Hi all,
The big problem with today history that it's very one sided, you all trying to figure out histroy from the latin-semitic version.LOL good luck with that.
You never heared the Etruscan-Kassites-Parthian etc versions because all the documents are gone...
The judeo-Christans forget to tell you about other christan religions, They not only destroyed the competition pegan religions but also other christian religions.
Of course Islam or chinese-budhists were doing the same thing..
I will only talk about their number one competetion The Mani-Christians so yes Manichesim was actually christian religion.
So here is just a few info on Mani:
The Parthian Mani was very highly educated spoke on several lanagauges not only wrote several books but even developed his on writting system…
He was also the most famous healer and founded a renowned hospital in Babilon…
The most uniqe thing about Mani/Manichesim is that he actaully did wrote down his own religion all by himslef , all of his books were written by him no third party…
So this the only religion that was actually written by the prohet himself.
Mani followed the way of Jesus like he was walking around bare feet etc..
My short historical explonation on Manicheism:
Manciehsim was top religion practiced from Manchuria until Pannonia so it was huge and it was spreading freely not by force as others.
Then Manichesit were completely destoyed not only by judeo-chrsitans but islam and chinese also had their fair share.
This is why Mancihesim also known as the most hated religion LOL, here in eruope if you were accused of manichesim that was the worst it meant imidiate death sentence..
I think this is enough info for now.

I am into history not religions so I can’t answer any theological or spiritual questions lol..
„Historians also note that Mani declared himself to be an "apostle of Jesus Christ"”
So end of argument here if somebody is repetaedly calling himslef the Apostole of Jesus that means he is a folower of Jesus means he is christan
But I can’t fully prove this beacuse only fragments of Mani’s books survived so easy to lie about Mani while his books are missing…
Mani was also accused of being anti-semitic(rofl) the reason because Mani-bible was totally different they only accepeted few things from the new testament...