What is Manichaeism?

Manichaeism is an ancient religion that is relatively unknown. In this video, I give you everything you need to know as a introduction to this fascinating faith.
Link to Patreon: / letstalkreligion
Sources/Further Reading:
Lieu, Samuel N. (1993). "Manichaeism in Mesopotamia and the Roman East: 118 (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World)". Brill.
Lieu, Samuel N. (1998). "Manichaeism in Central Asia and China: Collected Studies (Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies)". Brill.
Magnusson, Jörgen (2013). "Mat och manikeism". In "Religion och Mat", Edited by Lena Roos & Leif Nordenstorm. Natan Söderblom-sällskapet.
#Manichaeism #Gnosticism #AncientReligion

[@zjz19900621]

One of practitioners of Manichaeism established Ming dynasty in China. The word Ming (明）takes inspiration from Manichaeism as it represents the brightness of human spirits. However, the emperor himself later brutally eradicated Manichaeism, since it was quite effective in fermenting peasant uprising..

[@magnuscritikaleak5045]

The Emperor also destoryed the White Lotus Society as well as the Gnostics in China.

[@00MSG]

I had no idea about this, thanks for the info.

[@martytu20]

Fun fact- Jin Yong used that rumour as the basis for the Ming cult in Heaven’s Sword and Dragon Sabre in the Condor Trilogy.

[@in_ur_moms_house]

@Fishka Grishka there's a temple in Fujian... pretty deep inside the wall

[@in_ur_moms_house]

@Fishka Grishka and Romans were polytheist. So what... Still doesn't change the FACT there's a manichaen temple in Jinjiang, Fujian.

[@noahdanielg]

Alright, I'm a Comparative Religion student and I'm only discovering this channel now!? Mate, your work is fantastic, definitely some of the best content I have seen. I'm back-watching some videos and your videos on Ibn Arabi and Taoism is great! Please make more 'Introduction to' traditions and maybe something on Perennialism/Traditionalism and Hindusm! I'm glad You Tube is bringing people with our particular interests together like this, although I'm late to discovering you.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Awesome, thank you very much! Where do you study? Do you have a particular field that you focus on?

[@noahdanielg]

@@LetsTalkReligion I do Religious Studies at the VU Amsterdam. Haven't really gone into any specializations yet, but have a particular intrest and focus in Hinduism and Mahāyāna mostly, but also Catholic mysticism and Sufism definitely.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

@@noahdanielgVery interesting subjects indeed.

[@CIMAmotor]

@@noahdanielg Hello Noah, my background is in the philosophy of religion but I'm really interested in the anthropology of religion, especially comparing ideologies in order to establish an innate religious framework. Have you begun to specialise yet? I would be interested to hear what you are studying now.

[@noahdanielg]

@@CIMAmotor Hello David, good subjects of study indeed. No definitive specialization as of yet, but I am planning to eventually focus more deeply on Indian religions, Hinduism foremost

[@zakiamashhdi3672]

I am Indian Muslim women interested in comparative religion. I greatly benefited from this lecture of yours. At the same time marvelled at your knowledge and memory. I think that manichaeism became extinct not only because of onslaught of other rival religions but also because of the rules which were too austere to be followed by common people. Too much of ascetism is hard to digest. Thanks for the knowledge you shared.

[@yakovmatityahu]

Hi

[@yakovmatityahu]

I am from India.

[@stevenschkolne]

well any religion that doesn't encourage reproduction...

[@alphabetpeople2902]

Living as a Muslim woman isn't austere? Who are you trying to kid? No, this religion was brutally suppressed bcos it busted the "god" of Abraham as the Satan he really is. That's right, you Muslims worship Satan, that's why your "allah" is such a monster.

[@magicalgold010]

Then marry me if asceticism is so hard for you

[@Mr.Nichan]

I don't remember hearing "Manichaean" to mean dualistic (though one of my parents used "Zoroastrian" that way), but I had vaguely heard of it as some Abrahamic-adjacent religion that I knew nothing about until I saw it was the state religion of Uyghur Khaganate and decided to look into it and got really interested. I just thought it was fun to think that the Uyghurs once ruled an empire in Mongolia whose religion upheld Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ, and someone named Mani as the 4 prophets (a nice geographical distribution of prophets, and interesting in mixing Indian and Abrahamic traditions much earlier than Sikhism, Baha'i, or anything else I knew of like that).

