Did Augustine of Hippo incorporate Manichaeism into Christian beliefs?

[jas84173]

Some modern scholars have suggested that Manichaean ways of thinking influenced the development of some of Augustine’s ideas, such as the nature of good and evil, the idea of hell, the separation of groups into elect, hearers, and sinners, and the hostility to the flesh and sexual activity, and his dualistic theology. Augustine converted to Christianity from Manichaeism, in the year 387. This was shortly after the Roman Emperor Theodosius I had issued a decree of death for all Manichaean monks in 382 and shortly before he declared Christianity to be the only legitimate religion for the Roman Empire in 391. Due to the heavy persecution, the religion almost disappeared from western Europe in the 5th century and from the eastern portion of the empire in the 6th century

 

[friardchips]

Some modern scholars have suggested that Manichaean ways of thinking influenced the development of some of Augustine’s ideas, such as the nature of good and evil, the idea of hell, the separation of groups into elect, hearers, and sinners, and the hostility to the flesh and sexual activity, and his dualistic theology. Augustine converted to Christianity from Manichaeism, in the year 387. This was shortly after the Roman Emperor Theodosius I had issued a decree of death for all Manichaean monks in 382 and shortly before he declared Christianity to be the only legitimate religion for the Roman Empire in 391. Due to the heavy persecution, the religion almost disappeared from western Europe in the 5th century and from the eastern portion of the empire in the 6th century

He wasn’t dualistic.

Who were these “scholars”?

 

[Richard_White]

No, if one were to read Confessions, he would see that St. Augustine completely repudiated the teachings of Manichaeism for those of the Catholic Church. I would say more, but it is late, and so hopefully others will expand on this!

May God bless you all!

 

[Faithdancer]

No, if one were to read Confessions, he would see that St. Augustine completely repudiated the teachings of Manichaeism for those of the Catholic Church. I would say more, but it is late, and so hopefully others will expand on this!

May God bless you all!

Exactly. He rails against the Manichees in Confessions, and laments that he ever bought into their heresy. Who are these “scholars,” indeed?

 

[JPUSC]

Some modern scholars have suggested that Manichaean ways of thinking influenced the development of some of Augustine’s ideas, such as the nature of good and evil, the idea of hell, the separation of groups into elect, hearers, and sinners, and the hostility to the flesh and sexual activity, and his dualistic theology. Augustine converted to Christianity from Manichaeism, in the year 387. This was shortly after the Roman Emperor Theodosius I had issued a decree of death for all Manichaean monks in 382 and shortly before he declared Christianity to be the only legitimate religion for the Roman Empire in 391. Due to the heavy persecution, the religion almost disappeared from western Europe in the 5th century and from the eastern portion of the empire in the 6th century

I am very interested in this, can you provide more literature for further reading?

I personally don’t trust Augustine’s ideas on original sin and hell as I would think a former guilt-ridden hedonist as himself would have his views shaped by his guilt and experiences.

 

[Wesrock]

Augustine’s conception of good and evil was a complete repudiation of Manichaeism and wasn’t something he invented himself in response to it, and certainly his idea of justification and original sin was more shaped by the Pelagian heresy (as a response to it) than by Manichaeism.

The Church also largely accepts Augustine’s idea of predetermination (as an understanding, not as the understanding). I think any Catholic not familiar with Dominican and Jesuit thoughts on predetermination, the two most popular schools of thought, would find themselves surprised at the extent both teach regarding God’s sovereignty and providence on the topic.