This is an open-comment theology blog where I will post various theological musings, mostly in sermon or essay form, for others to read and comment on. If what I say here interests you, you may want to check out some of my books. Feel free to criticize, to critique, to comment, but keep comments to the point and respectful. Many of these posts have been published elsewhere, but I wanted them collected and made available to a wider audience.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Why Dualism? Why Not Dualism?
I reject gnosticistic dualism. But I understand why people would be attracted to it. For dualism is easily made consistent with science. Two equal and divine forces engaging in cosmic struggle would produce a universe that the inhabitants would encounter as a place of consistent physical law. But in such a world, evil is as meaningful as good, and morality still a matter of personal preference. It doesn't do justice to the fundamental Biblical insight that creation is good. Without that, life seems ULTIMATELY hopeless. Endless conflict is our only future, now and forever. Goodness is God. Evil may be spiritual, but it is undivinity. Dualism fails to do justice to our moral experiences. It is these experiences that stand at the center of Biblical religion.
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