Transcending Dualism

The Universal Call of Unconditional Love

True change in the world hinges on transcending the reward/punishment mindset that has long dominated religious and secular systems. We cannot dismantle the violence we see in the world if we allow threats and promises to be the overarching frame of Christianity, or any religious or secular creed. [1] This dualistic approach—pitting reward against punishment—creates divisions and perpetuates fear, making genuine transformation impossible. When we frame life and spirituality within this narrow perspective, we limit ourselves to reactive behaviors rooted in fear, competition, and the pursuit of approval. This creates an environment in which the heart of true transformation, the heart of grace, remains stifled. Only when we abandon this limiting framework and open ourselves to a deeper, more inclusive gospel of unconditional love can we begin to heal the divisions that separate us from each other and from the divine. Without this shift in perspective, no amount of good intention will be enough to bring about the change the world desperately needs. The work of grace remains ineffective, and true peace remains out of reach (Matthew 5:9).

The dualistic worldview that divides reward and punishment distorts our understanding of both God and humanity. This dualism—the idea of an infinite God being caught up in a naïve reward/punishment worldview—must be undone by the deeper gospel of unconditional love and respect, or nothing will ever change. [1] When we reduce God to a figure who rewards the "good" and punishes the "bad," we create a vision of divinity that is both small and petty. This kind of thinking diminishes the vastness and magnificence of God, reducing the divine to a mechanism of human justice—where every action is tallied and weighed, every decision measured. In this limited view, we forget that God is not a reflection of our narrow sense of fairness but the embodiment of an expansive, boundless love that transcends our understanding of right and wrong. By holding onto this view, we miss the deeper invitation of the divine, the invitation to know God as love itself, beyond the categories of reward and punishment (1 John 4:8). This distortion of the divine image only serves to perpetuate our limited vision of the world and ourselves. When we release ourselves from this dualistic trap, we open ourselves to a much richer, more expansive experience of the divine, one that calls us to embrace love, not because it earns us favor, but because love is the true essence of God (Romans 5:8).

The loving people I have met across the world seem to intuitively understand that authentic love cannot be exclusive. Somehow, the loving people I have met all across the world seem to know that if it is love at all, it has to be love for everybody. [1] True love is not something we parcel out based on conditions or preferences. It is not something we withhold from others based on their worthiness or their ability to return it. Love, when it is authentic, cannot be limited; it extends to all without judgment or restraint. We see this love in the most unlikely places: in the hearts of people who, in their circumstances, have little to offer but still give generously. These are the people who have learned that when love is given freely, it multiplies. When love is restricted, it becomes transactional rather than transformative. It is in this universal, unbound love that we experience the deepest sense of connection with each other, a connection that transcends borders, ideologies, and the divisions that we so often cling to. As soon as we begin to parcel out our love, assigning it to only those who meet certain conditions, we move away from the great field of love that encompasses all. True love cannot be contained within human constructs; it is a force that moves outward, touching everyone it encounters (John 13:34-35).

The prophetic vision of love demands a transformation that leads to universal compassion, even for those we might wish to condemn. The prophets want us to love God above all else, And be loved by God above all other partners. Which will, and must, lead to a universal love. [1] This vision calls for a love that is not selective but expansive, reaching out even to those whom society deems unworthy or undeserving. The true test of love lies not in how we treat those who are easy to love but in how we respond to those who challenge us, those who seem to stand in opposition to everything we believe. This is where the work of grace becomes real—when we can look upon those we might naturally wish to condemn and see them not as enemies, but as fellow travelers on the same path. The prophets understood that love is not about drawing lines between us and them; it is about erasing those lines altogether. When we embody this universal love, we demonstrate the power of grace, moving beyond judgment and embracing the potential for redemption in every human being, regardless of their actions or beliefs (Luke 6:27-36).

At the heart of spiritual wisdom is the realization that God’s love is universal and unconditional, the ultimate truth of our existence. The ultimate spiritual truth is the universal and unconditional love of God. [1] This love does not discriminate or diminish, but rather invites us to partake in its boundless nature. It does not hold us to conditions or demand that we earn it through acts of righteousness. It is a love that simply is, and we are invited to live in its presence, to become channels through which this love flows. To truly know God is to know this love as all-encompassing, extending to all of creation, reaching into every corner of the universe. It is the love that sustains life, heals wounds, and binds us together as one. When we align ourselves with this truth, we move from self-centeredness to a collective consciousness that embraces every person and every being. This love teaches us that we are not separate, but interconnected—part of a vast, living web of existence. It is a love that transcends time, space, and circumstance, always present and always available. When we recognize this love as the ultimate truth of our being, we are freed to live in peace, to live in harmony, and to live as instruments of healing and transformation in a world that desperately needs it (Romans 8:39).

[1] Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things