Christian Love Research Articles

The Heart of Christian Leadership: Embracing Radical Hospitality as Christ's Love in Action

The Heart of Christian Leadership: Embracing Radical Hospitality as Christ's Love in Action

Beauty Is the Gravitas Amoris: A Trinitarian Correlation of Beauty and Love

There have been many attempts to give a precise definition of beauty. In this article, I join a tradition of trinitarian reflection on beauty and attempt to add further clarity to a trinitarian definition of beauty. Beauty, in my construal, is the gravitas amoris of the triune being of love—it is, in other words, the objective attractional “force” or “weightiness” exerted by triune love on the soul by which one, if she yields to triune love, experiences the bliss and delight of triune love and is thereby drawn into deifying union. This article will proceed as follows: First, I will survey the relationship between beauty and love found in the classic philosophical tradition represented by Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus. Then, I will survey this beauty–love relation in Christian thought from Augustine, Aquinas, Ficino, Edwards, and von Hildebrand. These figures will provide supporting evidence for my construal of beauty. I then turn to the constructive task. I argue that there is an abductive fit between the features of beauty and the nature of the Trinity. In light of this fit and the sources of traditional thought above, beauty is best thought of as the gravitas amoris—the weighty impression of God’s triune love in created things that draws one into the triune life and is experienced as delight when perceived. I conclude by answering objections and reflecting on how this account reframes the transcendentals and coordinates the experience of beauty with Christian love.

Franz Rosenzweig on Divine Love and on the Love of Enemies: Complications of Agape in the Secularized World

Love is a keystone in Franz Rosenzweig’s philosophy, which reaffirmed Judaism’s emphasis on vital, relational love. What “love” exactly means, however, is controversial. In the Christian context, love is often denoted by Agape—which implies (1) that “God is Love”, (2) that love is universal, impartial, and rather endorses the sinner; and (3) that humans should practice and emulate such love. The ultimate expression of Agape is the commandment to love one’s enemy, which is rooted in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44). This essay considers Rosenzweig’s understanding of Agape, at the implicit level (since the coining by Anders Nygren of Christian love as “Agape” became widespread only after Rosenzweig’s death). This essay opens by contextualizing Rosenzweig within political theology, in particular vis-à-vis Schmitt. Secondly, it considers Rosenzweig’s approach to Agape in the sense of divine love, and in the sense of the love of enemy. Concerning divine love, Rosenzweig criticized theological Agapism (‘God is love’) which equates God with love, and hence makes love into a dogma or noun, rather than an action or verb, thus depriving divinity’s personal loving agency. Concerning the agapic love of enemy, Rosenzweig discredits its Christian version (for being imperialistic), and advocates its Jewish version of accepting divine judgement. His surprising advocacy of the love of enemies may result from Rosenzweig’s opposition to Gnosticism, which excludes the ‘good God’ from involvement in the physical world. The essay’s conclusion reflects on the role of Agape and its pragmatist versions in the post-secular world of the 21st century and conveys Rosenzweig’s pragmatist contribution in this regard, of recognizing the significance of worldliness and togetherness.

The Theme of the Brotherhood of Man in the Works by I. A. Bunin

The article is devoted to the researching of the theme of the brotherhood of people man and its evolution in the works by I. A. Bunin. In the artistic world of the writer, the idea of new — evangelical, fraternal relations between people, based on Christian love, is affirmed. The key images and motives for understanding the evolution of the theme of brotherhood of people appear in the early poems, such as “In Kostyol,” “The Gravestone Scripture:” the image of Christ, the motive of faithfulness to the “covenant of love” and to a new, evangelical relationship between people. In the works of 1914–1916 I. A. Bunin creates the image of humanity, which that has forgotten about God, about Christ, about its original initial brotherhood. There is a tragic motive of destruction of the brotherhood of people man poems “Silence,” “Desperation” and in his stories “Brothers,” “The Spring Evening.” The article pays special attention to the study of the Christian text in the short story “Brothers,” the results of which allow to speak about the Gospel meaning of the word “brothers” in the epigraph and in the title of the story, which are playing the most important role in the expression of the key author’s idea, phrased in the words of Christ. I. A. Bunin’s works of the period of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and of the Civil War, namely his diary “Cursed Days” and his speech “The Mission of Russian Emigration,” are imbued with the tragic motive of fratricide and with images of Russian Cain and Russian Abel. The ideas of brotherhood of people and of the deepest interconnection of all humanity people is heardresounds again in through the works by I. A. Bunin inof the emigration period, in and in his lyrical and philosophical prose of the 1920s. The theme of the brotherhood of people in the works by I. A. Bunin, which undoubtedly has an undoubted evangelical basis, develops throughout the writer’s work, which testifies to its significance for the writer’s worldview and his concept of peace and man.

