Dualism

[Depleted]

I think I am saying the same thing Lynn. Holy Spirit rules through our spirit, but we must identify with the death of Jesus through the Cross, and the resurrection life through "walking in Spirit, and living as Spirit.

Do you disagree? That would be He increases and we decrease would it not?

(I enlarged the part of what you said that I'm responding to.)

It depends on how you mean that because I see that in two ways.

If you mean "God has to do his part and we have to do our part," than no. That's still dualism. We are in partnership with God. We're not.

If you mean our minds have to constantly readjust to "thy will be done" over "my will be done," than yes. We must decrease, and let him increase in us. He's Big Boss/Dad/Sovereign.

There is a fight within us between his supernature in us and our old nature, but the only way to win that fight is to recognize the Lord is the one doing the battle. Our focus needs to be on him, not that battle. Because the second we watch the fight, we take our eyes off him again and back on us.

 

[unobtrusive]

As I read the OP "from Mere Christianity by CS Lewis," I was thinking that dualism, one good and the other bad, would be a demonic deception no matter what we might prefer as right and wrong by the carnal thoughts within ourselves. I say that because whatever side we choose, it probably is according to our own outlook, and not by the Word of God, His Word defining what is right and wrong according to "The Truth." After all, the Bible says that His ways are not ours. Seems to me that "dualism" has nothing to do with the Word of God, it's a man-made philosophy derived from man- made traditions. Make sense?

 

[unobtrusive]

Never got into star wars. Now am glad I didn't. I can get confused rather easily at my age.

Me too LOL

 

[mcubed]

If this theory really did come from C.S. Lewis my heart is very sad. I love him; Screwtape Letters can’t beat it….

But nothing has ever existed that has not been ben created by Y-shua. Nothing has been created that has not been created by Him. Evil does exist, in fact I am a believer in the good inclination and the bad inclination…aka… the flesh vs holiness. To say a “power” existed” from all eternity is to say there is something equal to G-d. G-d is G-d because He existed before all things all thing are created by Him and Him alone.!!!! He created satin; he was one of His angles. So, yes, I am saying G-d created evil. I may not fully get it but I believe all 66 Books of the Bible and I know that G-d created all things for Him and I do not believe for a second G-d was taken by surprise when Lucifer fell. This I know for a fact because I know my Daddy for whatever reason He chose to make Lucifer He (G-d) is Sovereign and He controls even evil. My Daddy’s Word tells me what the devil meant for evil He will turn around for good and the Torah tells me He even makes man carry out His purpose. So, my Daddy is the head honcho. But Daddy gave me self-will, probably the who reason behind the evil thing, and I must choose to crucify my flesh daily. But it is pretty amazing how His Spirt leads me and guides me, downright convicts me of my evil inclination.

I do not know all the answers but I know this. There is NOTHING BEFOR MY DADDY HE CREATED EVERYTHING AND HE HOLD THE KEYS TO HEAVEN AND HELL IN HIS HANDS. I trust my life, my soul, my spirt to Him. Even if it was CS Lewis that said something else existed before eternity, ALL IS WRONG!!!! ONLY G-D…. ONLY G-D!!!!!.... ONLT G-D!!!!.... That is why He is G-d. If not than why worship Him that means there is another equal? WHAT A FARSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(discloser I did not check to see if you were correct in saying that CS Lewis wrote another entity is equal with G-d and existed before time with G-d hard to believe about CS Lewis to make such an error in sound doctrine of Scripture!!!)

 

[stonesoffire]

Dualism is rooted in Zoroastrianism (the ancient religion of Persia):

"However it is of some interest to make a mention that while Zoroastrianism, is monotheistic, there is the “dualism” aspect in the faith that I will now discuss. Dualism is the concept of opposing forces of Good and Evil in the World. In Zoroastrianism this is seen in the ongoing battle between Good (Ahura Mazda) and Evil (Angra Mainyu) within the universe. It is important to understand that Angra Mainyu is not God‘s equal opposite, rather that Angra Mainyu is the destructive energy that opposes God’s creative energy. This creative energy is called Spenta Mainyu. God created a pure world through his creative energy, which Angra Mainyu continues to attack, making it impure. Aging, sickness, famine, natural disasters, death and so on are attributed to this."

This is not what the Bible teaches at all. Satan -- a created being -- was the highest angel in Heaven who wanted to be above God, and worshiped as God. He was cast out of God's Heaven (along with all the other rebel angels) and all of them will be cast down to the earth before the reign of the Antichrist.

Wait a minute...doesn't that sound like the fall of Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge of good and evil? So it would just be a work of human nature, right? Flesh...fallen man?

 

[stonesoffire]

If this theory really did come from C.S. Lewis my heart is very sad. I love him; Screwtape Letters can’t beat it….

