Manichaeism
Britishnoun
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the system of religious doctrines, including elements of Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, etc, taught by the Persian prophet Mani about the 3rd century ad . It was based on a supposed primordial conflict between light and darkness or goodness and evil
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RC Church any similar heretical philosophy involving a radical dualism
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Manichaeism
C14: from Late Latin Manichaeus, from Late Greek Manikhaios of Mani
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sogdians also brought Manichaeism, a dualistic philosophy of good versus evil that emerged in the Sasanid Empire and blended Persian Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Christianity.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
That was during the reign of Tengri Bögü Qaghan, a Uyghur monarch who converted to Manichaeism, a religion that views existence as an epic struggle between good and evil.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 13, 2023
And so the show’s refusal to give in to the Manichaeism that animates most fantasy stories is both refreshing and crushing.
From Slate ● Apr. 9, 2015
Summer blockbusters have a way of encouraging multiplex Manichaeism, though I propose a middle way.
From New York Times ● Jun. 13, 2013
As the trading capital was still placed with the temples as banks, the government attacked the religion of the Uighurs, Manichaeism, and also the religions of the other foreigners, Mazdaism, Nestorianism, and apparently also Islam.
From A History of China by Eberhard, Wolfram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
