The principles of Dualism are not only the foundation of the teachings of the Entered Apprentice Degree, but the very cement and support of all craft degree rituals, and that of some other grades also. Dualism is a mandatory part of the first three degrees because it teaches the all important lessons in establishing an equilibrium in the three parts of man, and allows for Freemasonry to function in the gray.

Dualism teaches us that in our universe all things do exist and must exist in a twofold for equality and balance to prevail. Dualism tells us that if there is a light then there to must also be a darkness � If there is good then there must also be evil. It is the eternal struggle of opposite forces, which are in constant war with each over control and influence.

Zoroaster, the great reformer, is often called the father of duality. There is no authentic proof that Zoroaster ever lived among man as man, and there exist many rumors of his life and death. He is generally believed to have been born between 1000 to 600 b.c.e and have died 583 b.c.e., with the base of his operations being in Persia. Zoroaster is also credited with seeking to solve the question of the origin of evil in the world, teaching the idea of a future life and the immortality of the soul, of teaching the doctrine of the resurrection and inculcating the belief of a heaven and a hell.

What we do have a clear record of is Zoroastrianism, which are the advanced teachings of what was left behind by Zoroaster. The greatest of these teachings was the introduction of the dualistic doctrine of Ormuzd and Ahriman. Ormuzd (the Virtuous Man, who is isolated, alone, frightened and forever struggling to remain righteous) represents the God of Light, while Ahriman (the Destructive Spirit and Fiend hell-bent on defiling creation) represents the God of Evil. Ahriman and Ormuzd are in constant struggle with each other on the chess board of life and being assisted by arch-angles and arch-fiends with ancient God Mithra placed in an intermediate gray position between them.

The Jews, during their exile in Babylon from 586 to 539 b.c.e., fell under the influence of Persian dualism. Before this, the Jews had not conceived a doctrine of good versus evil, but it wasn�t long before they went back and revised portions of what we know as the Old Testament and inserted a being known as Satan.

The Jews late introduction of duality would become the foundation of the new Christian faith. The early Christians couldn�t get enough of the conflict � good vs. evil, black vs. white, God vs. Satan, celibacy vs. sex, Romans & Jews vs. Jesus and virtue vs. sin. The Islamic theology would also heavily embrace duality with Allah as God and Shaytan as Satan.

Freemasonry, being composed of elements of many different religions, is able to define itself as a sycretic religion (by definition) and in this spirit it embraces some elements of Zoroastrianism.

The craft degrees don�t promise or promote an afterlife, but they make reference to a Freemason�s deeds being a good thing. The tools of architecture and selective items of the craft degrees have both operative and speculative meanings. Dualism is, represented in the first degree with light overcoming darkness, in the second degree with ignorance being dispersed by knowledge and in the third degree with death being supplanted by eternal life. Hence, it is the moral and physical dualities that craft masonry instructs us in.

These moral and physical dualities are never made or revealed to be totally black or white. Our degrees instruct us in self-improvement, through experience and moderation. Yet, they do not literally define a gray area on our mosaic pavement.

In such a diverse craft, with so many members from different religions, backgrounds, experiences and upbringings � it would ordinarily be difficult to discover that necessary gray area and allow us to meet each other on that level of time. The gray area is the mother to toleration and home to the open-minded, and where craft masonry lives.

Normally, man finds it extremely difficult to find that necessary gray area when varying views upon religion and politics are part of his functioning environ, and these are the main philosophical vices we attempt to exclude from the lodge. Thus allowing for that shade of gray to interlace with our checkered pavement, whereby brotherly love and harmony can prevail and craft masonry can fulfill its duty of establishing an equilibrium, in the mind, body and soul.

Through Dualism, craft masonry provides its initiates with the most vital lesson in living and achieving a balanced life.