But nothing has ever existed that has not been ben created by Y-shua. Nothing has been created that has not been created by Him. Evil does exist, in fact I am a believer in the good inclination and the bad inclination…aka… the flesh vs holiness. To say a “power” existed” from all eternity is to say there is something equal to G-d. G-d is G-d because He existed before all things all thing are created by Him and Him alone.!!!! He created satin; he was one of His angles. So, yes, I am saying G-d created evil. I may not fully get it but I believe all 66 Books of the Bible and I know that G-d created all things for Him and I do not believe for a second G-d was taken by surprise when Lucifer fell. This I know for a fact because I know my Daddy for whatever reason He chose to make Lucifer He (G-d) is Sovereign and He controls even evil. My Daddy’s Word tells me what the devil meant for evil He will turn around for good and the Torah tells me He even makes man carry out His purpose. So, my Daddy is the head honcho. But Daddy gave me self-will, probably the who reason behind the evil thing, and I must choose to crucify my flesh daily. But it is pretty amazing how His Spirt leads me and guides me, downright convicts me of my evil inclination.

I do not know all the answers but I know this. There is NOTHING BEFOR MY DADDY HE CREATED EVERYTHING AND HE HOLD THE KEYS TO HEAVEN AND HELL IN HIS HANDS. I trust my life, my soul, my spirt to Him. Even if it was CS Lewis that said something else existed before eternity, ALL IS WRONG!!!! ONLY G-D…. ONLY G-D!!!!!.... ONLT G-D!!!!.... That is why He is G-d. If not than why worship Him that means there is another equal? WHAT A FARSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(discloser I did not check to see if you were correct in saying that CS Lewis wrote another entity is equal with G-d and existed before time with G-d hard to believe about CS Lewis to make such an error in sound doctrine of Scripture!!!)

Uh...not exactly sure but the discloser...are you saying you realize that CS Lewis was just stating what dualism is and not teaching it? That came in the posts afterwards.

 

[stonesoffire]

As I read the OP "from Mere Christianity by CS Lewis," I was thinking that dualism, one good and the other bad, would be a demonic deception no matter what we might prefer as right and wrong by the carnal thoughts within ourselves. I say that because whatever side we choose, it probably is according to our own outlook, and not by the Word of God, His Word defining what is right and wrong according to "The Truth." After all, the Bible says that His ways are not ours. Seems to me that "dualism" has nothing to do with the Word of God, it's a man-made philosophy derived from man- made traditions. Make sense?

Does to me. But, I think I need to go back and read from where I left off. Starting from the back doesn't work too well.

 

[stonesoffire]

(I enlarged the part of what you said that I'm responding to.)

It depends on how you mean that because I see that in two ways.

If you mean "God has to do his part and we have to do our part," than no. That's still dualism. We are in partnership with God. We're not.

If you mean our minds have to constantly readjust to "thy will be done" over "my will be done," than yes. We must decrease, and let him increase in us. He's Big Boss/Dad/Sovereign.

There is a fight within us between his supernature in us and our old nature, but the only way to win that fight is to recognize the Lord is the one doing the battle. Our focus needs to be on him, not that battle. Because the second we watch the fight, we take our eyes off him again and back on us.

Ok, am in agreement. My focus is Holy Spirit at work in us. We renew our minds with His Word and follow His leading. Nothing to boast of...only Jesus.

 

[miknik5]

Me too. Years ago and I don't remember it either. It's like a new thing to me. lol

So much for books.

Were those CS Lewis' exact words?

 

[stonesoffire]

Were those CS Lewis' exact words?

Apparently so. But, not his belief. He is explaining what dualism means. And isn't in agreement with it.

I was looking for an explanation of what it means.

 

[dcontroversal]

Well.......for sure the following bears out.....

good or evil
true or false
right or wrong
light or dark
righteous or unrighteous
God or god (small g)
right or left
up or down
alive or dead
holy or unholy
spirit or flesh

etc......One concept of dualism I disagree with it the two opposing powers being equal....God creates and the god of this age (Satan) was created and even though he is powerful and the sum of all wisdom when created...he is no where near as powerful as the one true God of heaven.......

 

[stonesoffire]

Well.......for sure the following bears out.....

good or evil
true or false
right or wrong
light or dark
righteous or unrighteous
God or god (small g)
right or left
up or down
alive or dead
holy or unholy
spirit or flesh

etc......One concept of dualism I disagree with it the two opposing powers being equal....God creates and the god of this age (Satan) was created and even though he is powerful and the sum of all wisdom when created...he is no where near as powerful as the one true God of heaven.......

Not everyone knows that satan is a created being. That's good to mention. He has been magnified in imaginations.

I saw that dualism could just be the knowledge of partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Do you see this that way?

 

[Denadii]

I've never given the idea of dualism much thought stones.

But I hereby challenge you to a dual at sunrise tomorrow - you choose the weapons....

No rolling pins allowed.

He challenged you my friend...You get to choose weapons How about.....Sledge hammers in ten feet of water?....

 

[dcontroversal]

Not everyone knows that satan is a created being. That's good to mention. He has been magnified in imaginations.

I saw that dualism could just be the knowledge of partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Do you see this that way?

I find it interesting that the tree contained both the knowledge of GOOD and of Evil....many miss the first part....just like a dog is unaware of either good or evil in that sense...so was Adam and Eve....and like a dog has no concept that it is naked.....neither did they.......!

 

[Zmouth]

Wait a minute...doesn't that sound like the fall of Adam and Eve and the tree of knowledge of good and evil? So it would just be a work of human nature, right? Flesh...fallen man?

Take it a step further Tree of Life (immortality) - Tree of knowledge of good and evil (death).