MANICHEISM

Manicheism: translation

   A religious doctrine developed from gnosticism that was preached throughout the Mediterranean world by the Bablylonborn Mani and his disciples from the 3rd century AD. It is a dualistic religion of good and evil, light and dark in which good is identified with Jesus Christ and heaven and evil with Satan and earth. It was proscribed during the Roman Empire both before and after the triumph of orthodox Christianity. It was prevalent in Egypt, and Manichean texts have been discovered at Medinet Madi and the Dakhla Oasis.