[@dr.p.d.sargent4893]

It is refreshing to hear scholarly information spoken, not read, imparting research in a congenial way. Thank you for speaking with emphasis and calm enthusiasm.

[@Iknowknow112]

I’ve become a bit obsessed with Mani and his teachings especially since I’m reading. *The Gardens of Light * by Amin Maalouf which is fictional biography of Mani written by Maalouf who’s a historian. As oddball as his cosmology is I’ve always found Mani an attractive figure in his attempt to unify, or better said harmonize the manifold systems of humanity.

[@jurmanjiojurmancki5929]

Mani was belong to Zoroastrian community, and his new religion was founded on pillars of Zoroastrianism.

[@Iknowknow112]

@@jurmanjiojurmancki5929 For the record Mani always referred to himself as “An Apostle of Jesus Christ “. Later he was called “The Buddha of Light” so there was a lot more to Mani than Zarathustra.

[@Xcerptshow]

Mani stole all his stuff from other religions. So if you are into it then you are into a watered down or corrupted version of what you want. I suggest you keep looking for the pure form of what is calling out to you.

[@Iknowknow112]

@@Xcerptshow I’m not looking for anything. But your ignorant attitude tells me you’re a good ole fashioned Christian . And BTW ALL religions are regurgitated or as you so crudely phrase it “stolen stuff”🙄 including the most ancient traditions of Sumer or Egypt . Mani was a religious genius regardless of what you think of him and the way of life he proscribed for his elect clearly goes back to the earliest Essene roots of Christianity which is why he called it the truest form of Christianity.

[@Cjco102]

@@jurmanjiojurmancki5929 Mâni was an Elkesaite, not a Zoroastrian

[@kabood777]

I'm a Persian (well actually Iranian cause there is no Persia anymore ...), I can only say thank you for this great video, I wanted to write something about the art in the Manichaeism, we call the Mani the painter prophet because their main book(Arzhang...ارژنگ.) written by Mani himself was so beautifully designed and written with beautiful calligraphy, they had their own alphabet and calligraphy style, they saw the different forms of art (because of the spirit of the beauty within them) as the best way to represent light, you could say their only alive relative religion is the Mandaeans in southern Iran and the border cities of Iraq they still have about 75000 followers, although with a deeper research one can find their footsteps and influence in many belief systems around the world, thank you once again for your great video 🙏🙏🙏

[@kabood777]

@mbleketeq who said they are the same ?

[@yuliuswijayanto843]

Mani claims the last prophet, and Mohammad says so too several hundred years later

[@jurmanjiojurmancki5929]

You are talking about The Kurds without mentioning their name:) (Iran - Iraq border).

[@ademfarhanmovies]

I am mandai/mandaen

[@ademfarhanmovies]

@@jurmanjiojurmancki5929there is no kurdish peapol in Basra or khuzestan my friend 😂

[@ersturdevant2831]

In the movie "The Fifth Element" weren't the alien beings referred to as " Manicheans", along with the Elements and dualism a main component of the story? Just occurred to me. Great video!

[@EMa-nk8vn]

Next episode on this channel: "What is Mondoshawanism?"

[@franceleeparis37]

Yep, never thought of that .. the five elements are part of Manichaean belief as well as the sanctity of life… The fifth element is on of the best sci-fi ever

[@susanp5393]

I lived in South a France in an area where Cathars lived in 12th and 13th centuries.The Cathari professed a neo-Manichaean dualism-that there are two principles, one good and the other evil, and that the material world is evil. They were prosecuted and masacured by Christian armies sent by Vatican regularly. I am Iranian so I knew about the artist Mani and his religion, and I was very surprised to realize that Manichaeism had arrived even as far as France. Your description of Manichaeism and its history is the most comprehensive I have ever heard. Thank you for this work. The reason the follows of Mani were prosecuted however, I believe, is the fact that they were opposing the power of clergy that in Iran was the Zoroastrian priests, and in France, was Vatican. I think this was what the core of Mani movement all about.

[@stevenschkolne]

check out this video "did the cathars exist?" - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpmcoYB5Z8aob5Y

[@tomhalla426]

I would suggest the Cathars had more influence from the Gnostics

[@southronpapist]

@@stevenschkolne A gnostic defending gnosticism? Well imagine my shock.

[@williampatrick8814]

@@stevenschkolne Well something mystic happened to exactly 700 years after the last Cathar, so they are real enough.

