When studying Zoroastrianism a few years ago, I also learned something about Manichaeism. It was a mix of Gnostic Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism founded by the prophet Mani in the 3rd century, who claimed to b. Mani had some success in the Sassanid court, since Shapur I showed enough interest that Mani named one of his religious texts after him, the Shapuragan. Mani was killed by the Zoroastrian priest Kirdir, who also persecuted many other religions at the time.
Due to its Gnostic origins, Manichaeism considered the physical world to be evil. There was a division between "hearers", who were effectively laity, and the "elect", who abstained from sex and other fleshly temptations. The church had a highly organized structure with many different priestly ranks.
Manichaeism eventually spread throughout the Old World. St. Augustine was a Manichee "hearer" before he converted to Christianity, and later wrote polemics against Manichaeism. Most empires from Rome to China persecuted it, and the last Manichee probably died in western China in the 15th century. However, the Uighurs were once Manichees before converting to Islam.
How would you make this once-widespread religion survive in an alternate history? Why wasn't it as resilient as the major religions today?
Due to its Gnostic origins, Manichaeism considered the physical world to be evil. There was a division between "hearers", who were effectively laity, and the "elect", who abstained from sex and other fleshly temptations. The church had a highly organized structure with many different priestly ranks.
Manichaeism eventually spread throughout the Old World. St. Augustine was a Manichee "hearer" before he converted to Christianity, and later wrote polemics against Manichaeism. Most empires from Rome to China persecuted it, and the last Manichee probably died in western China in the 15th century. However, the Uighurs were once Manichees before converting to Islam.
How would you make this once-widespread religion survive in an alternate history? Why wasn't it as resilient as the major religions today?