The Manichaean church in Kellis

This Volume Offers A Comprehensive Account Of A Manichaean Community In Fourth-century Roman Egypt. The Study Analyses Papyrological Material From Kellis, A Village In Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis, And Their Implications For Manichaeism As A Socio-religious Movement. Drawing On Social Network Theory And Engaging With Current Trends In The Study Of Lived Ancient Religion, Teigen Explores How Lay Families At Kellis Cohered As A Religious Community. Whereas Recent Scholarship Has Seen The Laity Here As Largely Detached From Distinctively Manichaean Traditions, He Argues That The Papyri In Fac Reveal A Community Immersed In Manichaean Ideas And Practices. The Book Thereby Shows How New Religious Identities Were Deeply Entangled In Everyday Social Life In Late Antiquity-- 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. By Håkon Fiane Teigen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 301-328) And Index.