[@HighKingWolfetone]

There is a massive difference between having dualistic views and veing manicheist. To be a manicheist such as mysef is to believe first and foremost manu was the greatest prophet, second to believe in the Alaha (also called Abba D’rabbuta) and finally that the world was created theough the cosmology stated in this video. Calling manicheists cathars is like calling satanists Catholics because they happen to have one figure who is important in one way or another.

[@wesk7346]

That "Buddha of Light" carving is actually from the last Manichean temple in China -- the Cao'an in Jinjiang, Fujian province (as mentioned by someone else in the comments). While prophet Mani has the face and look of a Buddhist figure, if you look closely, the carving is showing him wearing Taoist religious garb and not Buddhist. This was likely due to the cultural assimilation with local Chinese religions after its initial entry into the region during Tang Dynasty in 7th century, and transformed into a mix of Buddhist-Taoist Mani. There are some local Chinese folktales that mentioned Manicheans being a large portion of the Red Turban militia force - along with White Lotus Buddhist sect - that helped the Ming Dynasty founder to overthrow the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. Legend has it (no concrete evidence) that the naming of the "Ming Dynasty" was named after "Ming Religion" -- the name of Manichean religion in China during that period. During Song Dynasty (before the Mongolian Yuan), Manichean was called "vegetarian demon worshippers". Hahahaha. The term "demon" here is in the Chinese tradition of evil spirit and not the Greek origin of "daemon".

[@stevesmith4901]

Manichaeism eating habits sounds a lot like the eating habits of Jainism.

[@Wasserkaktus]

Yep, but perhaps the Elect took it to even greater extremes. Jains are permitted to eat some animal products, provided that it does no perceivable harm to the animal. Manichaen Elect were pretty much staunch Vegans who were so shamed by eating any living thing (they believed even plants had Divine Light), that they refused to even prepare the food, leaving the "sins" of producing and preparing the food to supportive Hearers. I am curious just how different the human diet would be today, if Manichaeism had in fact successfully become the largest religion on Earth: Ecologically, we'd be much, much better off today, as there would be far fewer animal products.

[@Wasserkaktus]

@river side pottery The Elect were Celibate, yes.

[@herms16]

Hinduism

[@mariammimi3563]

@river side pottery which will reduce poverty because enough will go around for everyone in our today's world.

[@Wasserkaktus]

@@mariammimi3563 He's wrong: If Manichaeism was the dominant worldwide religion today, I sincerely doubt the World's population would be that different, or that we would all be "Vegans": Hearers were by no means stopped from reproducing or really doing anything in regards to sex, but would be at most lectured about how the flesh was a facet of "Darkness" which will cause their Light to remain on Earth. Similar thing goes for animal products: They would by no means be "banned", but worldwide consumption of animal products would probably be less than it is today, which is what we all really, really should be aiming for today anyways. Manichaeism was probably the most syncretic organized religion ever created, and religious leaders of rival religions were painfully aware of this syncretism and the potentially massive, popular appeal Manichaeism fundamentally possessed. This is why Christianity evolved to be so syncretic: It wasn't that it wasn't originally syncretic (it was likely very rigid and fundamentalist, even when Church Leaders like Paul of Tarsus tried to open it to non-Jews.), but rather Christianity tried to emulate the syncretism which was common in Gnostic religions like Manichaeism in order to grow and spread.

[@ultrasignificantfootnote3378]

The man who later became st Augustin was a manichean fot 10 years.

[@tomasroma2333]

Yes he said that at the start of the video

[@balljacksok]

Nine years tbf

[@eiontactics9056]

Yep, then it turned into Calvinism

[@gertvanderstraaten6352]

There's a French comic by Enki Bilal (can't remember which one, but probably La foire aux immortels) which has Neomanicheans who live in space because space has very little matter and are actively trying to destroy matter, including entire planets. That was probably my first introduction to Manicheism. Also: the relationship of the Elect with the Hearers sounds an awful lot like the Cathars from what I read about them.

[@shibernaught9949]

sounds wicked bro

[@schedelworld]

the Elect and the Hearers is also pretty similar to Christianity in the time of Augustine. Until you went through baptism, you weren't bound by the most stringent expectations of living a Christian-style life, so some people seem to have put off baptism as long as possible (see Constantine's deathbed baptism, though of course his life story is more complex in its relation to Christianity than the average street-Christian).

[@HighKingWolfetone]

Thats a shame. As a manicheist we don’t try to destroy matter we try to purify it.

