After reading Demian by Herman Hesse, I was introduced to the idea of Abraxas-a diety type thing that possesses the traits of both light and dark. According to what I read in the book, it assumes that light and dark are both equal and necessary and claims to incorporate them. I’m now wondering where this idea originated and if there is anymore to know about it. A quick google turned up softwar engineers, information on buying the album of the same name, and a little bit about tarot cards and demonology.
IIRC this is a gnostic term.
The gnostic deity (or at least the main one, not the demi-urge) contains everything ggod/evil, positive/negative.
a diety type thing … light and dark are both equal and necessary and claims to incorporate them
Yes, it’s true; you must eat both white bread and black pudding.
Search on the terms Zoroastrianism (Zoroastrism) and Manicheism for similar concepts.
I found this on the Gnosis Archive website. It’s from the “SEVEN SERMONS TO THE DEAD WRITTEN BASILIDES IN ALEXANDRIA, THE CITY WHERE THE EAST TOUCHETH THE WEST. Transcribed by Carl Gustav Jung”
At the end of Sermon II:
Sermon III goes on to talk more about Abraxas.
Note: I know almost nothing about Gnosticism or these sermons.
[not really answering your question] Just buy the Jimi Hendrix album of that name and listen to it at high volume.
Just to nitpick Pablito’s hijack, Abraxas is a Santana album.
Thanks. I think I understand a bit more now. To expand on my OP, the reason I’m trying to learn more about Abraxas is because I want to argue against it.
In that case you definitely want to research Manicheism. Mainstream Christian theologists back to the earliest days of the church have argued against it. Also see: Dualism (Theol.) the doctrine that there are two eternal principles, one good and one evil.