AHC/WI: Manichaeism survives?

Manichaeism was a classical religion, roughly contemporaneous (plus a few hundred years) with Christianity founded by the prophet Mani in Sassanid Persia, incorporating elements of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Buddhist (among others) beliefs into a syncretic and highly gnostic whole. It was able to gain a number of converts and spread throughout Eurasia, from China to Britain, but ultimately declined and fell under the persecution of orthodox Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and, eventually, Islam in the west and the state in China (similar to the Nestorian church). Today it's largely a historical curiosity which is probably best known as the religion St. Augustine of Hippo followed before his conversion to orthodox Christianity.

So, obviously, it sparks the question of what the world would look like if it had been much more successful, remaining a major world religion to this day, perhaps even supplanting Christianity as the largest religion of the world (that would be reaching a bit). Thus the post, which asks just that; what factors would be needed for Manichaeism to be more successful (not necessarily to the "replacing orthodox Christianity" level, just so that it survives as a reasonably important world religion to the modern day)?

The most obvious factor needed seems, to me, to be a culturally and politically influential patron state, just as Christianity benefited from the support of the Roman Empire, Islam from the Caliphate, and Buddhism from the Mauryan Empire. The most obvious candidate is the state in which it arose, Sassanid Persia, although there's a problem in that the Sassanids were quite Zoroastrian although generally tolerant of other religions (from my admittedly brief reading). Perhaps this can be worked around, however? If the Sassanids are converted, at least the major state apparatus, then it seems to me that you could have a solid Manichee community centered around Persia, with strong influences in Central Asia, Arabia, and other areas linked to Persian trade routes, and smaller communities farther afield (much like Christianity relative to the Roman Empire).
 
Well, there are kind-of Manchees around still, apparently, (formerly) in Southern Iraq. Islam eventually proved to be rather effective in uprooting or assimilating all of these neat classical/early medieval Middle Eastern religions except in a few remote areas like the marshes of Iraq or the mountains of Syria and Lebanon.

And bump. Is no one else interested in forgotten/marginalized religions? :(
 
Similar support from Bahram I as Mani got from Shapur I, and using the platform consisting of the high-ranking political Sassanid Empire to become a evolution a successor of the Zoroastrian faith
 
The Maniacheans were a little weird. Though, note the form of Maniacheanism of the religion practices by the Turks and the Persians and Augustine were different from each other. Absorbing local cultural traits and all that in terms of hierarchy and doctrine.
 
Well, exotic eastern religions were the big fad in the Roman Empire. Christianity and Manichaeism both benefited from this. I don't think there was any particular reason why Christianity was the one exotic eastern religion that didn't go out of style. A couple powerful supporters here or successful preachers there could sway the balance in favor of some other religion in Roman Empire.

Was there anything intrinsic to Manichaeism that made it less popular in the Roman Empire? Did it require circumcision or dietary changes that people didn't like? Did it have rules of secrecy that prevented its spreading? Did it promise eternity in heaven, or did it have a worse benefits package?
 
Another thought. It could be adopted by Arabs south of Persia. There would be no Mohammed, but I think even without him, the Arabs have the strength to conquer large amounts of territory in the 7th century, just like OTL. Then their religion would take up territory similar to what Islam does OTL.
 
There are a lot of people who believe that Mohammad was influenced by Mazdak the "Communist Zoroastrianism" given that it is believed that when the Sassanids conquered South Arabia by throwing out the Axumites they sent most of the soldiers and noblemen that had been associated with Mazdakites and that certain political and communal aspects of Mazdakism may have influenced him.
 
Iirc, leo caesius did hiss phd thesis on modern manichaeans in ?yemen?

I know hes not around much anymore....
Edit: or was that Mandaeans. Or are they related. My search-fu is failing me.
 
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