Introduction: Mani's Church and Social Life -- Life in Kellis: Society and Religion in an Oasis Town -- The Pamour Family: Familial and Economic Networks -- Village Networks: The Small World of Fourth-Century Kellis -- Manichaean Cues: Religious Identity in Everyday Life -- Manichaean Networks: The Social Networks of the Laity at Kellis -- Manichaean Books: Textual Practices, Community, and the Literary Texts -- Manichaean Rituals: Elect and Laity at Kellis -- The Manichaean Church: Elect Organisation -- Conclusion: A Church in the World.

The Manichaean Church in Kellis presents an in-depth study of social organisation within the religious movement known as Manichaeism in Roman Egypt. In particular, it employs papyri from Kellis (Ismant el-Kharab), a village in the Dakhleh Oasis, to explore the socio-religious world of lay Manichaeans in the fourth century CE. Manichaeism has often been perceived as an elitist, esoteric religion. Challenging this view, Teigen draws on social network theory and cultural sociology, and engages with the study of lived ancient religion, in order to apprehend how laypeople in Kellis appropriated Manichaean identity and practice in their everyday lives. This perspective, he argues, not only provides a better understanding of Manichaeism: it also has wider implications for how we understand late antique ‘religion’ as a social phenomenon

Makarios's Family: Manichaeans at Home in the Oasis -- Pamour's Connections: Religion beyond a Conflict Model -- Orion's Language: Manichaean Self-Designation in the Kellis Papyri -- Tehat's Gifts: Everyday Community Boundaries -- The Deacon's Practice: Manichaean Gatherings with Prayer and Psalm Singing --

A comprehensive review of the development, geographic spread, and cultural influence of religion in Late Antiquity A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity offers an authoritative and comprehensive survey of religion in Late Antiquity. This historical era spanned from the second century to the eighth century of the Common Era. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, the Companion explores the evolution and development of religion and the role various religions played in the cultural, political, and social transformations of the late antique period. The authors examine the theories and methods used in the study of religion during this period, consider the most notable historical developments, and reveal how religions spread geographically. The authors also review the major religious traditions that emerged in Late Antiquity and include reflections on the interaction of these religions within their particular societies and cultures. This important Companion: Brings together in one volume the work of a notable team of international scholars Explores the principal geographical divisions of the late antique world Offers a deep examination of the predominant religions of Late Antiquity Examines established views in the scholarly assessment of the religions of Late Antiquity Includes information on the current trends in late-antique scholarship on religion Written for scholars and students of religion, A Companion to Religion in Late Antiquity offers a comprehensive survey of religion and the influence religion played in the culture, politics, and social change during the late antique period.

Provides an introduction to the academic study of early Christianity (c. 100-600 AD) and examines the vast geographical area impacted by the early church, in Western and Eastern late antiquity. --from publisher description.

This volume contains several presentations of new Manichaean source materials and provocative essays upon them. The studies are authored by an international group of leading scholars in the fields of ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern studies, comparative religion, early Christianity, patristics, Turkic studies, and Coptology. Throughout the book the studies present and discuss a variety of source materials representing the vast geographical spread of Manichaeism. This book should prove to be foundational for future research on Manichaeism and late antique religions in general.

This volume consists of two sections, written by the two authors. The first section contains a study by Manfred Heuser on The Manichaean Myth According to Coptic Sources. This is the first systematic presentation of the basic myth as reflected in Coptic material. The second part is a collection of essays on Manichaeism by Hans-Joachim Klimkeit. The essays are concerned, inter alia, with Manichaean art and symbolism, including newly found examples of Manichaean art from Central Asia.