Hi Kenneth. Interesting analysis. I think there are probably more nuances here than you suggest. For example, having been raised in the Methodist tradition and being married to a Catholic wife, I would argue that “conservatism” and “liberalism” are value systems that have been imposed upon Christianity in various ways. They do not truly represent it. In reality, Christianity in its pure form is neither while combining elements of both.

It’s often said that my present religion, the Baha’i Faith, is a “joining” of east and west, and your article gives me a deeper appreciation of that view. It is Abrahamic in the sense that it appeared in the matrix of Islam, as Christianity appeared in the matrix of Judaism, and it does employ in some cases the language of spiritual battle. But unlike other Abrahamic faiths, it holds that Satan is a symbol for our own lower nature, and that the battle is by and large internal. The “spiritual conquest of the world” is the spiritual advancement of society, and that is in turn dependent upon the spiritual advancement of individuals, which is dependent upon the efforts each of us makes to bring our Creator into our lives. “Uniting the world one heart at a time,” as it has often been said. Based on your comments, this would seem to be more eastern than western.

Also, the Baha’i Faith doesn’t view the lower nature as evil per se. It is essentially the animal nature, which is good within its proper place. It only becomes evil when it dominates our higher (spiritual) nature. When our spiritual nature is in command, our animal nature can play its proper role in our lives. It is not an ascetic religion. (Asceticism is of course something that developed in both eastern and western religions, but it is arguably not an original part of either.) It might thus be said that the Baha’i view is in harmony with and expressive of the yin and the yang as well as the east and the west.

Anyway, interesting article. Thank you!