The False Hope of Dualism
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
Contemporary society screams that we must either be a Christian or a heathen; an oblivious Viking supporter or a nasty Packer fan; a clueless liberal or a crummy conservative; a selfish Republican or a pitiable Democrat; a rational secularist or a narcissistic spiritualist. Each of us can come up with our own example of negative dualism. Nothing is as simple as the dualistic lie would imply. Rarely, if ever, is anything all perfect, and its opposite all wrong. Each side of any opposite would like you to believe their opposite is false, if not evil.
Elena Vellani addresses the fallacy of dualism in her article, “Dualism Might Isolate Us. Why Should We Choose Which Side We Are On?” Vellini asserts, “In a certain way, the ability to trim down the complexity of life was salvific.” Two choices, right and wrong, good or bad, God or the devil, made it possible to influence decision-making on a global level quickly. Simplistic is rarely accurate.
Vellani states, “Maybe we should be more open to understand the other’s reasons and the others’ feelings before deciding on which side we are on. There might be more than one side.” It isn’t popular in a war to respond with any response other than dualism. The Hamas killings were horrific, and many used this event to allow Israel to retaliate with murderous intent indiscriminately. Issues of what former President Jimmy Carter, in his 2006 book, called the situation Palestinian Apartheid at the hands of Israel. Two wrongs do not make a right. The dualism of Israel being innocent and all Palestinians being evil is a false dualism. Until we admit the complex challenges beyond mere dualism, healing, and justice will remain elusive.
We are called to recognize that complexity, not dualism, is the sacred path. God does not create simplistic answers to the world’s challenges. As people of faith, we should not be scared off by complicated circumstances. God is capable of all things, and as God’s hands and feet in the world, we are called to face seemingly impossible situations with trust and hope. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can be part of recreating healing by dismantling dualism. Start practicing by doing something exceptionally challenging, and wish a Packer fan “good luck.”