NON-DIVIDED LIVING IN CHRIST

In dualism we live out of bits and pieces. In non-dualism we live out of life.

Dualism is a product of the knowledge of good and evil. In the secular realm it is seen in cancel culture and in religion it is seen in a similar mindset – in the habit of defining things in and out. In some sects is specialises in defining society, universities and other Christians as bound for hell and in others with a ban on dancing, going to the movies and other harmless pursuits – but 'selfdom' on gluttony or financial greed.

Dualism has ancient roots* and is expressed in many religions and in political posturing. In this sphere is specialises in false dichotomies in the attempt to make the opposing position seem worse than they are.
The best thinking takes place in a nuanced mode as opposed to the ploy of constructing false dichotomies in order to win arguments and elections.

MORALITY OF ACTIONS
Many actions are neutral in themselves. They become harmful when separated from a life in Christ so that their distortions harm the doer and those whose lives they touch. Abuse of others and murder are evil in themselves. But a building as large as a hospital may be used as a hospital or as a brothel.

BODY SHAME
Sex is a gift of God and is not evil. Some Christians try to shade it and who do not like it and others feel they must hide the body, especially the woman’s body. They cannot accept the notion that God made women sensual to be seen and celebrated. Conditioned by Neo-Platonism and a pious mind/body dualism, they find it difficult to imagine that God made bodies sexy and that the difference of the opposite sex is there to be celebrated. There have been periods in history when Christians took offence at colour, which should not surprise us given that Jesus was murdered because He pumped for life and was life itself.

THE DIVIDED LIFE
Hypocrisy is nurtured by dualism. For the religious, dualism may  take the form of a dichotomy between God and ordinary living. It’s not hard to be conditioned into believing that being in church is being in a sacred place and being out and about in business and the bustle of life is not. Or that a sabbath day is holy while weekdays are too ordinary to be holy. But all of life becomes holy in Christ our life.

‘Kriston Couchey posted, “God is not separate from his creation. Creation is the expression and extension of His being. From him, to him, and through him are all things. He is empowering it with Love, life, light, and energy.”

NOT ECLECTICISM
We can be contained in dualism no matter how intelligent or well-educated we are. In our mindset we are not non-dualistic because we are well-read, well-educated and familiar with a variety of reputable sources. We are non-dualistic when we are wrapped in the Being of God so that we as sons/daughters, are an extension of God’s being.

The counter to dualism is union with God. Not the ability to discuss and be across a panorama of literature and ideas. Fundamentalism has the most affinity with dualism because it relies on words, definitions and positions.

Jesus lived and modelled oneness with His Father. John and Paul are the most non-dualistic of the apostles. Dualism is broken in Christ our life, in which we are set free from mistaking the parts for the whole and established in our union with God. John  wrote ‘On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’ 14.20 NIV. This is the day we are born from Adam into Christ our life.
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*Dualism has its roots in the bifurcated mindset of the knowledge of good and evil. In ancient times Zoroastrian cosmology, posited a benevolent God and a malevolent God. Eastern Religion has its Yin and Yang. Christianity has its good and evil, it’s notions of life in God and death/non-being in separation from God. Ellen White, the Mother of Adventism went further and promoted the idea of the Great Controversy between Christ and Satan which she sets out in her book entitled The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan. Whole the New Testament posits life in Christ and non-being outside of Christ, White’s cosmology has more in common with Zoroastrianism dichotomy than Christian theology. The best expressions of it are non-dualistic in which people find oneness of being with God and the creation in the person of Jesus Christ. The essence of Christianity flows from the eucharist which celebrates and reminds us that we are one substance with Christ and hence one with God and the Creation.