The Problem of Slavery in Christian America: An Ethical-Judicial History of American Slavery and Racism

by Joel McDurmon

This strong dichotomy between that which is “spiritual” (salvation of the soul) and that which is “earthly” (government, business, etc.) is why we have also called this view a “dualism” or “dualistic” in Christian thought. It is also commonly referred to as the “two kingdoms” doctrine: one kingdom of the Spirit (or “Gospel”) and the other of everything else (“Law”). In this scheme, God is said to rule the church through the Gospel (thus it is “spiritual,” and the church is commissioned to speak to it) while he rules the rest of the universe through Providence (and thus the church is not allowed to pronounce upon it, but leave it to the status quo and the flow of history).

Spirtuality of the church, whuch does seem to be a particularly enlightenment/modern concept