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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. |
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| − | 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]] (Latin: "''light-bearer''") 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 [[Satan#Lucifer|Lucifer]] (Latin: "''light-bearer''") 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. |
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| | Messalianism was condemned as heretical in a [[synod]] of A.D. 383. | | Messalianism was condemned as heretical in a [[synod]] of A.D. 383. |
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| | Moderate Catharism was influenced by the Bogomil movement <ref>Van den Broek; Quispel.</ref>. The texts with moderate Cathar ideas are: the ''Interrogatio Iohanni'', also called the ''Cène Secrete'' <ref>Bozóky</ref>; two versions of the rituals, one in Latin <ref>Dondaine, ''Un Traité''</ref> and one in Provencal <ref>Clédat</ref>; ''A Vindication of the Church of God'' <ref>Venckeleer, ''Revue belge''</ref>, ''A Gloss on the Lord’s Prayer'' <ref>ibid., Venckeleer, ''Revue belge''</ref> and the ''Visio Isaia'' <ref>Charles</ref>. | | Moderate Catharism was influenced by the Bogomil movement <ref>Van den Broek; Quispel.</ref>. The texts with moderate Cathar ideas are: the ''Interrogatio Iohanni'', also called the ''Cène Secrete'' <ref>Bozóky</ref>; two versions of the rituals, one in Latin <ref>Dondaine, ''Un Traité''</ref> and one in Provencal <ref>Clédat</ref>; ''A Vindication of the Church of God'' <ref>Venckeleer, ''Revue belge''</ref>, ''A Gloss on the Lord’s Prayer'' <ref>ibid., Venckeleer, ''Revue belge''</ref> and the ''Visio Isaia'' <ref>Charles</ref>. |
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| − | The ''Cène Secrete'' describes a “moderate dualism”: there is one good God and a fallen angel (Lucifer) who created the earth. This has also been called “Gnostic dualism” . It includes the dualism of the Bogomils and that of the moderate Cathars <ref>Van Schaik, pp. 89-90.</ref>. The inquisitor and former Cathar, Reinerius Sacconi (d. 1262) traces the origin of the various moderate Cathar churches in Southern Europe back to the “church of Philadelphia in Romania” <ref>Sanjek.</ref>. | + | The ''Cène Secrete'' describes a “moderate dualism”: there is one good God and a fallen angel ([[Satan#Lucifer|Lucifer]]) who created the earth. This has also been called “Gnostic dualism” . It includes the dualism of the Bogomils and that of the moderate Cathars <ref>Van Schaik, pp. 89-90.</ref>. The inquisitor and former Cathar, Reinerius Sacconi (d. 1262) traces the origin of the various moderate Cathar churches in Southern Europe back to the “church of Philadelphia in Romania” <ref>Sanjek.</ref>. |
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| | There are no problems with regard to the historical transmission of moderate dualism: Bogomil ideas were taken back to Europe by the returning crusaders. The inquisitor Anselmus Alessandria reports this in 1266 <ref>''Tractatus the hereticis''</ref>. The ''Cène Secrete'' from about 1190 confirms this: the manuscript ends with a note: “this manuscript originates from Bulgaria” <ref>Bozóky, p. 87.</ref>. | | There are no problems with regard to the historical transmission of moderate dualism: Bogomil ideas were taken back to Europe by the returning crusaders. The inquisitor Anselmus Alessandria reports this in 1266 <ref>''Tractatus the hereticis''</ref>. The ''Cène Secrete'' from about 1190 confirms this: the manuscript ends with a note: “this manuscript originates from Bulgaria” <ref>Bozóky, p. 87.</ref>. |