Manichaeism

I often wonder if our understanding would be different if Manichaeism were still around today?
A religion of Light --You can't say that Humanity wasn't given the option -Of you own freewill you chose Christianity a God and his Son, not Light - something to think about -- just saying

At the very least I suspect there'd be more personal responsibility. Manichaeans viewed each person as a battle ground between good and evil.

a reply to: DpatC

A religion of Light --You can't say that Humanity wasn't given the option - You chose Christianity a God and his Son, not Light - something to think about -- just saying

I can't help but notice that you left the Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and others out of this.

a reply to: butcherguy

Im keeping things simple for now!

a reply to: butcherguy

As usual we get different definitions, depending on who you listen to...

definitions...

a reply to: DpatC

A religion of Light

Remembering, the symbolic reference to light, is more meant illuminating, lighting ones path, like a lamp, but referring more to knowing what the right thing, the right decision is, in the moment.

a reply to: DpatC

I often wonder if our understanding would be different if Manichaeism were still around today?

I find it easier to compare common features of different Cosmologies rather than try to figure out which borrowed from the other.

Manichaeism Manichaeism taught an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good, spiritual world of light, and an evil, material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process that takes place in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of light, whence it came. Its beliefs were based on local Mesopotamian gnostic and religious movements

Naturally, if the light is leaving (good Xian souls going to heaven upon death), the World grows darker. This leads to a rather pessimistic grim view of the future. Examples from Christian writings:

1Timothy 4:1But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 3:1But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power.

As the good light leaves, the darkness is concentrated.

In American pre-tribulation and/or mid-tribulation rapture teaching this pessimism reaches it's ultimate expression in the way this verse is interpreted.

2 Thessalonians 2
3Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, 4he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
...Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. 8Then the lawless one will be revealed,

So the one who restrains now is interpreted as the Holy Spirit (a source of light inside the Christian, connected with the true source). And after the Christians leave (raptured away), the Boogey man at the end of human history(man of sin) aka Antichrist by some, is revealed and rules over the whole dark World for a brief time.

So an important element of Manichaeism does exist in modern American Fundie Christianity. That being said, I find it hard to take Manichaeism seriously because of the prejudice I have against such pessimistic Worldviews. Sorry. I'm flawed that way.

a reply to: DpatC

A lot of Manichean writings and teachings are still in recorded form. So people are free to follow that religion if they choose to. The same goes with Zoroastrianism, which still has many followers today. They may not be popular but why should the popularity of a religion be taken into account when deciding what you believe to be true?

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: DpatC

A religion of Light

Remembering, the symbolic reference to light, is more meant illuminating, lighting ones path, like a lamp, but referring more to knowing what the right thing, the right decision is, in the moment.

Perhaps but many religions suggest that GOD is light (John 1:5-9 etc). Gospel of Thomas - Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the light, from the place where the light came into being by itself, established [itself], and appeared in their image.'.

Its said in Jewish Kabbalah, the Creator’s Light is blocked from entering our vessel by egotistical desires. It only when we can overcome all egoistic desires that the Creator’s Light can enter our vessel allowing us to to achieve an awakening.

So both Jewish and Christian religions might also be considered religions of light. Its very possible that the keys of knowledge were jealously guarded by the rabbi (knowledge was power). With only the most faithful receiving full revelation. The public given just stories of no real worth (not information aiming for public enlightenment, just fables).

a reply to: glend

Since time memorial all Beliefs/Religions have been about Light.

a reply to: DpatC

Obviously 'light' as a description of God must neccesarily be an oversimplification.

We have control of light and therefore the implication is that we can have control of God, if God is just light.

Light also does not have personality, intellect and will, requirements for a Creator.

Also, there are implications for us; from the existence of God, for our motivations, choices and actions. Not so with light.

By abstracting God away, we pretend that we are not responsible to God.

We may just as well say that 'God is cardboard' and it will have as much meaning for our lives.

Everything we've ever known about history is just someone describing what light revealed to them, the very same light that you and I see right now.

Created in God's image, what you see is God's image (Son) which is light.

a reply to: glend

Seeing light isn't that enlightening. In fact looking right at it will blind you.

Enlightenment is a state of being where you are given to know what is the right thing to do in the moment.

If you don't have any light showing your path you stumble in the dark, fall off a cliff, drive into a ditch.

There see how I did that?

originally posted by: chr0naut
a reply to: DpatC

Obviously 'light' as a description of God must neccesarily be an oversimplification.

We have control of light and therefore the implication is that we can have control of God, if God is just light.

Light also does not have personality, intellect and will, requirements for a Creator.

Are you serious "we have control of light"! OMG Heaven help me please, we (light) have alot of work to do! Humanity's understanding of Light is very limited at best. As a race you haven't moved on from Newton's notes on Colour and light, the link below will provide direct links to his papers on said subject should you wish to read them
www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk...
Actually, that is not true, some recent research projects are starting to show that there is alot more to Light than Newtons notes or the double split experiment.
Exsamples would include:
Editing the Genome with "Blue" Light -Im sure you have heard of the saying "Richard of York gave battle in Vain - 7 primary colours,7 Chrakras, 7 Archangels ..Every primary colour split from natural Light contains life and has a function, you can do some amazing things with them
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...
I love this:
www.youtube.com...

