I've never heard the term matter-spirit dualism.
Dualism is the division of two concepts in opposition or contrast to each other. Matter-spirit dualism is a dualism in which matter and spirit are two opposing concepts, two principles at odds with one another.
Contextually here it comes with the notion that "spirit" is more real and superior in comparison to matter. An example of matter-spirit dualism would be to say that the human soul is an ethereal reality that is superior to, or more real than the body; as though the body were merely a shell, a vessel, or even a prison within which the soul dwells; such an idea might say, for example, that only the soul really matters and that the body doesn't really matter. The body will die, but the soul live on for eternity as a body-less free spirit and in this state the person is most real, or true as to what they are--the body as merely a shell which houses the soul isn't really the person, the soul is the person and to be free of the shackles of the body is a superior condition than being stuck in the body. That's an example of what matter-spirit dualism would look like.
In the case of ancient Gnostic views of reality, the material universe isn't entirely real. In fact, it's a veil of ignorance, deceit, falseness that was forced upon intelligent spiritual beings. To exist in the body is a terrible and awful tragedy that was imposed upon these beings. The highest power, God or Monad, exists in a perfect, free, limitless and eternal realm of divine spirit. As one gets further away from this perfect being, one eventually loses sight of the truth of God as God is, and furthest away is being imprisoned in these disgusting prisons of bodily matter, in a world that is just a kind of "Matrix" which hides the truth of true reality. And if one can simply learn the truth of the world, that it's all just a kind of simulation or false reality that we've been imprisoned in, and learn of the true God far removed from this lowly debased matter and who exists in the fullness of perfect spiritual reality--then we can be saved, rescued, from this lowly and bodily estate, and our true selves, our souls/spirits can return and find home in the fullness of that God and Monad from which ultimately we descend and must return.
Thus the table which you touch, see, and feel, is just lowly matter, it's not what's really real. It's just part of this veil of matter making us ignorant of our true selves as emanations of the one God; and it is a false god that keeps us ignorant, believing that these bodies of flesh, and the experiences we experience here in this world of matter are real and truly significant. I am not my body, I am not this crude matter but a luminous being that must overcome this body and matter and the ignorance they create, and receive the true knowledge of myself and the falsehood of this world that I might achieve that salvation and victory over matter.
Is that understandable enough?
All you have done is to call me a heretic
I don't believe I've called you a heretic. I've said that what you are advancing here is heresy.
who speaks heresy. Why is it heresy? Your point is so vague that it makes me wonder what the point is.
Because the material world is good, it's real, and God made it. The table in front of me is real, the matter that makes up that table is real. Not only is it real, it's good. The trees that sprouted from seeds in the ground are part of a universe of touch, feel, and see (for creatures granted sense) which God made, and it is good. The atoms, even their subatomic components and the forces of the cosmos that bring those subatomic particles together and make matter possible: That is God's good creation. He made you and me as solid creatures of fleshy matter, from the Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon which makes up the building blocks of every single one of our cells; including the grey matter which is situated between our ears in which neurons fire electrical signals, and create a chemical soup of communication with which we learn how to speak, harness reason, interpret the world we experience through our sensory input, form memories, and have a sense of self--that there is an
I; and conversely, there is an
I, and there is a
you. And this mind, this self, this consciousness which recognizes
I and
you and the distinction interacts with
you, and you are another
I apart from
me. And all of this happens in a wider, larger, complex universe--a cosmic arrangement of everything phenomenal that has, does, or will exist. In which stars are born from the gravitational condensing of gas, of matter out there within the universe, in a particular space, and at a particular time. Stars are born, through intense gravitational forces, these gigantic furnaces of superhot gas continue for a time, producing immense quantities of energy and light. And on a congolomerate of rock which was forged in the aftermath of one of these stars, you and I exist having this conversation. And all of this is real. And more importantly, it is
good. And God made it all.
"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things seen and unseen."
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Since that is true, then to suggest that this world is not good, is inferior, isn't actually real, is to deny the truth: That everything exists exists, and is real and good.
Maybe you better define what you mean here. That the material world along with the natural realm exists at the same time as the Kingdom of God (spiritual realm), is not true? How can that be? Is there a spiritual realm? Is there or is there not a Kingdom of God?
Well, first of all, the kingdom of God isn't a spiritual realm. The phrase "kingdom of God", and it's counterpart "kingdom of Heaven" are ways to describe that God is King. Every time you read Jesus say "kingdom of God/Heaven", think "When God is King" or "This is what it's like for God to be King". When Jesus says--for example that the greatest in the kingdom is a slave, it means the way God is King, when God is King, the slave holds the highest station, God's way is backward and upside down to ours. God's rule recognizes the least as greatest, the last as first, the smallest as the largest. That's very different to our understanding of kingdom, of rule, of power and authority--our way is that the strong dominate the weak, but God's way is that the weak are greater than the strong. God chose, Paul says, that which is weak and foolish by the standards of human kingdom and power in order to show that human wisdom is foolish and human strength is weak. It is not the king, crowned and adorned with gold and diamonds sitting on a throne lording over peasants and poor who God thinks is greatest, it's that slave, that peasant, it's the little nobody that God thinks is greatest.
That's what the kingdom of God is. The kingdom of God is God as King, and it looks totally backward and upsidedown to our typical views of power and right. For God, might does not make right; He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. But take up your cross, and die; for whoever gives their life away shall find it; but whoever keeps it shall lose it. What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but forfeit his soul?
You lost me. I have no idea what led you to think that, and you did not even explain what you meant. If that was even what you meant?
I don't know anything about any ancient Gnostics or anything like that. I study the Lord and the scriptures. I am christian. Truth is always easy enough to state. So it escapes me why you would not (if what you say is true. and I am wrong)
Wrong about what exactly? Oh that's Heresy! What is Heresy? Scripture Verses please?
Well, now, hopefully, you know more.
-CryptoLutheran
