In Manichaeism though things are quite different. Because Manichaeism teaches the existence of two eternal principles the one good by nature and the other evil by nature, human activity can be explained by the mixture of these two principles within the individual. The human spirit being consubstantial with the eternal principle of light is good by nature and so morally incapable of committing positively evil actions, such actions being contrary to its nature. When we commit moral evil then, this is not a function of our spirits but rather of our bodies (derived from the eternal principle of darkness) and the archontic force(s) residing within (Eph 2:2) a force which gives rise to the unruly desires and passions of the flesh which successfully compel men towards wickedness ... in opposition to the will of their real self... their spirit.

This teaching helps us to realize that sinners, criminals, etc are in fact victims of their own sinful nature. Forgiveness comes easy to Manichaeans. Traditionally we confess our sins every Monday, and forgiveness is almost immediately pronounced by the elects. Contrast this to how confession was practiced in the early church by the fathers of the 'orthodox' church. In the primitive orthodox church, the sacrament of 'penance' was usually public, and absolution was delayed until a person could prove their contrition (sorrow for their sin) by performing some sort of public penance ... only when this was satisfactorily accomplished could the penitent be absolved and restored to the unity of the church and her sacraments. Today while the way in which the sacrament of penance is conducted has changed, those who confess their sins in the Roman church are still assigned a penance even after being declared forgiven in order to render some sort of satisfaction for their sins. The difference is obvious ... for Manichaeans confession and absolution are cathartic ... we are assured by the absolution that we are not to be identified and defined by our sins ... this is why forgiveness is so easy because in truth there is naught to forgive since our spirits which we are called to identify with never willfully sin, whereas for the 'orthodox' sin implies personal guilt which must in some way be expiated for the individual to have peace with God, the church, and themselves. The Manichaean view brings peace of mind, and self-acceptance whereas the 'orthodox' view results in obsessive guilt, introspection and self-loathing.

This self-acceptance, insofar as it stems from a new conception of one's true self as a divine light being is the beginning of the ethical path which as Manichaeans we are called to take. Some might fear that this disassociation of oneself from one's sinful actions might promote licentiousness, but the truth is rather the opposite .... for if we truly believe that our sins are involuntary and proceed from an alien and hostile nature, then we will perceive the sins committed in the body as a sign of our bondage to hostile forces and we will want to utilize all of our strength in the moments in which we have control to limit opportunities for the evil force to reassert itself ... it is this realization that provides the impetus for wanting to embark upon the ascetic path proscribed by Jesus and Mani ... a path devoted to weakening the influence that darkness exercises over us and to the obtaining of true freedom ... which is not simply the ability to sin or not sin or the popular concept of 'free will' but which is instead the total lack of inclination towards wickedness or the moral inability to sin (non posse peccare) which is natural to us.

Ten commandments for the Auditors

1. Do not worship idols

2. Do not lie

3. Do not butcher animals and drink fermented beverage

4. Respect the Elects

5. Practice monogamy and do not commit adultery

6. Help the afflicted

7. Do not follow false prophets

8. Do not frighten, harm, or kill animals

9. Do not steal

10. Do not practice magic

The Daily Practice of an Auditor

1. Keep the 10 commandments

2. Pray 4 times a day

3. Fast weekly each Monday

4. Pray the confession of the Auditors weekly each Monday

5. Give alms

The importance of religious practice.

What does it mean to be a disciple of the Religion of Light? The answer is written in the ten commandments. We are called to live a life whereby we are no longer our old selves, but it is Christ who lives in us. We are called to follow principles that change our very being, we go from living in complete darkness; intoxicated by the powers and principalities; to awakening from a drunken state to an awareness of who we really are. The precepts of our beliefs transform our being, we shed the weight of matter and become light and spiritual disciples. This is a life-long process, upon awakening to the true gnosis, we must live an ascetic life, which is a call to battle. The cosmic battle between light and darkness rages within those who are awake.

The precepts also teach us a way in which we live a life of wisdom. We understand that drinking fermented beverages clouds our perception. We are called to be clear in mind, clarity in our thoughts keeps our focus on living the life of a pnematikon (a spiritual being). We are called to respect all sentient life; to aid in helping the afflicted; to care for animal, plant, and mineral life. We do not bow down to idols, because these are figurines empty of light. We are to look up to the heavens above; to the sun and moon, which are filled with light. We are called to live a life of sincerity and truth. Lies, falsehoods, and personas mask our true natures. Mani is called seal of the prophets because he has brought all the teachings of the envoys and sealed this wisdom into one developed system, which is sufficient for the salvation of all. We do not practice magic, because magic is an illusory practice, which was taught by the angels who came down and copulated with the daughters of Eve. (Genesis 6; 1 Enoch; The Book of Giants).

