Overview

This is the first general comprehensive introduction to Manichaeism aimed at a non-specialist and undergraduate readership. This study will be a historical and theological introduction to Manichaeism. It will comprise a biographical treatment of the founder Mani, situating his personality, his writings and his ideas within the Aramaic Christian tradition of third century (CE) Mesopotamia. It will provide a historical treatment of the Manichaean church in late antiquity (250-700 CE), detailing the emergence of Manichaeism in the late Roman and Byzantine empires, in addition to examining the continuation of Manichaean traditions in the eastern world (China) up to the thirteenth century and beyond. The book will consider the theology of Mani's system, with the aim of providing a clear-eyed treatment of the cosmogonic, scriptural and ecclesiological ideas forming its foundations. The study will base its analysis on original Manichaean literary sources, together with rehabilitating the representation of Manichaeism in those writings that polemicised against the religion. The study will aim to demonstrate the highly syncretic nature of Manichaeism, and will look to move forward 'traditional' perceptions of the religion as being simply a form of Christian Gnostic Dualism.

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Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1\: *{behavior: url(#ieooui) }/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name: Table Normal ;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow: yes;mso-style-parent: ;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-ansi-language: #0400;mso-fareast-language: #0400;mso-bidi-language: #0400;}<p>'In the studies of ancient religions and cultures fewdisciplines are more difficult to approach than Manichaeism, quite simply for its code of conduct, teachings andinternal organization has long puzzled scholars. Its study involves the analysis of a number of key areas -theology, mythology, comparative literature and ancient history to name but a few- anddeals with texts written in countless languages -namely Latin, ancient Greek, Syrian and Arabic- spanning a period of thirteen centuries, through

"Not too long ago, most of what we knew about the Manichaeans - followers of the third-century religious visionary Mani - came from the pens of their many enemies. It was hard to understand how a religion that preached sexual abstinence and vegetarianism as a means to cope with a world ruled by Evil ever enjoyed any success. Yet at its height Manichaeism spread from Mesopotamia to China in the east and Spain in the west; in North Africa, it appealed to the young Augustine of Hippo. In this richly informative new study, Nicholas Baker-Brian digests new discoveries and the explosion of new thinking they have provoked into a solid introduction to a belief system that influenced religious thinking in Europe and Asia for a millennium. He is especially attentive to the connection between lost rituals and myths that for the first time allows readers to see Manichaeism as a comprehensive set of ideas and practices. His exemplary handling of sources and discussion of how to use them make this book as much a primer for students of antiquity as for students of religion. -- Harold Drake, Department of History, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. In the studies of ancient religions and cultures few disciplines are more difficult to approach than Manichaeism, quite simply for its code of conduct, teachings and internal organization has long puzzled scholars. Its study involves the analysis of a number of key areas -theology, mythology, comparative literature and ancient history to name but a few- and deals with texts written in countless languages -namely Latin, ancient Greek, Syrian and Arabic- spanning a period of thirteen centuries, throughout a vast territory. Nevertheless misconceptions, a biased historiographical heritage and a certain degree of sluggishness on the part of many modern scholars in dealing with original sources have all contributed towards constructing a somewhat distorted image of Manichaeism. Hence it is within this context that Nicholas Baker-Brian´s book sets out to dispel such inaccuracies and work towards establishing a more coherent understanding of such a complicated topic, irrespective of the fragmentary and corrupt nature of many of the sources on Mani´s life and teachings. In doing so, Dr. Baker-Brian contests that certain beliefs in such misleading information and evidence derived from ancient heresiologists have long been perpetuated by modern scholars. Insightful analysis of original sources that had been carelessly read and therefore led to methodological misreading are constant throughout this work and help decipher the intricate layers that came to constitute Manichaeism. In free from stereotyping analysis Dr Baker-Brian sets out to deconstruct the monolithic conception that many scholars have come to embrace with regards the figure and doctrines of Mani, citing that they themselves have projected their own concerns onto a very different historical setting and thus adopted many of the ill-found, often biased testimonies that late antique heresiologists had already ascribed to Mani´s doctrines. In analyzing each text and testimony within its own historical context, Dr Baker-Brian goes on to reveal the various literary and historical strategies that helped make up the identity of Manichaeism, elaborating upon religious, mythological and historical elements, rearranged in a final portrait that both clarifies and enriches our knowledge of the religion. Credit is due for the construction of this monograph: for ultimately, thanks largely to the author's endeavors, such exposure seeks to help prevent both scholars and students from relying on simplistic and oversimplified concepts, in turn fortifying the belief in Manichaeism as an autonomous discipline, and most importantly perhaps, opening new lines of investigation for future research free from untainted historical inaccuracies. Once again, this is indeed a very much welcomed contribution that successfully manages to expurgate mistaken beliefs from original sources and modern bibliographies whilst at the same time offers a concise, detailed and substantiated image of Mani and his doctrine. -- Alberto Quiroga Puertas, The University of Granada, Spain. ... manages to incorporate many critical perspectives and discussions... a straightforward and accessible treatment of a topic that is too often neglected. * Studies in Religion 40 (3) * In short, Manichaeism: An Ancient Faith Rediscovered is quite a straightforward and accessible treatment of a topic that is too often neglected or considered as tangential to other ""world"" world religions. Baker-Brian's analysis is at home in the academic study of religion, which does not take as self-evident either its object of study or the categories available to describe it. * Studies in Religion / Sciences Religieuses - 40(3) *"

Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1\: *{behavior: url(#ieooui) }/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name: Table Normal ;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow: yes;mso-style-parent: ;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0cm;mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-ansi-language: #0400;mso-fareast-language: #0400;mso-bidi-language: #0400;}<p>'Nottoo long ago, most of what we knew about the Manichaeans - followers of thethird-century religious visionary Mani - came from the pens of their manyenemies. It was hard to understand how a religion that preached sexualabstinence and vegetarianism as a means to cope with a world ruled by Evil everenjoyed any success. Yet at its height Manichaeism spread from Mesopotamia to China in the east and Spain in the west; in North Africa, it appealed to the young Augustine of Hippo. In this richly inform

Author Information

Dr Nicholas Baker-Brian is Lecturer in Theology at Cardiff University. He is an expert on the Religions of Late Antiquity, especially Manichaeism, and is the author of Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire: A Study of Augustine's Contra Adimantum.

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