Why Can't Monotheism Escape Dualism? (ritual, moral, beliefs, theist)

[Halcyon]

It seems that most monotheisms have an all good God, and that evil has its source in something other than God - be it a fallen angel, a fallen state, an absence of God or an ungodly way of thinking.

Why can't monotheism escape this dualism? Why can't monotheism accept the possibility of both good and evil originating with the same source - God?

[Booko]

As far as I know, there's nothing in the Baha'i understanding of God that would be dualistic.

Evil is just seen as an absence of good, rather like dark is the absence of light. Evil has no existence of itself.

[ayani]

this is what i try to understand, as well. what about the conclusion that evil is a mis-remembering of God? then it would seem that the idea would shift from it being evil's problem to putting resonsibility with one's self, and one's relation to God. in that way, there isn''t a dulaism so much as a process of remembering and drawing closer.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Booko

As far as I know, there's nothing in the Baha'i understanding of God that would be dualistic.

Evil is just seen as an absence of good, rather like dark is the absence of light. Evil has no existence of itself.

I don't think i understand this belief. Surely the absence of good would be ambivalence?

Evil, like good, requires a particular thought pattern, and usually a decisive course of action.
If evil were the absence of good, like darkness is the absence of light, then that suggests that evil is a base state of being that good overrides - which further suggests a dualism of form, the already existent evil opposed to newly created goodness?

Originally Posted by gracie

this is what i try to understand, as well. what about the conclusion that evil is a mis-remembering of God? then it would seem that the idea would shift from it being evil's problem to putting resonsibility with one's self, and one's relation to God. in that way, there isn''t a dulaism so much as a process of remembering and drawing closer.

I dunno gracie, i still see that as the evil having a separate and distinct source - in this case a kind of spiritual amnesia. It suggests, as with most monotheistic beliefs, that the goodness of God is all encompassing and that evil is a separate uprising resulting from a lack or loss of God in some form.

[YmirGF]

To my skewed vision of reality, as explained elsewhere, I see no divisions whatsoever. God is as much the reeking harlot as he/she/it is the scented saint and only self-serving, moralistic value judgment makes things appear otherwise. Duality is the illusion and what many term sinful or evil is merely as real as they themselves allow it to be. In effect, they themselves create evil by their very thinking. Absence of god is also a misnomer as no-thing is apart from the totality of what god in fact IS.

But heck, what would I know about any of this with all the fine so-called "deep thinkers" from the past (and present) who would tell you, rather emphatically, otherwise. It’s not like so many could be so very wrong now, is it?

[ayani]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

To my skewed vision of reality, as explained elsewhere, I see no divisions whatsoever. God is as much the reeking harlot as he/she/it is the scented saint and only self-serving, moralistic value judgment makes things appear otherwise. Duality is the illusion and what many term sinful or evil is merely as real as they themselves allow it to be. In effect, they themselves create evil by their very thinking. Absence of god is also a misnomer as no-thing is apart from the totality of what god in fact IS.

But heck, what would I know about any of this with all the fine so-called "deep thinkers" from the past (and present) who would tell you, rather emphatically, otherwise. It’s not like so many could be so very wrong now, is it?

ok... my faith would answer that the sin is not in the "stinking harlot", the sin is in not loving her, not regarding her as a daughter of God, as one's sister. and in not responding to her suffering in a compassionate manner. it would also be a sin to consciously elevate / adore the rose-scented saint in comparasion to her, or to elevate her above him.

[YmirGF]

Originally Posted by gracie

ok... my faith would answer that the sin is not in the "stinking harlot", the sin is in not loving her, not regarding her as a daughter of God, as one's sister. and in not responding to her suffering in a compassionate manner. it would also be a sin to consciously elevate / adore the rose-scented saint in comparasion to her, or to elevate her above him.

I hear you Gracie, and your standpoint is laudible. It smacks of "hate the sin; not the sinner". The problem with that is that one is still left with hatred, which doesn't exactly get one too far. If I am not understanding you, feel free to correct me.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

I hear you Gracie, and your standpoint is laudible. It smacks of "hate the sin; not the sinner". The problem with that is that one is still left with hatred, which doesn't exactly get one too far. If I am not understanding you, feel free to correct me.

I don't think she means that YmirGF, i don't think gracie has even a spark of hatred in her. I think she means that evil is a lack of love.

Personally i don't agree with that, like i said earlier i see evil requiring active participation. I don't see hate as a lack of love, but rather as an equal and opposing force that exists in the same way that love does.