Life does exist as Light,For exsample I am sentiant light in a Human body,I can see and interact with my brothers and sisters, (the angels and devils -im not either btw, just have an ability to see LIGHT) in fact, there is a very wide diversity of Life that exsists as Light - You can see, if you dont believe rip the lens (unveiling) from your eye. It will allow you to see more of the electromagnetic specturm and the life that that exists within it

As for the control of "God" you have no idea, our father is something that even we have difficulty describing - he goes way beyond light...As for "controlling him" what f""king planet are you folk on!

originally posted by: DpatC

originally posted by: chr0naut
a reply to: DpatC

Obviously 'light' as a description of God must neccesarily be an oversimplification.

We have control of light and therefore the implication is that we can have control of God, if God is just light.

Light also does not have personality, intellect and will, requirements for a Creator.

Are you serious "we have control of light"! OMG Heaven help me please, we (light) have alot of work to do! Humanity's understanding of Light is very limited at best. As a race you haven't moved on from Newton's notes on Colour and light, the link below will provide direct links to his papers on said subject should you wish to read them
www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk...

Newton died 290 years ago. Science and technology has moved on.

An example of our control of light and colour is the screen you are looking at. Newton's notes on colour also omitted the specifics of human perception and processing of visual data.

Actually, that is not true, some recent research projects are starting to show that there is alot more to Light than Newtons notes or the double split experiment.
Exsamples would include:
Editing the Genome with "Blue" Light -Im sure you have heard of the saying "Richard of York gave battle in Vain - 7 primary colours

The colour Indigo is generally inserted into the optical spectrum because Newton wanted it to fit the Pythagorean 'magic' number of 7. There are three primary colours and three transition colours, a total of six.

7 Chrakras, 7 Archangels

There are also mentions of 12 chakras and 114 chakras in some systems. Also, since there is no actual tissue structure in the body that relates to the chakras and there are no actual energies at those nodal points to measure, I'd actually like to suggest that chakras are complete B.S.

The canonical bible only mentions one archangel - Michael. The non-canonical Book of Enoch mentions seven archangels. The non-canonical 'Life of Adam and Eve' mentions five archangels. The Roman Catholic Church acknowledges three archangels. The Eastern Orthodox tradition acknowleges "thousands of archangels". Some protestant denominations acknowledge four archangels, as does Islam. So, take your pick.

..Every primary colour split from natural Light contains life and has a function, you can do some amazing things with them
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov...

I love this:
www.youtube.com...

Life does exist as Light,For exsample I am sentiant

sentient

light in a Human body,I can see and interact with my brothers and sisters, (the angels and devils -im not either btw, just have an ability to see LIGHT

Wow, you are so SPECIAL

) in fact, there is a very wide diversity of Life that exsists as Light - You can see, if you dont believe rip the lens (unveiling) from your eye. It will allow you to see more of the electromagnetic specturm and the life that that exists within it.

I would be able to see into the ultraviolet spectrum a bit further, but I'd loose the ability to focus any images, which would render me functionally blind. The lens is there for a reason.

As you have noted, light is a very fundamental thing in physics. You can do a lot with it. Fortunately, it is something that we can fully control.

As for the control of "God" you have no idea, our father is something that even we have difficulty describing - he goes way beyond light...As for "controlling him" what f""king planet are you folk on!

Don't you see people making idols or talismans of God, reducing their interpretation of God to some aspect over which they can feel they have some control?

a reply to: chr0naut

Brilliant somebody who has actually replied to one of my posts...I will reply once I get over the shock! I wish more people here had a mind like yourself! Oh btw that ability to see that extra layer of light that exists over natural Light is actually a pain in the hole. Sentient, well that's dependant on definition. In UV you wouldn't lose focus .Oh and you are also Light - baby light. As for Chakra's, Kundalini meditation, that should open them rather quickly!
Loved your post..
D

originally posted by: DpatC
a reply to: chr0naut

Brilliant somebody who has actually replied to one of my posts...I will reply once I get over the shock! I wish more people here had a mind like yourself! Oh btw that ability to see that extra layer of light that exists over natural Light is actually a pain in the hole. Sentient, well that's dependant on definition. In UV you wouldn't lose focus .Oh and you are also Light - baby light. As for Chakra's, Kundalini meditation, that should open them rather quickly!
Loved your post..
D

Cheers, agreeing to disagree at least allows for some thought provoking discussion.

a reply to: chr0naut

Cheers, agreeing to disagree at least allows for some thought provoking discussion.

Brilliant as is usual in your posts. I try not to miss your posts as they are always well said.
Cheers ---