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 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.  

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.  

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 gradual Christianization of the Bulgarian population, the fact that the service of Christian worship was initially practiced in Greek, which only the elite knew, resulted in a low level of understanding of the new religion among the peasantry. Moreover, the purported [[corruption]] of the Byzantine church as an institution, ''[[Envy|as seen by its opponents]]'', led to grave disappointment among its recently converted flock. Due to the constant wars during the time of Tsar Simeon I, the lands near the Byzantine border ([[Thrace]]) were devastated, and the people living there were left without occupation. The constant change of authority over these lands, and the higher taxes during the time of Tsar Peter I, gave birth to a great social discontent at the beginning of the 10th century

The gradual Christianization of the Bulgarian population, the fact that the service of Christian worship was initially practiced in Greek, which only the elite knew, resulted in a low level of understanding of the new religion among the peasantry. Moreover, the purported [[corruption]] of the Byzantine church as an institution, ''[[Envy|as seen by its opponents]]'', led to grave disappointment among its recently converted flock. Due to the constant wars during the time of Tsar Simeon I, the lands near the Byzantine border ([[Thrace]]) were devastated, and the people living there were left without occupation. The constant change of authority over these lands, and the higher taxes during the time of Tsar Peter I, gave birth to a great social discontent at the beginning of the 10th century

The development of the Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of Bogomilism that originated in the time of Peter I of Bulgaria (927–969), is alleged in the modern day to be a reaction against state and clerical oppression by the Byzantine church. It was an outcome of many factors that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century, most probably in the region of Macedonia.

The development of the Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of Bogomilism that originated in the time of Peter I of Bulgaria (927–969), is alleged in the modern day to be a reaction against state and [[Clericalism|clerical]] oppression by the Byzantine church. It was an outcome of many factors that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century, most probably in the region of Macedonia.

In 970 the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes transplanted 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighborhood of Philippopolis (today's Plovdiv in Thrace). Bogomilism as an outcome of the many factors of unrest that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century was also strongly influenced by the Paulicians who had been driven out of [[Armenia]]. The earliest description of the Bogomils is in a letter from Patriarch Theophylact of Bulgaria to Tsar Peter of Bulgaria.  

In 970 the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes transplanted 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighborhood of Philippopolis (today's Plovdiv in Thrace). Bogomilism as an outcome of the many factors of unrest that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century was also strongly influenced by the Paulicians who had been driven out of [[Armenia]]. The earliest description of the Bogomils is in a letter from Patriarch Theophylact of Bulgaria to Tsar Peter of Bulgaria.