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Work #1131 · Mature

Book of Mysteries

Mani
mid-3rd century CE · Aramaic / Syriac
Scriptural treatise / Polemical text · Manichaeism

Mani's Book of Mysteries — third of the seven canonical books; polemical address to earlier prophets and traditions

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Book of Mysteries (Mature)
Time · Extent Finite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Total
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Personal
Observer · Moral Authority Revelation
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Book of Mysteries

The three Manichaean times; the late-antique inter-religious moment.

Space

Book of Mysteries

The cosmological-religious world; the rival-traditions geography.

Matter

Book of Mysteries

The mingled material world as polemical-doctrinal topic.

Observer

Book of Mysteries

Mani as polemical-doctrinal apostle.

Energy

Book of Mysteries

The intellectual-religious energies of inter-school polemic.

Information

Book of Mysteries

The 18-chapter polemical-doctrinal content.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Book of Mysteries

The Book of Mysteries is among the most fully-lost Manichaean scriptures; reconstruction relies on hostile witnesses and fragmentary citations.