Manichean religion was founded in the third century AD by Iranian prophet Mani, who claimed to be the last in a line of divine prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad. It presented itself as a universal world religion that reconciled Christianity and Zoroastrianism and combined elements from both traditions into a new religion centered on dualism.
The Manichaeans believed there were two eternal principles, light and darkness, which existed together but opposed each other. The material universe is the result of their interaction, so everything that exists belongs to one of these categories. Light is associated with goodness, truth, and knowledge; Darkness with evil, falsehood, and ignorance.
Manichean ethics emphasized asceticism, abstinence, and sexual restraint. They condemned the physical body as a prison for the soul and viewed it as a repository of sinful impulses. Manichaeans thought sex caused human souls to become trapped within material bodies, causing them to lose their immortality and preventing them from reaching heaven. Therefore, they considered sexual intercourse to be immoral and even sinful, and abstaining from it was seen as an act of great virtue.
The Manichaeans' attitude towards sexuality had far-reaching effects on personal and communal conduct. The strict moral code led to a taboo against sexuality and intimacy, which affected individuals' relationships, social interactions, and economic transactions.
Couples were encouraged to avoid physical contact before marriage and not consummate the union until after the wedding ceremony. Sexual relations between married partners were only permissible in cases of procreation or for medical reasons. Married people could not remarry unless widowed, divorced, or abandoned by their spouses.
The Manichaeans also condemned homosexuality as unnatural and sinful. Any person caught engaging in same-sex behavior would be excommunicated and denied entry into paradise.
Celibate priests who took vows of chastity were held in high esteem and expected to lead virtuous lives. This contradictory approach created confusion and controversy among members of the community.
The Manichean religious ethics constructed a rigid framework for sexual morality that influenced individual and collective behaviour significantly. While some adherents embraced the code with fervour, others struggled to reconcile its demands with their natural desires and inclinations. In either case, the Manichean teachings left a lasting impact on society and continue to shape attitudes towards sex and sexuality today.
How did Manichean religious ethics construct sexual morality, and how did these codes influence individual and community conduct?
Manicheanism is a religion that holds dualistic views on all things. It sees all of creation as a conflict between good (light) and evil (darkness). This belief system also extends into the realm of human relationships, including sex. In this way, Manichaeans constructed their moral code for sexual behavior by emphasizing the spiritual and physical components of sexuality, viewing it as an act that must be approached with caution.