Queer Madonnas, Nonviolence, and the Macho Christian Right; or “How to Do Mariology Without Men”

ABSTRACT This article asks whether Adriana Cavarero’s invocation of the Christian Madonna to inspire a pacifist feminist ethics could help counter the ever-strengthening alliance between Conservative Christianity and the radical right which I refer to as “Macho Christianity.” To flesh out Cavarero’s undeveloped invocation of the Madonna’s love as “non-stereotypical” I turn to queer and non-dominant indigenous Mariologies to provide a novel reading that demonstrates, against the dominant exegetical tradition, the radical absence of normative Man at the heart of the Christian story. This indicates that for too long the normative Man of patriarchy has held Christianity hostage, limiting and contorting its message. In response, I use these alternative Mariologies to develop Cavarero’s “non-stereotypical” love via a novel interpretation of the Christian love of enemies as a nonviolent, militant, performative political practice of interruption, from which less dominatory ways of relating to one another could emerge.

God, the Churches, and the World in Motion

AbstractBased on the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, “Christ's love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” this article analyzes the concept of “movement” as a theological category on the basis of the scripture. First, it argues that it is important for the churches to be attentive to the movements and transformations taking place in societies, recognizing in them the presence of the Spirit constantly working in the world. It then points out that the presence of the Spirit in the churches should be characterized by two actions: the denunciation of injustice as a prophetic action of believers, and the ecumenical character of synodality as a movement toward encounter with other Christians and a willingness to walk with them. Finally, the article proposes that this movement of the Spirit also requires dialogue with other religions as a necessary condition for building peace in society.

Keteguhan Iman Dalam Era Tantangan Dari Perspektif Teologis Kristen

Firmness in faith is a human way of facing difficulties or challenges. Firmness of faith in difficult times is a concept from the perspective of Christian theology which focuses on the perseverance of individuals or Christian communities to maintain faith in the teachings of Christ amidst changing times. In this context, remaining strong in the faith requires a deep knowledge of Biblical truth, a commitment to following Christ's teachings, and a willingness to face trials and challenges that may arise. Through prayer, Bible reading, fellowship with fellow believers, and active participation in church, every Christian can strengthen their faith. The importance of unshakable faith in the perspective of Christian theology lies in its role as a solid spiritual foundation amidst current changes and temptations. By maintaining a strong faith, Christians can strengthen their relationship with God, find peace and strength in their faith, and become influential witnesses in society. Witnessing the strength of faith also inspires and strengthens the faith of fellow Christians and builds a strong community in faith and love for Christ. Therefore, from the perspective of Christian theology, strengthening faith in difficult times is not just an individual's effort to maintain faith, but also being a witness to Christ in the midst of an ever-changing world.

Сердце, душа и разум как философские понятия в мировоззрении П.Д. Юркевича

The article examines the epistemological views of Pamphil Danilovich Yurkevich, a prominent representative of Russian religious philosophy. Emphasis is placed on the fact that it is wrong to perceive the soul as a mechanical device, which can only be affected mathematically by stimuli from the outside world. It is the heart that is the organ of holistic knowledge and the key element connecting with the soul. Yurkevich categorically disagrees with the modernist point of view that the justice that society is trying to establish through laws is created solely by the mind of people and that these laws relate only to issues of property and any external freedoms. The philosopher believes that it is unacceptable to equate the reasonableness of an act with its moral dignity: “reasonable” does not at all mean “moral” from the standpoint of Christian love. The author of the article concludes that the philosophy of the heart, of which P.D. is an outstanding representative. Yurkevich helps a person bring genuine moral consciousness into the world, find the perfect combination between intuition, reason and feelings, as well as reveal their true values and establish a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them.

