Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] new gnostic gospel discovered [Religion]

[Stephen Montgomery-Smith <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Huggard, Arthur Charles (UMC-Student) wrote:
> But couldn't the concept of Christ/Antichrist be regarded as comparable
> to the Taoist (if not earlier) concept of Yin and Yang in which two
> separate but opposing forces control everything in the universe? 
> (See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_Yang ) 
>
> If so, then Christianity really isn't the only religion that has this
> sort of concept.

I see Yin and Yang as a very different concept.  My sense is that Yin 
and Yang are two complementary forces in the universe which need to be 
in balance.  The universe goes wrong, not when the "evil" (presumably 
the Yang) of the two dominates, but when they become out of balance.

Christianity presents the notion of one good God ruling over all.  There 
will be a day when all evil and wickedness will be judged and banished. 
 Thus the ultimate goal is not balance, but total victory by one side, 
the side of good.

In  any case, the Christ/Antichrist dichotimy is not a dominant feature 
of Christianity, in the way that Yin and Yang is crucial to Eastern 
thinking.  The antichrist is a concept, a temporary force that opposes 
Christ, perhaps to be symbolized in some figure that will arise in the 
end times, at most a blip in the history of all time.  The Christ is a 
permanent personality, who exists before and after all time, co-creator 
(with the rest of the Trinity) of the whole universe, and the central 
figure of worship and veneration in the Christian religion.

Yin cannot exist without Yang and vice versa.  But Christ does not need 
antichrist in any way whatsoever.


> Charlie Huggard | EMAIL:PROTECTED | 314/591-0087
> |-----Original Message-----
> |From: EMAIL:PROTECTED [mailto:discussion-
> EMAIL:PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Miller
> |Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 5:31 PM
> |To: MLUG Off-Topic Discussion
> |Subject: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] new gnostic gospel discovered
> [Religion]
> |
> |It is interesting that you have to be a Christian to qualify as an
> |antichrist.  The whole idea of Christ/antichrist is a little amusing.
> Do
> |other religions have that?: e.g., antibuddha or antimohammed?
> |Christianity seems to have a little built-in paranoia.
> |
> |Mike
> |
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