Many religious writings are framed around a struggle between two polar opposites. Common examples include good vs evil, mind vs body, flesh vs spirit, or light vs darkness. Scholars refer to the struggle between two opposing forces as “dualism.” Here’s a breakdown of several types of dualism common to religious writings:
- Metaphysical dualism – two opposing powers of equal rank, such as the opposition between Ahura Mazda and Ahriman in Zoroastrian traditions. In Christianity, some scholars classify the conflict between God and Satan as this type even though Satan/Belial is never presented in equal rank with God.
- Cosmic dualism – the world is divided into two opposing forces of good/light and evil/darkness. The terminology used can either be purely metaphorical such as light versus darkness, or it can pertain to hosts of beings such as angelic figures (Michael, the Prince of Light, Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, etc.)
- Spatial dualism – divides the world into distinct regions such as heaven and earth.
- Eschatological dualism – Eschatology is the study of what are perceived to be the “last events” in the current world order. This type of dualism divides the world into ages such as this world and the world to come.
- Ethical dualism – divides mankind by its virtues and vices such as the righteous/wicked or the good/evil.
- Soteriological dualism – divides based on faith – whether one accepts (believes) or rejects (disbelieves) a saviour. The division is solely based on whether one believes he/she is saved.
- Theological dualism – contrasts God and humanity, or creator and creation.
- Physical dualism – is concerned with the division between body and spirit.
- Anthropological dualism – difference between body and soul as separate entities.
- Psychological dualism – ability to hold two contradictory ideas at once
Christ’s Descent Into Hell in the Odes of Solomon