[@gaiafjerda2262]

I can't get enough of your content, such good work every single time !

[@ravisekharsridharreddynedu8538]

Very goog Melting pot!!!!

[@IshtarofAZ]

Please share more about this great religion..Thank you do much. I love your informative videos 👍

[@benedict18]

I listened to some of your videos. Your knowledge and information fabulous. Your narration superb. God bless you.

[@al4381]

I'm impressed by how well you pronounce all names. Your pronunciation of Arabic, Aramean, and Swedish are good enough to think that you are native to any one of these. Edit: Oh you're Swedish, that explains it. Also something notable about Manicheanism is that their Syriac terminology is lifted straight from the Syriac/Assyrian churches under Antioch. Every single word they used "ecclesiastically" are words which are used by the Syriac churches to this day.

[@richardbaroff4911]

This was interesting, informative, eloquent and beautifully illustrated. Thank you from someone who teaches Comparative Religion.

[@wisdomist2144]

The Manichean tradition seems to have been revived or continued in Southern Europe as the Cathars (Good Christians), who were much persecuted by the official church.

[@greggrobinson5116]

Yes! More on Manichaeism. I've come across vids that say at one time, most of the Christians in Western Europe were actually Manichaeists, and I'd like to see how this could be true. I'd also like to understand how Mani was able to travel so widely, and to integrate such disparate religions into one consistent belief system. It's so weird to think of him back in the days of the church fathers, claiming to be Christian too.

[@crazyjkass]

I heard that in a university lecture, probably the class Varieties of Early Christianity.

[@ilohymshaddai590]

The European ( Indo-Aryan ) Speaking Posterity are actually the offspring of Samaritan Assyrian Aryan BrotherHood! The Arabs & Chinese are the Founders of Manichaeism ( The Manes ) Monks & Priests! The European In the eyes of the Oriental Arab (Aryan) and the Asian (Mongoloid), The Europeans are Leopards ( Skin Diseased ) because of the lack of Pigment color of skin! The Result of this view made the separation of Europeans from their Aryan Arab Brothers & Asian Oriental Mongoloid Brothers in the Posterity of the Moslem Family ( Arabs,Asians,Whites ). ✝️Christianity & Europeans are both offspring of Their Oriental Roots (Theologically & Biologically) 👍✡️☪️✝️

[@BEABEREAN10]

Depending on how "early" you are talking about, this would make sense. St Augustine of Hippo (Algeria, N Africa) was a Manichean gnostic until King Theodosius declared death to the Manicheans and he was forced to convert in 387. This is why many of Augustine's writings have flavors of Manichean gnosticism in relation to dualism and the fallen nature/ability of man.

[@gregorygilbert3500]

This was the most thourough explanation of the cult of Mani. I would like to share with you about a very lucid dream that I had about Mani. I dreamed this dream back in 1993 and have never forgotten it. In my dream I was in a strange type of environment. I couldnt figure out whether I was inside of a building or outside. It shone with a certain kind of light that was neither glaring or bright and I found myself confronted with this mini maze of a building that was about 8 feet high and it had 8 sides all with connecting hallways and outer openings but no doors. I wandered around inside of this weird little structure when suddenly seemingly from thin air out popped this short little man with a rounded face and a continuous smile on it. He kept his hands together in a typical prayer type manner with both hands together and pointed straight up. I said to him hello who are you? He answered back, I am Mani. I could sense from him a feeling of peace and tranquility and of no fear whatsoever. I asked him what this little maze building signified or meant. All he said was it teaches us about eternity and how to be happy within it.

[@hieratics]

Could you do a video about the prophets and revolt leaders of in the early conquered Persia who tried to blend Zoroastrianism and Islam?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Do you know of any good sources for this information?

[@hieratics]

@@LetsTalkReligion unfortunately, I don't know any good source besides the Encyclopedia Iranica. Though I found very interesting to know about the Kaysanites,Khurramites, Sunpadh, al-Muqanna and others

[@vinicius2uiciniv]

There is also Ishaq-al Turk

[@ADeeSHUPA]

@@hieratics uP

[@kaykhosrow3263]

@@LetsTalkReligion 2 centuries of silence is good read, although i would rather uncensored edition since Islamic republic of Iran censored the book

[@ladrabudka6953]

Yes, more please especially the art and quotes from his writings. Many thanks-we love your channel.🙏

[@YaBoiHakim]

Amazing work!

