Final answer:
Manichaeism taught a dualistic worldview with a battle between light and dark, aiming for spiritual liberation through gnosis and ascetic living. The Elect lived strictly with dietary laws and celibacy, while the Hearers had less austere commitments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central teaching of Manichaeism was founded on a dualistic view of the world, which posits a cosmic struggle between the forces of good, represented by light and spirit, and the forces of evil, represented by darkness and matter. Mani, the founder of Manichaeism in the 3rd century CE, synthesized elements from various religions including Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism to propose a universal religion. Manichaeism suggests that salvation can be achieved through the knowledge (gnosis) of the divine realm, and by living a life that assists the 'light' in overcoming the 'dark' or material world.
Followers of Manichaeism were expected to live ascetic lives, with the most dedicated adherents, known as the Elect, adhering to strict dietary laws, practicing celibacy, and engaging in frequent prayer. These practices were meant to liberate the particles of light trapped within the physical world and help them return to the realm of light. The Hearers, less stringent followers, supported the Elect but were not bound to the same level of austerity, indicating a two-tiered structure within the faith community.