Religious Misinterpretations and the Pitfalls of Moral Dichotomy

In the modern world, a distorted understanding of religious ideas can turn the value system into a rigid dichotomy where everything is determined by extremes. Just imagine: if one’s life is reduced to a choice between two completely opposing positions, moral decisions and evaluations of actions begin to split into “right” and “wrong” without taking into account the nuances and complexities of real life. This approach not only limits personal perceptions of spirituality but also affects public behavior, turning morality into a set of universal rules that often fail to adequately reflect the multifaceted nature of existence.

At the same time, it is worth noting that different representations of God can fundamentally change the emotional tone and content of moral guidelines. When one preacher sees in God the supreme force and justice, while another views God as the embodiment of love, it becomes clear that opting for a more humane and warm conception can offer hope and inspiration even to those who do not belong to any traditional religion. Such diversity of perspectives helps illustrate that the soul should not be deprived of flexibility, allowing morality to adapt to the challenges of both time and society.

Ultimately, when religious views are reduced to black-and-white thinking, society risks losing its ability to develop balanced moral principles. This one-sidedness encourages the emergence of rigid and even outdated norms that cannot adjust to changing realities. Only openness, critical reflection, and the recognition of the multifaceted nature of spiritual experience can lay the foundation for a sustainable and harmonious life, where morality is not dictated by dogmas but arises from mutual understanding and a deep respect for human individuality.

How can a mistaken understanding of religious concepts (of God or the Devil) affect society’s value system?
A mistaken understanding of religious concepts can radically distort society’s value system, as it fosters an attitude where moral orientations become excessively dichotomous and prone to extremes. If people begin to perceive their existence as a choice between two completely opposing principles—such as belonging to God or the Devil—the evaluation of their own actions and those of others becomes subject to a strict division into good and evil. This division influences both personal and public behavior, determining which actions are deemed righteous and which are considered sinful.

For instance, one quote details this dichotomy:
"In this world, a person is in a spiritual kinship either with God or with the Devil, is of spiritual origin either from God or from the Devil. The 'creation' of righteousness, the feat of righteousness, righteousness is nothing other than a combination of evangelical virtues. By performing a feat of righteousness, a person demonstrates his origin from God. 'Straying' in sin, he shows that he was born of the Devil." (source: working_document.pdf)

From this notion, it follows that a mistaken understanding of religious concepts may lead people to fix their self-identification and social position through the lens of such binary thinking. This, in turn, results in values and norms that regulate behavior becoming extremely uniform and even rigid, making it difficult to find balanced and humanitarian solutions to social problems.

Additionally, another passage highlights the difference in perceptions of God, which can affect the emotional and moral components of the value system:
"Some – the Law. Some – the Power. So, suppose we meet two preachers; one of them says: 'I see in God the Creator, the Eternal Universal Mind, the Master and the Judge...' The second adds: 'Yes, you are right, all this can and should be said about God. But I would dare to add one more name... Also, God is Love...' And which of these two proposed concepts should be recognized as the higher, more humane one? Even for a person who does not identify with any religious tradition, it becomes clear that the formula 'God is Love' is the highest of all possible human perceptions of the Divine." (source: link )

If such concepts are either overly rationalized or, conversely, perceived purely emotionally, different value orientations are formed. These orientations may prove inadequate for real life: instead of sustainable, time-tested moral norms, the emphasis shifts towards idealized, sometimes utopian ideas. As a result, society begins to follow norms and principles that are far removed from the reality of life, negatively impacting social behavior and leading to "sad consequences," as noted below:
"A person can make mistakes everywhere – including in religion. An error in religious practice can give rise to very sad consequences. ..." (source: working_document.pdf)

Thus, it can be concluded that a mistaken understanding of religious concepts, whether regarding God or the Devil, leads to the formation of a simplified value system in which life is divided into absolute good and absolute evil. This not only limits the flexibility of moral judgments but also potentially causes society to forfeit its ability to develop balanced and adaptive moral principles that are essential for a sustainable and harmonious existence.

Supporting citation(s):
"In this world, a person is in a spiritual kinship either with God or with the Devil, is of spiritual origin either from God or from the Devil. The 'creation' of righteousness, the feat of righteousness, righteousness is nothing other than a combination of evangelical virtues. By performing a feat of righteousness, a person demonstrates his origin from God. 'Straying' in sin, he shows that he was born of the Devil." (source: working_document.pdf)

"Some – the Law. Some – the Power. So, suppose we meet two preachers; one of them says: 'I see in God the Creator, the Eternal Universal Mind, the Master and the Judge...' The second adds: 'Yes, you are right, all this can and should be said about God. But I would dare to add one more name... Also, God is Love...' And which of these two proposed concepts should be recognized as the higher, more humane one? Even for a person who does not identify with any religious tradition, it becomes clear that the formula 'God is Love' is the highest of all possible human perceptions of the Divine." (source: link )

"A person can make mistakes everywhere – including in religion. An error in religious practice can give rise to very sad consequences. ..." (source: working_document.pdf)