[@jemandoondame2581]

Funny to find you here haha

[@meringue3288]

This is my new favorite channel thank you for existing

[@narayansivajiramos5763]

You rock all over the place, sir! I subbed. Thank You for feeding the collective mind. I, for one, am sincerely grateful for YOU and YOUR CHANNEL. It is a breath of fresh air, really. Ergo, THANK YOU.

[@onioncontrol]

Your channel is drastically underrated. Great video.

[@willowrowley7830]

I would love to hear more! Very fascinating stuff.

[@Smartion]

Thank you, I really enjoy your uploads and the content 🙏🏼

[@GabrielSchlaefer]

Excellent overview of a fascinating but much-overlooked world religion. Thank you for making these well-researched videos.

[@err0r99]

Duuude, this was awesome! You took me straight back to my Comparative Religions undergrad at U of T. I was with a Persian friend trying to remember what that hybrid Zoroastrian religion was all about when I found you. He was impressed. Big ups to you and big ups to Mani! LOL #Classof2005

[@jdlc903]

"Big ups to mani " amen

[@meesalikeu]

big ups? you sound like you are still living in #2005 😂

[@ml9342]

Enjoyed this video. I would love to hear more about it.

[@TammyLetterman]

I love this! I also love that you’ve done all the research and I just have to hit play😍

[@MJ-fn6nr]

This is helpful in trying to understand St. Augustine's initial attraction to Manichaeism (I'm reading the Confessions for my Catholic book club.) Your presentation is very respectful to different cultures also.

[@polishherowitoldpilecki5521]

Confessions? Tell me more. I’m teetering towards reverting back to Catholicism.

[@mon_moi]

​@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521Confessions is St Augustine's autobiography of a sort, though I've only read one chapter so far for my European Lit class. It gives some insights on Augustine's childhood in Libya and other parts of his life before converting to Christianity, but primarily it is a theological text. You should read it if u wanna learn about what Christian theology was like during late Antiquity period

[@HighKingWolfetone]

@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521you should consider conversion to manicheism.

[@ladykoiwolfe]

I greatly enjoyed this. I had not heard of Manicheism before. And since you asked, I had no problems following along. Your explanation and visual aids made it quite easy. Thank you. I love learning about every religion whether it's still flourishing or long died out.

[@hiltonklitzna9394]

I'm a philosophy & religious studies major in my Jr year at university. Videos like these inspire me to find a specific subject to specialize in, while still having a nominal understanding of the history & beliefs of all religions past & present

[@Digitographer88]

WOW! So happy to discover this channel!

[@nathanjiggens3859]

Never heard of this man. Your doing great work!!! So much detail and care. Keep it up!!

[@seiteom]

I think this is the best summary of Manichaeism available on KZbin, thank you! If you decide to make another video on Manichaeism, a few suggestions for topics: the Kephalaia, a beautiful collection of Manichaean stories and teachings that has survived surprisingly well. Or the findings from the archaeological dig at Kellis. Or, if you wish to go onto more speculative territories, the connections to various later heresies, like Catharism and the White Lotus Societies.

[@Merle1987]

Your channel is finally getting promotion. You're about to blow up.

[@witoldnapiorkowski2631]

Excellent narrative, very enlightening. Thank you!

[@jordanlong8005]

This video and your content in general is a source of inspiration. You motivate me to think on things that fascinate me. Thank you. Subbed and looking forward to new oc.

[@FaustGoodman]

please come up with additional programmes on Mani and manichaeism. thank you.

[@samisiddiqi5411]

If Manichean Theology had such a duality, I can see why it went extinct. Augustine's entire work seems to have been an elaborate critique of Manichaen doctrine...

[@Wasserkaktus]

Augustine brought the Dualism of Manichaeism into Christianity. I haven't studied Augustine thoroughly, but it seems to be that Augustine's falling out with and his denouncement of Manichaeism had little to do with it's actual beliefs, which I actually don't doubt he largely retained even when he became Christian, but rather due to the nature/philosophy of Manichaeans. Manichaeans wefe supposed to be very peaceful, but more significantly, they were very passive: Augustine thought there was no initiative to fight Evil in Manichaeism at all, and the battle against Evil in Manichaeism is on fact a very passive, peaceful affair.

