chapter 10 the monism of darkness and the dualism of limit and ...

64 CHAPTER 10
(àappleÂÈÚ›·). 21 The fact that in the context of Gnostic systems they
represent the first principles of a clearly determined dualism is the
outcome of a double development, both of an extrinsic and of
intrinsic nature. The former (extrinsic) kind of development is effected
by transcription of Greek philosophical theory and the potent
influence of Greek Thought. The latter (intrinsic) evolvement consists
of a major phenomenon which is a generic feature of any theological
articulation of religious experience. Hand in hand with the tendency
to retain and incorporate any traditional or newly-discovered
differentiation goes the tendency to concentrate, condense and
assimilate similar or analogous traits, powers and actions. The former
leads to gigantic systems of multiple hierarchies and levels under
sometimes incompatible and often unclear principles of differentiation
(principia divisionis); the latter endeavours to organise the multiplicity
in the religious field according to functional, focal positions within it,
and reduction of analogous divinities into multifarious, polymorphic
identities. This process of denser intellectual (re)articulation may easily
lead to a distortion of real relationships. The great achievement of
Greek thought lies in the unbiased representation of true reality, in the
articulation of the field according to the basic emerging lines of being
and in the integration of the objects depiction in a single, organic and
living whole.
A fundamental religious experience in the major Hellenic space
and in the Middle East is the priority of Chaos over Order, of
Darkness over Light and of Indeterminacy (\AappleÂÈÚ›·) over Harmony.
In Chaos is the hidden seat of the primordial productive potency that
sets in motion the evolutionary cosmic process from which gods and
nature spring forth in succession, the ontologically presupposing
following the presupposed. The overall causality, lawfulness and
harmony of this process and of its final product, i.e. the cosmic
Ordering, is safeguarded by the involvement in, and contribution to,
it of the principles of Order, Light and Limit. These powers are the
governing divine principles of order in the present condition of the
World (hence they assume first place in ritual and cult), but they are
not the primaeval realities that stand on the top of the pyramid of
ontological presuppositions as absolute, unpresupposed First
Principles. In Cosmic History there is also a period or a number of
periods when the powers of Abyss and of Light oppose one another;