Christianity Quote by Terence McKenna
““Neither Bwitists nor Fang felt they could eradicate ritual sin or evil in the world. This incapacity means that men have to celebrate. Good and bad walk together. As Fang frequently enough told missionaries, "We have two hearts, good and bad." Early missionaries, aware of these self-confessed contradictions, evangelized with the promise of "one heartedness" in Christianity. But Fang by and large did not find it there. For many, Christian one heartedness was a constriction of their selves. While "one heartedness" is celebrated in Bwiti, it is a one heartedness which is coagulated out of a flow of many qualities from one state to another. It is goodness achieved in the presence of badness, an aboveness achieved in the presence of belowness. It is an emergent quality energized in the presence of its opposite.””
About This Quote
The passage suggests that good and evil coexist, and true virtue emerges from engaging with both, rather than seeking a single pure heart.
In simple terms: Good and bad coexist; virtue arises from their interaction.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity; seek balance.
Themes
spirituality
ethics
duality
Mood
contemplative
nuanced
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- interfaith dialogue
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
psychology
anthropology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you reconcile moral contradictions?
- Can balance be achieved without compromising values?
A Different Perspective
It may justify harmful behavior by normalizing evil.