[@TheUrobolos]

Augustine works indeed destroyed the credibility of the faith in the west, but it went extinct in Asia also, a place where i doubt Augustine thesis were heard

[@waynedombrowski7568]

So many sharp people here(by no means all). Augustine's mom,a Christian,threw him out of the house when he converted to Manichaeism. Take a look at the debate he had with Pelagius,which Augustine won. A lot of historians and theologians think this is where Christianity went sour.

[@ohamatchhams]

@@waynedombrowski7568 Even his post-Christian conversion works akin to Civita te Dei is practically has a lot of Manichaean subtexts despite his constant denial of Dualism in Theology, but not in every other sectors of his Exegesis to Philosophy, something which influences Orthodox and Catholic Churches and their reclusive Monastery orders to cults and heterodox movements subconsciously influenced by him

[@veronicaharwick9013]

The return of the prodigal son of Christianity represents the dualistic nature of man... moving away from darkness back towards the light.

[@kappasf]

Great content. I went down a rabbit hole and by luck came across your videos. Thank you.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Welcome :)

[@mountainbiker8904]

Fascinating! You’re so well read!

[@goodlookingcorpse]

Mani: I have come to unite all religions. All religions: [persecute Mani]

[@thex9165]

so it's indeed united

[@zugabdu1]

My man Al-Biruni got a shout out!

[@abep6901]

Actually he was just Birouni. He was Persian. So, no "al"

[@zugabdu1]

@@abep6901 Customarily, in English, we call him Al-Biruni. We also say Al-Khwarizmi even though he was also Persian. "Gorithm" just doesn't sound right

[@abep6901]

@@zugabdu1 Yup, both Persian. His name is also spelled wrongly. Kharazmi. Named after Land of Kharazm with Samarkhand its capital.

[@zugabdu1]

@@abep6901 You might have noticed that this channel has a video about al-Ghazali too. We say Confucius rather than Kong fuzi as well. Sometimes famous people have exonyms.

[@thematrix7584]

@@abep6901 it is not karazam, it is khWArazm

[@boyloaf6098]

Please make more videos about it! This is so incredibly interesting.

[@SurendarKshatriya]

Great video, thank you so much for this precious knowledge shared through your channel 🙏 would like to know more about their art, symbolism. Thank you so much brother 🙏 Love and Peace

[@williambonds6909]

It would be wonderful to hear more about this religion. Thank you.

[@JaleelBeig]

A comparison between Manichaeism & Baha'i movement would be interesting. Both seem be most perennialist ideologies of their time so wanna see how much they are similar in.

[@ninalangaroudy9844]

Please make more videos about Manichisim and provide URL and websites to contact the groups that are practicing it. Thank you i advance for your time and the great efforts you allocate for these programs. Sincerely, Nina

[@hindak7647]

A very informative series explaining a deep subject in a simple way. Congratulations! I tried to look up if you have made anything about Gnosticism but didn't find any. Could you please do one? I'm interested to know more about it as I find the term a bit unclear. Who where they? What was their philosophy? Was it more like an undercurrent movement or an accepted mainstream? Etc. Thanks!

[@rebeccacooper2874]

He called himself The Seal of the Prophets because he was hermetic. He finished his evolution towards his divinity that life and God Sealed him. In Gnostic writings it's called receiving the Chrism and in Christianity it is referred to by Jesus as the Baptism of Fire. In Buddhism it's called the alignment of the Middle Pillar to become the Buddha and in the Hindi religion it's called the kundalini ritual. To be Sealed is our evolutionary goal in becoming Divine in Nature. Nice video and blessings to you.

[@goku5323]

What is your opinion about Islam?? I am just curious..

[@rebeccacooper2874]

@@goku5323 I have not studied the Islamic religion and cannot comment on such things. I am ignorant to their beliefs.

[@MegaBaddog]

@@rebeccacooper2874 kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYSmiqqoi7V7esU Sam Shamoun Vs Dr. Shuaib Sayyed: Does The Quran Confirm The Bible?

[@josephellikal1259]

I come from an oriental Christian faith; Now known as Syro-Malabar Christain faith in India; Manichaeism had a root in its growth in India, where Buddist and Hindu Philosophical ethos prevailed, Manichaeism had easily incorporated into It. later known as oriental Christian faith of Malabar region ( corresponding to the geographic region of Present-day Kerala) thanks for the wonderful well-reasearched insight on religious philosophy.

[@artkoenig9434]

You have answered my questions! Thank you.!

[@aronlukacs6911]

Most detailed video on manichaeism I've seen yet. Great video!

