Christian god Quote by Norman F. Cantor
““The Gnostics (also called Manichees) postulated that there were two gods -- the Christian God of goodness and light, and an evil anti-God of darkness. This theory proved an easy explanation of why there was evil in the world. It was rejected by Catholic Christianity in favor of the monotheistic view that there was one God who created only goodness. Evil was sin, a rebellious falling-away from God, a perversion of His goodness. This was the foundation of the evolving Christian concept of Satan.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Tragedy: A New History of the World, 1990
Early Christian dualism split God into good and evil, later unified into a single deity where evil is sin.
In simple terms: Christianity moved from two gods to one, making evil a moral failing.
Key Takeaway
Recognize historical shifts in theological thought.
Themes
religion
theology
history
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
historical
theological
When to use this quote
- church teachings
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- personal belief
Key Concepts
dualism
monotheism
evil as sin
Questions to Reflect On
- Why did Christianity favor monotheism?
- How does this view affect moral responsibility?
A Different Perspective
Modern readers may oversimplify complex theological evolution.
![“In response to [the Philistine] threat [in the ninth century B.C.], the Hebrews could no longer rely on the leadership of 'judges,' ad hoc military leaders (some of them, peculiarly, women; perhaps reflecting as feminists claim, and earlier matriarchal society).” quote by Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/norman-f-cantor-15048_feminisim_in-response-to-the-philistine-threat-in_626699.jpg)