The daily practice of an auditor provides a rhythmic liturgical life; it is a discipline a way to keep our focus on the Great Father of the Lights, and all the gods, envoys, and angels that abide in the Great Aeon of Light. The prayers provide strength in the daily battle with the flesh (matter). A life of prayer also deepens our understanding of our faith through the singing of the hymns to the readings from Holy Scripture. The hymns and prayers fill our minds with Holy Wisdom. The daily life of prayer can be compared to the armour of righteousness. We are called to battle with the dark powers. Our armour protects us; however, just as everything in life, this armour needs regular maintenance!

Fasting is a way of denying the cravings of our earthly bodies; it teaches us to be mindful; it strengthens our spirit by the very act of denying the flesh. Fasting keeps our focus on living life dedicated to the Light. Through fasting, we are also called to confess our sins to our Good Father in heaven who always forgives; he is pure light and love, and there is no darkness or hate to be found in Him. We must accept that our bodies are mixed with light and darkness. Keeping the commandments, doing the prayers, fasting when we are meant to, and confessing our sins help us to walk more uprightly in the Light. However, we will miss the mark. And this is why it is vital to stress that our Father is All Loving. Jesus said, “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent” (Luke 11:11). Jesus also clearly stated that only God is good (Mark 10:18). Therefore, take comfort in the fact that our Eternal Father will treat us as any Good Father would. God loves us unconditionally. This means that God does not support the ways of darkness, but he is always there to take us back into His warm embrace when we turn away from this world and look back to our eternal Home! We are called to live the precepts. We know that we cannot keep them perfectly. However, it is important to also stress that we are to live a life of sanctification; a life focused on working toward perfection: A life that is constantly seeking to be filled with light rather than darkness.

Finally, the giving of alms. To give is to deny ourselves for the benefit of another. We are called to love one another, to live a life based on care for all sentient life. The giving of alms aids in living a selfless life. A selfless life is a Christ-like life. We are to serve our neighbours, friends, and even enemies. So, look at your local area if there is a need to contribute for the benefit of those who are in need. As a church we will look at causes we can contribute as a unified body. A charitable body chosen by the Ekklesia will be fully vetted.

Dear brothers and sisters of the Light, I pray that we can continually walk the path our Lord Mani has opened for us. I pray that our hearts and minds can be focused on doing the Good. Apply these precepts and practices in your life; I promise you that your lives will change, your wisdom will deepen, and your spirit will grow stronger from day to day. May our loving Father Zurvan, the Great King of Light, bless and keep us, may His countenance shine upon us and give us peace.

Love and light,

ܒܪ ܕܝܨܢ ܐܘܪܗܝ

When we say we are "Christian" what do we mean by that? Many will answer by stating that they are Lutherans or Catholics. For others, the term may have no meaning at all, they simply follow The Way.

All follow Jesus, but their theology is based on the traditions and reforms that have happened since the apostles witnessed the risen Christ. Even the Gospels and Paul seem to have some tension regarding the body of the risen Christ. Paul teaches that the risen Christ has a spiritual body, whilst Luke tries to elaborate on this by illustcan the body of Jesus is also fleshy in that he can eat, whilst also ethereal in the way he is able to disappear.

For Paul, he witnessed a spiritual Christ, a Christ that was suffering because of the way he persecuted his Church. What does Paul mean by this? How can Jesus be the one who is suffering? Yes, we can say that he suffers on behalf of those suffering. But Jesus is clear; “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4 ESV)

Jesus is suffering at the hands of Saul. Now for Mani, and St Maximus the Confessor, the reason Jesus is personally suffering at the hands of Paul is that Christ is in all of us and the created world around us; whilst asimultaneouslytranscending creation. Mani teaches that this is Jesus Patibilis, or in plain English, the suffering Jesus. This is what the incarnation means; this is love on a mind-blowingly cosmic level.

Whilst I would love to explore this area further; it is important to come back to my main point. How can we make sense of all these differences? How can some hold to a literal rapture of the saints? Whers affirm that there will be no rapture. Why are the same Bible verses used to defend two totally different positions on child baptism? The list is endless... and what are we to do in such bewildering confusion?

I like to go back (as does everyone in these debates) to how the early church understood Holy Scripture. The followers of the Way were an apocalyptic Jewish sect. When I mean "Apocalyptic" I do not mean some destructive end time. Rather, I mean an unveiling of spiritual truth. Christ unveiled the mystery of God. When someone asks who God is, we can answer in full confidence that God is revealed in the person Jesus Christ. He is the icon of the Father. And what is this image of God?

