth of divine ''gnosis'' "knowledge"<ref>There are suggestions of the beginning of a doctrine of false ''gnosis'' in the New Testament. For example, in 1&nbsp;Timothy 6:20-21 "''contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge''", "avoiding profane ''and'' vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" KJV. See parallel passages at http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-20.htm.</ref>. The church Marcion himself established, appeared to die out around the 5th century, but currents of speculative gnostic and dualist thought continued in opposition to the doctrines of the Councils of [[Council of Nicaea|Nicaea 325]], [[Constantinople I|Constantinople 381]], [[Council of Ephesus|Ephesus 431]] and [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon 451]].