Mazdakism: Monotheism or Dualism

Subject Areas : Christianity

محمد جواد شمس ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2011-06-22 Accepted : 2011-08-03 Published : 2011-03-21

Keywords: Mazdak, Mazdakism, the Good, Kawad, Anushiravan,

Abstract :

The appearance of Mazdak and his announcement was in Kawad’s(488-531) time who at first converted to Mazdakism, but after atemporarily overthrow, abandoned Mazdak and his followers. It seemsthat in 528 or 529 C.E. many of Mazdakites were killed by KhosrowAnushiravan under the command of Kawad. After Mazdak hisfollowers, known as Mazdakeans, did not lose their faith in Mazdakand his teachings so tried to spread his teachings in a hidden manner.Teachings of Mazdak, due to their similarities with some doctrines ofManichaeism, Zoroastrianism and even Zurvanism, often were ascribedto these religions. Mazdakism, on the one hand, is a dualistic religionwhich believes in two origins eternally different and independent and,on the other, speaks about an exalted God.