[@bahramfarsi8253]

I feel so lucky to've come across your highly educational and informative channel. I appreciate you for sharing the results of your research with everyone on you tube. Very fascinating!

[@petersmith1343]

I always enjoy your videos. A video on the Albigensians would be interesting as allegedly a form of neo-Manichaeism.

[@strontiumdog3344]

Do you mean the Cathars? This would be interesting.

[@davidgibson3962]

Greetings my brother... I am David and I really enjoyed your video it was very enlightening... I have some very extraordinary input for you when you are ready🙏🏿

[@BarrysFamily]

An excellent summary. Is there any way I can use this in class as part of a presentation project? I need to know in a few weeks. Its a class on religious figures and this would be most helpful!

[@bluebebop5865]

would love to see a more in depth video on Manichaeism where u talk more about it’s beliefs and practices

[@philipvlnst]

i never knew manicheasm could be so complicated. thank you for such a erudite presentation. i need this for my class on st agustine.

[@DanKaraJordan]

'Rescuing the divine particles of life' is so much better than only relying on Augustine's, "farting out angles" quote from the Confessions when trying to understand the religion.

[@carolynsilvers9999]

So informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@henrymorgan1741]

The fact their is a bibliography in the description fills my heart with joy.

[@Phorquieu]

Brilliant examination of Mani and Manichaeism! Very well done!

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Thank you!

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Persian influence on the world is tremendous.

[@KeyhanTheFreeman]

@Kevin Wellwrought Too bad that the Hindu Extremists, White Nationalists, American Nationalists, Atheists, and Evangelicals do whatever they can to discredit us.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@KeyhanTheFreeman because they are all aware of Persians’ talent and potential and know that if they are not curbed they will easily dominate the world once again. Annunakis’ first contact was with Persians.

[@KeyhanTheFreeman]

@@kevinwellwrought2024 Iranic people are the religious and cultural fulcrum of their region alongside the Jews.

[@mindmesh7566]

Persian history is really enjoying a strong acknowledgement outside of the U.S.A.. What has isolated modern Iran is the presence of the competing Abrahamic faith of Islam. The west has for sooo long “racialization religion” to where the people and the faith are under umbrella terms and thrown into gross generalizations. Persia/Iran has never disappeared, but has, in fact, remained part of the epicenters of wave after wave of some the biggest empires in history. But……where did the Greeks go? The Pharaohs of Egypt? Even the Caesars?? The Emperors of China?…Hopefully, the “modern dark age” will pass and people - worldwide - will come out of their xenophobic and cultural shadows and live as human beings who share the same planet and home world.

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@mindmesh7566 if it weren’t for Islam, Iran would be minimum 50 years ahead of all other countries and cultures.

[@chrisalfano589]

Just fell upon this reading S.P. Laurie Rock and Tower where he brings up the Manichean gospels of Thomas. Had to look it up. Fantastic video

[@mercster]

Thanks for covering these, I've been studying these older ancient religions for decades now. I've also enjoyed your Yazidi video. From what I can gather, there are some other smaller "Yaz-" religions that are related? Also, have you done one on Mandaeism yet? Thanks again!

[@jordanianchristian8387]

I asked for this. Thank you!

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Hope the video was satisfying :)

[@gregorykruszynski5886]

Great lecture fascinating subject, Thank You 🙏

[@SheDMontford]

I really appreciate your work so much - Thank you!

[@taymaabuhakmeh3846]

this is so good... you're so well spoken

[@franklombardo8246]

This is very interesting. I would like to see a video on your thoughts linking Manichaeism to the Cathar Heresy. It seems to me the Origin of the Catharsis may very well be Manichaeans who through persecution were forced into Catholicism.

[@nicholaskelly6375]

This is certainly very interesting. I have for many years wondered why Mani and his creed withered. As the faith clearly had a great deal to commended it. Certainly I would like to learn more about it.

[@oliverkarehag9883]

Den här videon dök upp som en rekommendation för mig. Riktigt bra jobbat. Förresten jag satt och klurade på om du var svensk typ halva videon men det var Jörgen som avslöjade dig.

[@davelamphier5811]

Well done and informative.

[@nc5809]

this a great job. there are other pop religion channels that cant handle this material but this is an excellent examination

[@LetsTalkReligion]

That's very kind of you, thank you very much!

