Manichaeanism

Why do some religions do well while others do not? Manichaeanism was forced underground due to persecution and never really made it back, while Christianity sprung up and was able to spread and help push out paganism as a major religion (Lieu, 1980). Nowadays neither Paganism nor Manichaeanism survive, while Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam succeeded. Nestorianism and Buddhism both did better than Manichaeanism even though they were both linked to it at different times. Neostranists did not have to hide or pretend to be someone else (Lieu, 1980). Perhaps this is because Nestorianism continued to associate itself with foreigners in Asia while Manichaeanism became integrated into Chinese society through the process of syncretism (Lieu, 1980). One would think that the odds of Manichaeanism surviving would be better as it becomes entwined in local cultures and stops being a foreign force, however this was not the case, as Manacheist priests and nuns were actually removed from China along with another religion that would one day integrate into Chinese culture, Buddhism (Lieu, 1980). The continuity of a religion depends on who believes in it, as shown by the protection and status increase Manichaeanism received upon converting the T'ang's important ally, the leader of the Uighur Turks (Lieu, 1980). Another factor is how strong the local religion is compared to the new one being introduced. The perception of the religion as a foreign entity can also contribute to its longetivity or lack thereof, as the T'ang governemnt actually expelled foreign religions including Nestorianism and Manichaeanism (Lieu, 1980).

Image of a Nestorian cross, including the lotus flower often seen in Chinese Nestorianism.

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