Dipolar Theism

For instance, here are some characteristics commonly associated with God:
:One -- Many;
:Merciful -- Just;
:Spiritual -- Material;

Dipolar theism holds that in each pair, both of the characteristics contain some element of good. In order to embody all perfections, therefore, God must embody the good in ''both'' characteristics, and cannot be limited to one, because a God limited to one would suffer the limits of the one, and lack the good in the other.

For instance, there is a "good" in being just, and also a good in being merciful. In being just, God determines that the good are rewarded and the evil are punished. In being merciful, God forgives those who sin. It follows, therefore, that a God that was ''only'' just or ''only'' merciful would be less than perfect. Dipolar theism holds that a perfect God must embody the good in ''both'' of those characteristics. Thus, a perfect God has the "good" characteristics of justice ''and'' the good characteristics of mercy.

Alternatively, there is a good in having the power of absolutely brute force, and a good in leading by persuasion. For God to be perfect, he cannot rule solely by Predestination , because then he would lack the good possessed by a God who led by persuasion. God must therefore embody the "good" in both brute power and persuasion.

CRITIQUE OF DIPOLAR THEISM

Those rejecting dipolar theism argue that it fails to distinguish between what we ''think'' God is and what God ''actually'' is. Just because we think God should be a certain way in order to embody our idea of perfection does not mean he embodies those characteristics in reality.

This critique is analogous to the critique of Anselm 's Ontological Argument by Gaunilo : "Just because I can imagine a perfect island does not mean that it actually exists. Things are what they are no matter what I think they should be."

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Dipolar Theism