1 John 1:5 proclaims that; "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (ESV)

John is very clear on teaching that God is love, and that we should emulate this by loving one another as God loves us (John 3: 11-17; 1 John 3:11–4:21). God, then, is pure light and pure love. There is not one ounce of evil or a shady corner to be found. He is the all-purifying fire, he is our all Merciful Father.

How does Mani fit into this? Well, Mani was declared a heretic amongst his contemporaries. And not only Mani, but many of the greatest Christian minds were also branded heretics such as; Origen, Evagrius, Bardaisan, and Valentinus; to just name a few. Why were these people heretics? There can be a myriad of answers to this one question. Personally, I think it was down to jealousy, politics, and purely the evil that resides in all of us.

Evil such as excluding certain people based on their worldview, and lust (and not just in a sexual sense, but lusting after power and recognition.) We must all accept that within us there is an evil that can appear at any time. Christ said we should look at the fruits of another to get a sense of their character. Origen, Bardaisan, and Mani all taught that God is pure light and pure love. There is no darkness in Him. Trees that are healthy only produce good fruit. Whilst, on the other hand, trees that are sick produce bad or no fruit at all; this tree is only fit for the fire. Mani calls this teaching the wisdom of the two trees.

The post-modern world is filled with so much information, there are innumerable answers to all these questions. Mine is just one of them. However, I hold fast to the simple principle. God the Father is pure love and light. Who teaches this? Jesus revealed this in Himself, as he is God the Son. Mani revealed the same truth but in a language that can be understood across cultural, national, and social divides. Mani is the Master Perennial Philosopher level 100. The Great Father of the Lights is the God of all truth and beauty; He is the Great King of the Aeon of Light. In opposition to Him is the prince of darkness. The two principles are foundational in understanding the cosmology and soteriology of our faith.

Jesus commanded his followers to go out to all the corners of the earth to proclaim his Gospel. Mani did this. His revelations were accepted by people from China to Egypt. Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews. Mani, the embodied Paraclete, took the message to all corners of the ancient world. Sadly, the church was persecuted so much; that it was eradicated in the West. China also persecuted the church, but Mani's church has survived to this day under a Taoist guise. All the Manichaean writings were presumed lost. The only information we could gather was found in the works of people against Mani’s teachings.

However, thanks be to God the Father of Lights; Mani’s works are being rediscovered. I love Jesus, he has healed me from all the suffering I have faced in life. His teaching transforms me. I mess up, I miss the mark. But I know that the life of Jesus has redeemed me, he removes the dirt of this material body and brings forth the shard of light we all possess. We are children of the Father. And what does any good father do? He loves his children unconditionally, no matter what they have done or do.

What does Mani do? He reveals that God has been at work reawakening his children to the truth, calling out to all through the workings of the Holy Spirit. Buddha, Zoroaster, Zhuangzi; and many more. We all come from God, and God wills that all shall be saved.

I believe Mani to be the seal of the prophets. He is the Paraclete; the Rosetta Stone, who is commissioned to fortify the saints and reveal the truth to all nations. I am sure many will disagree. However, I ask those who do disagree to look at the fruit of his work. What was he teaching? He teaches that God is light and in Him, there is no darkness to be found. Moreover, he teaches that this world is a mixture of dark and light. Those who are not awakened slumber, the material world keeps them captive. Jesus and Mani call out to us, they awaken us to our true selves. We awaken to the knowledge (gnosis) of where we come from.

Whether you believe in the rapture or child baptism, or not. Ask yourself, what is important when Jesus calls us to follow him? What is Mani saying to us? They say that we are to deny ourselves and to love one another as God loves us. We are to lay down our lives for others. We are to crucify the old (material) self so that our spirit can ascend to the lofty aeon of infinite light. It is no longer I that live, but it is Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20).

They have shown us a way; they have found the pearl; they have built the raft. . All we need to do is open our eyes. Take the raft and leave it behind. Once we cross that raging torrent, we are home. We have escaped the prison of our material bodies.

Evil is very real. The powers, principalities, archons, and the god of this world are all part of this ontological principle of darkness. But there is good news. Because of the sacrifice of one, the many will be saved. The sacrifice thrust light (spirit) into evil (matter), what was perceived as a victory was a colossal defeat for the powers of darkness. The dark swallowed the light, the light illuminates and dispels the darkness. The god of this world has lost his power, the strong man is bound, and Jesus has plundered his goods. Me, you, your cat, the tree standing in your street. All life can be rescued from this material prison.

Mani carries the torch and passes it on to us. I believe his revelation is more important now than ever. Read, listen, taste, and see. Look at the fruit of his life.

I pray to God that he may illuminate your mind and soul. May the darkness dissipate and may there only be light!