The Challenge here is to come up with a widespread dualistic religion (Good God vs Bad God) that has diverged into 2 sects who who claim that the opposing God is the evil one not theirs.
AHC: opposing dualistic religions from same base
- Thread starter The Professor
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- ahura mazda asuras dualism
Given your tags for this thread, you're clearly aware of the most obvious example from history.
The challenge would be to make them more parts of the same religion rather than related.
It seems unlikely that two groups that regard the other as worshiping the root of all evil would remain the same for long. Some Gnostic sects seem to me to be your best bet. Some believed that the old testament God was evil and were dualistic. I suspect one could find a way to make some of the Gnostic sects more successful. But you're still only halfway their since Christianity is not dualistic. Maybe a flip of Manichaeism? How about Catharism survives and in time becomes more doubtful about the evil of the physical world?
One can imagine a cosmology flipping gnosticism which the physical world is innately good and has only been marred by the interference of an evil outside spiritual power and in which the demiurge is a defender of a good physical world against deceptive and seductive invaders. One could portray the liberation from material reality sought by gnostics as a betrayal and going over to the other side. One could even betray the sparks of divinity that Sofia is said to have placed in certain individuals as hostile assaults. The very secretive nature and elitism of the gnostics might be used as evidence of this. I'm really not sure how such a belief would form though. With traditional Christianity around it seems more likely that those dissatisfied with Gnosticism's elitist nature would turn to it rather than creating a reverse. And the very elitist and secretive nature of the Gnostics makes them in my opinion unlikely to be popular enough to provoke such a reaction. Maybe some area where persecution is intense enough to drive away Orthodox Christians but Gnostics survive and thrive. Maybe they become the religion of the upper classes. Later the extreme elitism and dislike of the physical of the Gnostics provokes a reaction in which people want a religion that allows some good for the physical world.
Going with Gnosticism, have a sect that sees the Old Testament God as the Demiurge and identifies the Serpent/Satan/Lucifer with Sophia. Meanwhile, have Christianity develop the idea of the Devil earlier and see him as a powerful counterpart to God. For extra fun, have the Gnostic religion believe some form of the Gospel of Judas, while Christianity retains its traditional view of Judas.
What do you mean by develop the idea earlier? The devil was around from the start. He is mentioned in all the gospels and the letters of Paul and Revalations. But he never comes across as in any way equal to God. That is what needs to change.
I was mainly talking about the modern view of the Devil, as sort of the "evil counterpart" to God (though, of course, even today he's not seen as equal). Depending on how strict your definition of dualism is, you could develop of view where they're seen as counterparts, but God is still clearly more powerful.
Alternatively (though I doubt this is very likely) you could have it so that God is seen as a Zurvan-style neutral figure (or he just doesn't get directly involved in affairs) and the main conflict is between Michael and Lucifer.
I can think of polythistic groups where different regions have strongly differing views on the same God within their pantheon.
There is cases in Egyptian history where different groups of priests spread different theologies but they remained one society and destroyed their opposition (Set/Osiris).
I suppose that too would be the problem with your situation one party (the worshipers of the one seen as the good God historically) is going to beat the other and their followers will be seen as worshipers of the bad God or purged as heretics.
There is cases in Egyptian history where different groups of priests spread different theologies but they remained one society and destroyed their opposition (Set/Osiris).
I suppose that too would be the problem with your situation one party (the worshipers of the one seen as the good God historically) is going to beat the other and their followers will be seen as worshipers of the bad God or purged as heretics.
Michael might be interesting. If only he was mentioned more there might stand more of a chance. Still relatively rarely mentioned figures have gained extraordinary prominence in the past. (Look at Mary) Michael is described in very exalted terms and some groups identified him with Christ. And of course he actually is described fighting Satan. Still I think a gnostic derived group might have more potential. Anyone know what the Gnostics thought (if anything) of Michael?
Cool.
Hmm, perhaps merely antagonistic rather than antithetic? The aim is that they recognise shared religious roots but not the superiority of the other's god.
I got the idea from the fact that many of the asuras in Hinduism are recognisable in Zoroastrianism but with opposite aspects.
Perhaps some form of Gnostic Vedicism?