Monism is a philosophical term that is often used to mean that reality is comprised of a single substance or essence. From this substance or essence, all things exist.
The word is formed from the prefix mono, which means one, and the suffix -ism, which means a theory or doctrine.
Dualism is considered the opposing viewpoint, the belief that reality is made of two substances or essences. It's sometimes also referred to as mind-body dualism or Cartesian dualism.
Due to the flexibility of these words, both monism and dualism can also be used in other contexts. You may also encounter spiritual dualism which is the doctrine that good and evil are two opposing forces that are equal in nature and/or power.
Is Christianity Monistic?
If by monistic you are referring to the essence or substance, then no. Christianity maintains that the Creator God is wholly different from the creation, and that we have both physical and spiritual attributes.
The following verses suggest that God is wholly different from creation. His essence or substance is not the same as ours.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 ESV
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24 ESV
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Acts 17:24-25 ESV
The Genesis passage portrays God as existing before the creation of the universe. He is the alpha and omega, beginning and the end, the eternal God.
Jesus affirms that God is eternal and that God is spirit. He tells the woman that we must worship with our spiritual nature, drawing a clear distinction between our physical and spiritual realities.
Paul, speaking to the Athenians, makes clear that God is distinct and different from us. Where humans have physical needs and are dependent upon God for life, He is not dependent upon us in any regards. His essence and substance is different.
While the Bible is clear on substance dualism, it is a monotheistic faith. There is only one God, there is no opposing forces of good and evil. Not does it deny the existence of good and evil, but there is nothing equal to God in any regards.
There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
1 Chronicles 17:20 ESV
remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me
Isaiah 46:9 ESV
And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
1 Kings 18:27 ESV
The first two passags make clear that there is no other spiritual being that is equal to God, none that are of the same essence or nature. Elijah pushes this further and mocks the Baal worshippers becsuse their god cannot answer.
Instead, Christians believe that God is good and any act in opposition to his will is evil. There is no entity that represents evil, no deity in eternal conflict with God's goodness.
The devil, also referred to as satan, is a created being that opposes God's will, which makes him evil. However, he is not an equal or opposing being, and neither are we in our act of rebellion.
Therefore we can firmly say that Christianity is a monotheistic religion that believes in substance dualism.
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