[@mimiagvald4238]

Thank you for such great information and efforts to read so many doucement about thinkers of human history, inorder to make a presentation...🌞🙏🔥🙏⚘🙏 I do appreciate tremendously 🌞🌞🌞

[@blueboywill]

Fantastic video. Would love to see more on Manichaeism!

[@mounia128]

AWESOME just as usual !! Thank you so much 🙏💕

[@Gzeebo]

Amazing work. I can't thank you enough. Question: What does the "-chae" part of the religion name mean, and what language does it come from? (I suppose I could look it up...) EDIT: Classical Syriac ḥayyā = “living” (via Latin hayy > chae) "living Mani" + ism Thanks Wiktionary!

[@kikum3067]

His writing can be related to Bhagvathgeeta, lotus sutra and Manu Dharma sasthra...it seems mahayana bhuddism ( Amithaba/avalokeswara) started with these writing later Hinduism & jainism

[@moshecallen]

Yes, please more videos on this subject.

[@thomblinn4731]

I appreciate your apt analysis. Thanks so much!

[@khairi_yt3804]

Some great stuff in the channel! Thank you so much . Can you also make a video, or more, about Kabbalah and compare it Suffism ; also maybe which one influenced the other or came first?

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Those are subjects I would love to tackle!

[@SI-ln6tc]

@@LetsTalkReligion Can you do one on Apollonius of Tyana?

[@efstahl7027]

Very informative! It's incredibly interesting to hear about all the beliefs that overlapped with Christian, Zoroastrianism, Islam, etc.

[@jurmanjiojurmancki5929]

Well! Islam and Christianity including Judaism were under influence of Zoroastrianism 😉

[@faribaist]

It’s fascinating to see how the Manichaeism is so vividly still alive in Tibetan Buddhism, specifically in the Kagyu tradition. It’s very interesting also to see it still alive in other cultures and religions. Please give us more information and teachings about Manichaeism. Thank you for this incredible platform dear Filip, you are a gem 💎

[@Veganrevwithzombies]

I came here because I am currently writing a book about the Unfinished works of Philip K Dick. Shortly before his death in 1982 PKD wrote a 2 page outline for a novel called Acts of Paul that would have been an alternate history novel(like his Man in the High Castle) that would be set in the 20th century when Christianity died out but Manichaeism survived and spread globally. Thanks for the background this video was useful.

[@Lissbirds]

As a PKD fan, this sounds really intriguing. Have you published it yet?

[@Veganrevwithzombies]

@@Lissbirds It is finished and I am currently shopping it to publishers.

[@adhamsinan2648]

Your arabic pronunciations are really good, glad o stumbled upon your thorough channel.

[@SV-er3yp]

Those are Persian words, not Arabic, idiot. Even the name Mani is 100% Persian.

[@markbaker4425]

Hey man, you do excellent work. Please keep going. You deserve a lot more views and subs.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

Thank you :)

[@francociano1594]

Great work. Thank you!

[@MexTexican]

Thanks so much for this and yes more information would be great

[@gabbys4579]

I literally have an ap environmental science test tomorrow that i need to study for but this is way more interesting

[@mmtatlas4705]

real men study during the test. Welcome to the real men's society.

[@mandipbhogal5232]

Dude, your channel is awesome, and very balanced in its outlook

[@martinkirsch5969]

Great video, as always. Thank you. I'll gladly watch anything else you do on Manichaeism (or anything else). Will you do a video on gnosticism one day ? I studied gnosticism and can give you a bibliography if you want.

[@LetsTalkReligion]

I will probably tackle gnosticism at some point. I would also recoment the channel "Religion For Breakfast" for videos on Gnosticism

[@martinkirsch5969]

@@LetsTalkReligion Yes, I know Religion for Breakfast, very good channel too.

[@mirmirathegreat]

I'm really happy I discovered this channel and have been binge watching your videos. I wanted to know how would you decide whether a religion is extant or extinct? Do you need a continuous tradition of followers? Do 'new-age' self identified religious practitioners count as followers?

[@michellesamuels7558]

Please cover Nestorianism.

[@CNX625]

Manichaeism going with the flow. Especially the flow of other religions. Reminds me a bit of Daoism. Very interesting. And surviving in China the longest makes sense too. China has always been a melting pot of religions. From Nestorians to shamanism to Buddhists and Daoists.

[@meesalikeu]

taoists - i keeps it peking old school 🎉

[@alicianieto2822]

Awesome vide. Thank you.

[@arsalanshaikh3763]

Great Video thanks sir for your research.