So, from hearing my brother's use of the word in question, I had a modicum of an idea what dualism could be, but since I was too lazy to research the word any further these past fifty years, I had little clue what dualism is all about.
After extensive researching the topic for the past five or six minutes, I've learned that dualism can mean the opposition of two forces in the universe - sometimes both physical, other times both spiritual, and quite often the physical versus the spiritual. One meaning I gleaned from my exhausting Google trek is that dualism can be defined as the conflict of two opposing supreme forces responsible for the creation of the universe.
My dear Blogees: I am in no way a theologian, but I do know that this world, galaxy, and cosmos were created by The Good Force; and I am well aware of the existence of The Bad Force as well, but that is where I jump off the bus. In other words, I cannot accept that an evil force created this world, which is a conundrum on two fronts. Number-one: God is NOT capable of creating evil. He can do anything, anything at all, except evil. See, since God is perfect, he must be (and, of course, is) perfectly good. And perfect good cannot and will not create bad of any size, shape, or color. And my second conundrum: There is only one Creator.
But then it occurs to me that the brightest angel - reportedly named "The Morning Star" - long ago left Heaven and took one-third of all celestial beings with him. And the Word has it that the two forces - The Lord and Satan - will have a final battle someday, after which the latter will be banished by the Former to a place of unending torment and suffering (referred to in the Book as "the lake of fire").
So, friends, dualism must start with the spiritual because it is the Spiritual that created the Physical. And in religious realms, the physical is always in conflict with the spiritual. The duality with a capital D that is at work here in this physical realm called the World is age-old and will continue until that final battle between the Devil and the Messiah. Until that day occurs (and it surely will), the physical world will continue to be at odds with the spiritual. It might be interesting to note that the latter can understand the former but the former will never understand the realm of the spirit. The physical can't because it's incapable - as a finite, temporary, and temporal entity - to understand or even imagine that which is infinite, permanent, beyond the dimensions of space & time.
So, yes, I'll admit other schools of thought or religions have similar concepts about dualism to that of The Word's, but none even approaches being close. Why? Because He known as 'I AM' will always create something greater than man can, which is why all but one of the religions on Earth fall short of the story of Christ's. They all fall short, simply because they're not infinite, timeless, and perfect.
I realize I've jumped into the most profound aspect of dualism so it seems silly to backtrack and speak of the more mundane dualisms in the world, but I have no choice. Unless I want to leave my lazy, comfortable, less-than-stellar way of doing things, which - at the moment - I'm choosing not to do. So, without any further ado, it's time for that medium that expresses great truths and profound philosophy - cartoons.
That's right - cartoons. Everyone pretty much understands them, so we will visit the animated, prehistoric little town of Bedrock in order to pursue this concept known as dualism - two opposing forces fighting for predominance in any realm - including inside the heart and mind of Bedrock's most famous resident - Fred Flintstone.
Although "The Flintstones" only existed in original form for the 1960-1961 prime-time season, its lessons of dualism exist 59 years later. When I taught high school literature just a few years ago to conclude my career as an educator, I used an episode of the show to illustrate the dualism of man. Remember the episode when Fred is confronted by miniature versions of himself atop his shoulders, one dressed in white, wearing wings, and a halo and the other clad in red, having horns on his head, and brandishing a pitchfork? The angel, naturally, represented the good in man while the devil the evil nature of humanity. The two try their darnedest to persuade Fred to do their bidding, and I'm not sure but I believe Hanna and Barbera had good triumph over evil. Some folks, after reflection, may say this cartoon example is neither too broad nor too unrealistic when relating to the lot of humanity. All of us are bombarded constantly by good and bad, the World and Heaven, pride and humility, time and timelessness, greed and altruism, nature and nurture, and the nearly infinite number of finite dualisms that face off, with each of us humans as their battlegrounds.
Yes, we embody a most curious metaphor that doesn't sound poetic when spoken, but each one of us can be thought of as "an individual Armageddon." Each of us experiences first-hand the battle between good and bad being waged on and in us. And who or what can we blame this constant conflagration of contention? Blame it all on dualism. Yep, dualism. But, someday that will end, for the good. I hope and pray we make the right choice... for eternity. Class dismissed.
