The Universe Thrives on Conflict
The universe, from a natural theological, experiential, or even materialist perspective, would seem to thrive upon conflict. It is a competing complex of passions, or layered flows of power, both observable and sensed, or experienced at the periphery. The kosmos itself, or rather components of it, widen in orders of influence, acquiring power and illuminating necessary stages for evolutionary self-becoming. As you have probably noticed, there is an inescapable predatory aspect to the nature of most things. This nature feeds off friction so it can remain vibrant.
From our local experience, within our forests, within our deserts, within our jungles and oceans, predatory beings reside, awaiting vulnerable beings to prey upon. And when beings within these environments don’t empower themselves, through the pain of experience, mastering the various tools Gaia (nature) provides them in generations of evolutionary struggle, then they will be eaten out of existence. They must gain wisdom of that current of power which moves against them, and of other currents which they might exploit in reverse. The goal of this is to achieve balance. And each species or type, and of them each individual, are wholly of their own perspective and will, with all the potential that entails.
As the ancients say: As above, so below. As within, so without.
As TOTHO outlined, the material world has intellectual spheres which overlap with ours (realms, as outlined by Iamblichus, Plato, and Hermes), with only the first two being remotely intelligible to us. More than one unseen current of power, or spiritual world, acts of its own volition above and through our experiential realm. To what range of realms conflict is innate, I would guess most, ceasing only near the over-realm which is the One, to which all else relates in proportion.
With the reality of a conflict-kosmos in mind, religious traditions need to retain the historic importance of martial priestly patriarchs. The patriarch should always express a mysticism of battle, to empower his flock with the spirit of eternal struggle, and to represent their personal will to existence. A responsible warrior-priest should see every obstacle as an opportunity for heroic adventure, something to overcome via a philosophy of self-reliance, and be continually transformed in the process. He should teach, by example, philosophical awareness of the spiritual and physical threats of power in motion; involving an acceptance of natural law, death, and how observing honour codes expresses the eternal within us, and speaks across the realms. Not weakening false comforts of choices without consequence.
Rational spirituality should harden the body, and clarify the mind, and seek glory in self-becoming and the order of virtue. Because existing is motion and friction, and forces we can not fully grasp have set that ball in motion.
The Universe thrives on conflict.
