A Comparative study of Manichaeism and other Gnostic Schools from Theological and Cosmological Pointsof view

Scholars are of the opinion that Mani has probablyderived the concepts of dualism and the realm of light and darknessfrom the thoughts of Marcion and Bardaisan or other Gnostics; in order to study the origins of these concepts in Manichaeism، the present study، firstly،examines Gnosticism and its schools. Secondly، for a precise review of this question، and in order tocompare and contrast Manichaeism and other gnostic schools، some information as to the Baptismal Schools which brought about a kind of informal Christianity is provided.