"Not to disrespect Lao Tzu, but western philosophy / religion > eastern philosophy. I'll take Plato and Augustine over Confucius and Lao Tzu anyday."

Hmmmm. Not a competition, perhaps? Personal preferences are important and valid, but perhaps an additional perspective can yield insight...

One of the ultimate mistakes caused by our limited and fallen nature is thinking that different perspectives can be truly understood alone and insiolation, where they need to compete, instead of something else.

When we recognize a higher (more elevated) dimension, then conflict disappears between different perspectives, and we can begin to see how they both shed light on something neither of them express fully. (If this isn't the lesson from quantum theory, then what is? two perspectives revealing something that transcends) From the vantage point of Unity, we can recognize that things which appear to conflict are in fact complementary partners taking opposite positions in order to express their dual nature.

Example:

The core focus of Western philosophy/thought is the relationship between invisible and visible aka inner and outer aka spirit and matter. Unresolved, these dualities are seen as conflicting, whereas in truth they are complementary opposites, working together in unity for the higher purpose.

The core focus of Eastern philosophy/thought is the relationship between the masculine and feminine, the yang and the yin, the positive and the negative. The East does better at resolving this pair of dualities than the West has with regards to the dualities of their main focus.

How do these two focuses relate? spirit/matter are primary: each being (e.g. human) has the invisible (mind) and the visible (body). This makes us human. Masculine/feminine are secondary: each person (animals too) is, in general, either male or female.

The nature of God, the creator, is the source of these characteristics. both the world of spirit and the world of matter reflect God's nature, where God's personality and character exist in spirit, but is manifest through energy in the form of the universe. Likewise, God has both male and female nature, and this is manifest in male and female, although God is essentially a masculine being, the creator.

This is why the Creation exists. It is the feminine, receptive expression of God's nature. This God and the Creation in unity are expressed in a man and woman in unity. Only man and woman in unity fully express the nature of God, both the mind and flesh, both the masculine and feminine. It is that unity that is the source of love, life and lineage in this created world, and when a man and woman unite in true and real love, they become the complementary partner to the Creator, God the Father.

It's not that western thought > than easter thought. It's that the western thought is focused on the primary nature, while the eastern thought is focused on the secondary nature. But both of them reveal this truth: complementary dualities are the core manifestation of God's nature. Thus, in fact, Western thought needs Eastern thought to be complete, and visa versa.

We can know we are at the end times and fulfillment of History because we live in the era when these two great streams of understanding have come into contact and relationship, leading us eventually to a great awakening to truth: complementary partners in unity centering on God is the core principle of God;s creation.

Christ is the fulfillment of the unity of spirit and flesh, God and Man. Perhaps the reason why Christ must return is NOT for the Church (although the symbology is relevant, even though Paul and the saints did not grasp the truth "I have much to tell you, but you cannot bear it now); rather Christ returns to find his Bride, to raise a woman to be the restored Eve who can complete the True Adam, establish God's lineage on the earth, where our rebirth is not simply in spirit, but also in the flesh.

Until the return of CHrist, our rebirth is only in the spirit, which is why our flesh, and the World, has been subject to the Devil's attack and control (leading to sin, again, and again).

Neither West nor East has the full picture; they are destined to meet in unity with Christ's raising us to the next and complete level with His return.

Hmmmm. Not a competition.

This is the ultimate mistake: thinking that those different perspectives need to compete, instead of something else.

When one fails to recognize the higher (more elevated) purpose, then conflict appears real between different perspectives. But from the vantage point of the Unity, we can recognize that things which appear to conflict are in fact complementary opposites.

Example:

The core focus of Western philosophy/thought is the relationship between invisible and visible aka inner and outer aka spirit and matter. Unresolved, these dualities are seen as conflicting, whereas in truth they are complementary opposites, working together in unity for the higher purpose.

The core focus of Eastern philosophy/thought is the relationship between the masculine and feminine, the yang and the yin, the positive and the negative. The East does better at resolving this pair of dualities than the West has with regards to the dualities of their main focus.

How do these two focuses relate? spirit/matter are primary: each being (e.g. human) has the invisible (mind) and the visible (body). This makes us human. Masculine/feminine are secondary: each person (animals too) is, in general, either male or female.

The nature of God, the creator, is the source of these characteristics. both the world of spirit and the world of matter reflect God's nature, where God's personality and character exist in spirit, but is manifest through energy in the form of the universe. Likewise, God has both male and female nature, and this is manifest in male and female, although God is essentially a masculine being, the creator.

This is why the Creation exists. It is the feminine, receptive expression of God's nature. This God and the Creation in unity are expressed in a man and woman in unity. Only man and woman in unity fully express the nature of God, both the mind and flesh, both the masculine and feminine. It is that unity that is the source of love, life and lineage in this created world, and when a man and woman unite in true and real love, they become the complementary partner to the Creator, God the Father.

It's not that western thought > than easter thought. It's that the western thought is focused on the primary nature, while the eastern thought is focused on the secondary nature. But both of them reveal this truth: complementary dualities are the core manifestation of God's nature. Thus, in fact, Western thought needs Eastern thought to be complete, and visa versa.

We can know we are at the end times and fulfillment of History because we live in the era when these two great streams of understanding have come into contact and relationship, leading us eventually to a great awakening to truth: complementary partners in unity centering on God is the core principle of God;s creation.

Christ is the fulfillment of the unity of spirit and flesh, God and Man. Perhaps the reason why Christ must return is NOT for the Church (although the symbology is relevant, even though Paul and the saints did not grasp the truth "I have much to tell you, but you cannot bear it now); rather Christ returns to find his Bride, to raise a woman to be the restored Eve who can complete the True Adam, establish God's lineage on the earth, where our rebirth is not simply in spirit, but also in the flesh.

Until the return of CHrist, our rebirth is only in the spirit, which is why our flesh, and the World, has been subject to the Devil's attack and control (leading to sin, again, and again).

Neither West nor East has the full picture; they are destined to meet in unity with Christ's raising us to the next and complete level with His return.