Material vs Spiritual

This division of the unseen and seen has been at the root of more philosophical, moral, and religious issues than any other concept. Inevitably, those who are proponents of this dichotomy begin to prioritize or raise up the unseen while viewing material things as lesser elements of creation. This is the cause of almost all of the early heresies of the church. Whether it be Gnosticism, Arianism, or Manichaeanism many of the heresies that brought massive amounts of conflict were derivatives of the separation of body and spirit. It also has led at least in part to the misunderstanding of the meaning of an ascetic life. Monks and hermits do not or at least should not reject their bodies and needs for the sake of trampling down bodily weakness. It is not "Mind over matter." Both soul and body together make up all living things. Of course taken to the other extreme, idol worship in pagan times was the worship and consecration of material things with no soul. Both extremes should be avoided.