For adjustments, I suggest that a distinction be made between "mythos" and "history" Likewise between "concept" and "covenant." A forgivable slip, for sure. Also, a further elucidation of the kinds of dualisms at play to prevent the reponse, There is no duality .
The author fails to prevent that red herring.
Great call, cornelis. Shall we take a stab at elucidating the distinctions to be observed with respect to these pairings? Please do correct me if you think I've come up short.
Mythos is a "place-bound" (or tradition-bound) story that gives man his own sense of place in the world. It is not the result of a private act, but of shared, lived understandings held in common with other members of the community of which we feel ourselves to be members. In this sense, "myth" is not meant to denote the idea of "fiction" or "superstition" or anything of that sort. As Newman demonstrates, every man has a myth whether or not he is aware of it. Even scientists, objectivists, deconstructionists, and gnostics. Its function is primarily social.
History is the study of the succession of human events that have occurred in the past, as best as they can be reconstructed and described. Unlike the myth, a construction of history is typically a private act, but one which is not directly concerned with the historian's particular place in the world.
A concept is an abstract or "generic" idea generalized from particular experience of the world, as conceived and held in the mind. We might say is is an abstraction from experience, and thus usually a reduction of it.
A covenant is a formal, solemn, and binding agreement between two or more parties promising or pledging the performance of some action. Typically, it involves promises of mutual performance to be carried out by the parties concerned.
(Please feel free to improve on my humble effort here, cornelis.)
As for dualism, my view is probably pretty childish. I'd have to explain it thusly: Dualism is the belief that the universe exists quite independently of our participation in it; that its existence is somehow "final" and "complete"; that it is somehow "corrupt," threatening, and dangerous to us. It's putative "imperfection" is a rebuke to us, and must be "overcome," if man is to be "saved."
A fuller definition would take further meditation -- which I can't do right now, for I've just been handed new a project to work on (I'm at work....) Maybe later!
Meanwhile, please share your thoughts?