Monism vs. Monotheism: Unity, Duality, and the Divine

Introduction: Two Paths to Unity

It is interesting to note how similar monism and monotheism are, even though they advocate almost completely opposing viewpoints. One could argue that each promotes the idea of unity from opposing perspectives, and this is precisely what makes the two directions as incompatible as they have proven to be over the centuries. At the heart of this dispute lies a fundamental fear on the part of the monotheist tradition. The monist view is, in fact, the earthly manifestation of what the monotheist hopes to achieve only beyond death. Monism represents an already-achieved unity with the divine ideal, whereas the monotheist never truly achieves this — even after death — although death is the closest one can come to true unity with God within the monotheistic framework.

Three Core Differences Between Monism and Monotheism

The comparison between monism and monotheism can be understood through three main points.

First, monotheism stresses duality during the human lifetime on earth. There is nothing a human being can do in earthly life to be truly at one with God. Monism, on the other hand, emphasizes the single reality of the divine concept from which everything else flows. The point of departure for monotheism is that creation moves toward God, whereas in monism, creation flows away from God.

Second, the meaning in the life of the monotheist lies in this movement toward God, which makes death almost the reward of life. Death is anticipated as the final and true union with the divine. For monism, by contrast, death is far less charged — it is simply a part of the central reality from which all other realities flow. The fear that monism cultivates in the monotheist stems from the fact that, without duality, there is no struggle and therefore no central meaning to life. Monism thus entails, for the monotheist, a kind of existential dread.

Third, the duality stressed by monotheism continues — perhaps ironically — beyond the point of death. The separate personality assigned to God means that his creation can only ever be with him, as opposed to being one with him. Creation can therefore never be in complete union with God from a monotheistic point of view. This may be the culmination of the fundamental fear relating to the lack of ultimate meaning in the monotheist life. In the monist life, by contrast, there is always a deep meaning and a fundamental unity with the divine, whereas birth itself, for the monotheist, signifies separation from God — a separation that is never completely remedied, even in death.

The Role of the Personal God in Monotheism

At the heart of the monotheist's fear lies the fundamental point of separation — not only between God and creation, but also between monism and monotheism as worldviews. Monism assumes the unity of the divine with the rest of creation. God is part of creation, and creation is part of the divine; the two, including humanity, are inseparable. For the monotheist, on the other hand, the personality assigned to God precludes true unity. God is understood as a person within the monotheistic religions (Khan). This holds even for Islam, which Khan argues rests upon a direct union with God without an intermediary. As such, God is separate from creation while simultaneously engaging with it in a guiding or counseling capacity.

This arrangement provides a form of security, in that personal understanding and communication between God and creature becomes possible. Yet, perhaps ironically, this very personality is what precludes true unity. There is no possibility of merging the human personality completely with the divine when God already possesses his own distinct personality. In contrast, monism insists upon an already-existing unity with God and draws its sense of security from that premise. The monotheist, by contrast, cannot relinquish the struggle and the promise entailed in the concept of God as a separate personality. The fear involved relates to the possibility of an alternative afterlife scenario — one falling short of a perfect and blissful reunion with the divine personality.