Towards a practical theology of friendship

Abstract

This thesis seeks to make a constructive proposal about the place and nature of friendship, as not only relevant, but also crucial to contemporary communities of faith. Friendship has become isolated from theological reflection and community life. The church has not responded adequately to contemporary concerns regarding relationality. There has in recent decades been a modest renewal of scholarly attention by theologians, as well as other scholars, to the academically neglected relationship of friendship. Yet a comprehensive theology of friendship has not yet been developed. Employing a mutually critical correlation approach, this dissertation makes a significant contribution towards filling this gap.The methodology involves four steps, reflected within the four sections of this research: descriptive, normative, systematic, and strategic. Previous traditions and texts (classical, biblical, and subsequent Christian writings) are brought into dialogue with contemporary contexts and concerns through an interdisciplinary study.Drawing on doctrines of God and creation that emphasize mutuality within community, as well as the writings of philosophers and other scholars, I recognize friendship as integral to being human, to the human vocation, and to life within the broader community. Drawing on themes from Christology, pneumatology, and ecclesiology, I highlight the openness and inclusiveness of the friendship that is to characterize imago Dei.I identify friendship as a school of love contributing to the formation of imago Dei, and argue that Spirit-shaped friendships and friendship-shaped communities have potential to shape us in the way of God. To this end, I recognize hospitality, freedom, and wisdom as dimensions of Spirit-shaped friendships, and compassion and justice as characterizing friendship-shaped communities.The ideal of friendship that emerges through this research is one of holistic private-public friendships, overflowing into civic friendship and reform. Friends, families, pastors, and communities of faith are encouraged to foster a pervasive and transformative culture of friendship, and to celebrate and nurture those forms of friendship that are integral to life within communities. While my focus is on shaping the imagination and practices of Christian communities of faith, such shaping is ultimately on behalf of all, and many insights will be relevant to wider communities.