According to Rudolf Steiner (Anthroposophy) the prophet Mani began a stream of Christianity which will have great tasks in the future when Good confronts Evil. The elements of this path and how it relates to the Rosicrucian path and the Grail Christianity of Parzifal/Parsifal/Percival will be discussed here. Known variously as Manichian, Manichaean and Manichean, there are as many views as there are spellings. It is also mentioned by Max Heindel of the Rosicrucian Fellowship. This list does not recognize the later drifting of the Manichaean movement into the Lucifer-Gnostic view, as being representative of the true stream. The Cathars, Albigenses,Waldenses and Knights Templar were in one way or another a continuation of the stream. It is also incorporated in Freemasonry. The great initiate Skythianus/Scythianos, passed on the teachings of Empedocles (the four elements) Pythagoras to Mani, to be then incorporated into Christianity. To this Christianised Greek thought was also added the Christianised Buddhism of Buddas Terebinthus: "Lord of the Hindus". The star wisdom of Southern Babylonia was also part of this complex movement. Though this may be viewed as sycretism, it is in fact a flowering of all this pre-Christian wisdom in the Light of the Incarnation. (Walter Stein's "The Ninth Century" is recommended for study.) Further Topics for discussion: The Four Elements, Christ and the Zodiac (Star Wisdom), The Relationship Between the Elements and the Zodiac, Divinity as it Manifested in the World, The Lore of Numbers, Faustus Dr.Faust. Rudolf Steiner e.Links