Studying Manichaeism in Augustine’s Sermones ad populum: Crypto-Manichaeism and the Audience’s Theology

This article proposes a methodology for the study of Manichaeism in Sermones ad populum. Sermons provide unique perspective on Augustine’s thought: they offered him opportunity to share theological and ethical concerns with responsive audience. Because his sermons have only recently been (re-)discovered as loci ideas, because constitute specific genre within oeuvre, development method studying them is order. To illustrate proposed method, present contribution examines anti-Manichaean content populum by means two key concepts. The first concept that crypto-Manichaeism. Although do not refute its totality, are regularly concerned aspects Manichaeism, such those were relevant sermon’s liturgical occasion or Augustine feared attractive flock. Crypto-Manichaeism refers, one hand, tendency Manichaeans refrain from openly identifying themselves such. After all, considered true Christians. Nor was movement late antique Christianity espoused dualistic beliefs, rejected bodily desires material wealth, criticized Old Testament. Anti-Manichaean argument therefore more broadly applicable than refutation stricto sensu. Our attention crypto-Manichaeism does justice pastoral exhortative function sermons. A second setting each sermon unique, composition audiences varied, attendance no doubt fluctuated. Each ought be own literary whole, hermeneutically influenced concrete Sitz im Leben (i.e., audience, time place, setting, etc.). audience’s theology can reconstructed bottom-up fashion, supplying complementary cumulative information audience could gathered participating liturgy. In this we apply group four early