... what are:
a) Neo-Platonism;
b) Dualism;
c) Unitarianism;
d) Modalism.
NEO-PLATONISM
Plotinus’ [Πλωτῖνος] (c. 204 – He died in the year 270 CE in Campania, Italy 270) was a major philosopher of the ancient world who is widely considered the founder of Neo-Platonism (along with his teacher Ammonius Saccas). His metaphysical writings have inspired centuries of Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Gnostic metaphysicians and mystics. Being an adherent of Plato, Plotinus’ primary aim was to provide a coherent interpretation and defense of Plato’s philosophy. For centuries most of Plato´s works were predominantly apprehended and understood through Plotinus’ reading and explication of the great philosopher. Yet while he is considered to be the most important commentator and interpreter of Plato, and consequently, the founder of Neo-Platonism, Plotinus was also a truly original thinker who was influenced not only by Plato, but also by the Stoics and Neo-Pythagoreans (and, of course, he was very familiar with Aristotle as well). Now then, Neo-Platonism is generally a metaphysical and epistemological philosophy. Neo-Platonism is a form of idealistic monism (also called theistic monism) and combines elements of Polytheism. As a form of mysticism, it contains theoretical and practical parts, the first dealing with the high origin of the human soul showing how it has departed from its first estate, and the second showing the way by which the soul may again return to the Eternal and Supreme. The system can be divided between the invisible world and the phenomenal world, the former containing the transcendent One from which emanates an eternal, perfect, essence (nous), which, in turn, produces the world-soul.
DUALISM
In theology, the concept of dualism assumes that there are two separate entities—good and evil—which are equally powerful. In “Christian” dualism, God represents the good entity and Satan represents the evil entity. Whenever any doctrine portrays good and evil as two equal opposing forces, that doctrine contradicts the scriptural position that good, represented by God Almighty, is the dominant power in the universe. Since Satan was not, and never will be, equal to God, any doctrine that says he is can be marked as a false doctrine. The fact that Satan was thrown out of heaven for trying to rise above God does not mean Satan has given up trying to be equal or superior to God, as evidenced by the basic tenets of “dualism” that have come down largely through the philosophical stem of human wisdom. There can be no dualism existing in any corner of our universe. There is only one power that is overriding, and that power is God Almighty as revealed to us in the Bible. According to the scriptural evidence, there is only one power that is omnipotent, not two. Thus, any doctrine of dualism which contends that there are two equal powers opposing each other (good and evil) is a false doctrine.
UNITARIANISM
Unitarianism is the belief that God exists in one person, not three. It is a denial of the doctrine of the Trinity as well as the full divinity of Jesus. Therefore, it is not Christian. There are several groups that fall under this umbrella: Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphianism, The Way International, etc. Another term for this type of belief is called monarchianism. In the context of universalism, the Unitarianism is that belief that denies the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, eternal punishment, and the vicarious atonement of Jesus. Unitarian Universalists use many biblical concepts and terms but with non-biblical meanings. Unitarianism is not Christian.
MODALISM
Modalism is probably the most common theological error concerning the nature of God. It is a denial of the Trinity. Modalism states that God is a single person who, throughout biblical history, has revealed Himself in three modes, or forms. Thus, God is a single person who first manifested himself in the mode of the Father in Old Testament times. At the incarnation, the mode was the Son and after Jesus' ascension, the mode is the Holy Spirit. These modes are consecutive and never simultaneous. In other words, this view states that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit never all exist at the same time, only one after another. Modalism denies the distinctiveness of the three persons in the Trinity even though it retains the divinity of Christ. Present day groups that hold to forms of this error are the United Pentecostal and United Apostolic Churches. They deny the Trinity, teach that the name of God is Jesus, and require baptism for salvation. These modalist churches often accuse Trinitarians of teaching three gods. This is not what the Trinity is. The correct teaching of the Trinity is one God in three eternal coexistent persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Additional References Used in study:
Библијско богословски речник - Драгиша Љ. Милетић, Година издања 1933. године; издање 2004. год.
BIBLIJSKO - BOGOSLOVSKI RECNIK-Eparhija Dalmatinska - Sibenik (1970)- ASIN: B005PWP96S
BIBLIJSKO – BOGOSLOVSKI REČNIK-Pisac: V. MIHAJLOVSKI, 1934
Biblijsko-bogoslovski rečnik-Izdavač: Crkva Sv. Trojice, Put života, Beograd-Zagreb 1977; reprint izd. iz 1932.
Мали библијско-богословски речник-http://www.pouke.org
SERBIAN-ENGLISH AND ENGLISH-SERBIAN DICTIONARY OF THEOLOGY – Aleksandra Dobric, 2008
http://orthodoxwiki.org
http://carm.org
http://www.theopedia.com
http://www.thefreedictionary.com
http://www.merriam-webster.com
http://thecripplegate.com
http://www.newadvent.org
http://www.basictheology.com/definitions
http://www.bible.ca
http://www.contendingforthefaith.org
http://www.monergism.com
http://www.faithalone.com
http://www.christiandefense.org
http://dictionary.reference.com