Manichaeism was very powerfull in the aspect of philosophy, logic and freedom against the old persian religion, Zoroastrianism. It had merged all of the ancient religions of the time (Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Hinduism) into one belief system without contradicting any of them!

It was so powerfull in logic that mages (zoroastrian clergies) thought it would be a danger for zoroastrianism and could replace the old religion. So mages felt a great threat even after the king accepted it. Because Persia was the only place in the ancient world that had freedom of religion and belief without any slavery system from the day that it was founded. So kings “Shahpour I”& “Hormozd I” didn’t have any problem with the new religion. This new belief system was made by a genius philosopher and artist named “Mani”. He made a religion which was a mixture of all of the main beliefs of his time, without contradicting any of them.

Also it is notable to know that the world’s first church in the world has been built in persia. the only place in the ancient world that they could freely build churches and have their own new religion. Also Mani was an astonishing painter. So this is the reason that in all churches you see the religion is thought through paintings! Because the churches in mesopotamia learned that from Mani.

Mani wrote seven books. He had named his book in persian containing this new belief system “Shahpourgan” cause he had named it after the king “Shahpour”. There was a mage (zoroastrianism priest) named “Kartir”. Kartir was at the highest religious ranking in persia at the time, and after the death of the king, he did a religious coup de etat in persia against Mani and designed a plot against him.

 After the death of Mani he also ordered to find and kill the followers of Mani and kill those who believe in Mani as a prophet.

So this is why some persians in the Sassanid era who wore ties and bow ties moved to europe.

This religion is very complex but In short, Manichean is a belief system which believes in duality for many things and says that through an ongoing process that takes place in human history one should bring light in the world of matter and fight the devil. And at last this is only light that can survive and wins. And human can use meditation to bring out this light that is within.

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