A Brief Introduction into Scriptural Grounding of Contemporary Social Work

Social work, as a model of welfare practice in contemporary society, is based on the mutual aid principle of those in need or in a situation of vulnerability. Its historical foundations can be identified from the ancient writings, including the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments. This paper brings to the attention of the students from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, the Social Work specialization, but also of those concerned with a deep social-theological knowledge, the perspective of a theoretical analysis, but also that of a good practice model for contemporary social work based on the examples existing in Holy Scripture. Also, the focus is on developing, through study, professional skills that provide for the projection and elaboration of a discourse based on sacred texts (verbal and written exposure), but also the correct statement of the doctrine of the Church and the means transmitted by it for the perfecting of the person and of the world in the context of a constantly changing society. Thus, through this comprehensive analysis, the paper highlights the relevance and sustainable impact of the teachings and practices of social work in the Old and New Testaments on contemporary issues solvable through social justice, christian love, solidarity and community responsibility.

Preaching the Impossible in the Face of the Unthinkable: Nonviolence, Love, and Thanksgiving in a Coptic Easter Sermon

This essay examines the Holy Monday sermon by Boules George, a senior priest at St. Mark Church in Cairo, that was preached the day after the Palm Sunday suicide bomb attacks against St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Tanta and St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria in Egypt in 2017, which left forty-four people dead and more than one hundred injured. The sermon addressed Coptic Orthodox Christians in Cairo as well as the wider Coptic Orthodox community in Egypt and throughout the world through a live video broadcast. The sermon is remarkable for presenting a radical call to nonviolence and Christian love. Notably, the preacher speaks to “those who are killing us”, and says “thank you” for the opportunity to die as Christ died, for “this is the greatest honor that we could have”. This essay analyzes the sermon in light of the work of Walter Brueggemann and Alexander Schmemann, and argues that the sermon is an example of daring speech that offers divine empowerment to the suffering and the fearful.

FUNCTIONS OF ETIQUETTE IN THE POETICS OF F. M. DOSTOEVSKY’S NOVEL “DEMONS”

The article clarifies the value function of etiquette in the novel “Demons,” identifies communicative situations in which observance of etiquette or, conversely, departure from generally accepted norms of behavior affects the characters and beliefs of the characters. Noble, folk and folk-poetic (epic, fairy-tale) etiquette are considered. Various forms of his expression are analyzed — through the character’s speech, gestures, facial expressions, actions. The importance of moral attitudes that determine the ethics and the inner world of a person is demonstrated, reflecting to a greater extent in the external way of acting and relationships than the knowledge of the secular manners and communication culture. Despite the decent manners noted by the chronicler, Pyotr Verkhovensky regularly wanted to offend and insult his interlocutors; Stepan Trofimovich’s external untidiness appears along with his bad habits and inclinations; Verkhovensky’s “five” created a special behavioral narrative demonstrating their views and immoral appearance; the degraded and slovenly Lebyadkin begins to jauntily observe the etiquette when he sees a personal benefit in it. The different styles of the characters’ etiquette behavior allowed to identify a peculiar typology of heroes, in which, on the one side are the characters with elegant manners, but without a moral core, occupy diametric positions, on the other hand — heroes who are far removed from refined education, but not devoid of moral principles and virtues. Dostoevsky shows various functions of etiquette, many of which turned out to be a manifestation of the lack of the characters’ spirituality and served as a means to achieve their selfish goals. In addition to secular etiquette, elements of national consciousness are introduced into the poetics of the work. At its core are the Orthodox faith and love for Christ, which was a genuine ethical guideline for Dostoevsky. The convergence of the noble world with the folk world formed new value concepts of the novel’s characters, which was implemented in external behavior. The inclusion of folk culture in the cultural context introduced into the work complementary religious and ethical meanings inseparable from goodness and truth, which were significant for Dostoevsky.

Overcoming othering through agape

This article explores the theological concept of othering. It investigates how society categorizes those different to the norm in historical, contemporary and biblical narratives. It does not offer solutions as such but finds hope in overcoming the othering in the message of agape that Christian love is unconditional.

Misi Penginjilan Paulus: Pandangan Moderasi Beragama Dan Inklusivitas

This paper explores the views of religious moderation and inclusivity in the evangelizing mission of Paul, a major apostle in early Christian society. Through analysis of Paul's letters, especially those related to evangelism, this paper aims to understand how the principles of religious moderation, inclusive attitudes, and the love of Christ became the foundation of Paul's mission of evangelism. This paper also explores the relevance of these principles in the context of evangelism in the modern era. The Apostle Paul's views on religious moderation in the context of evangelistic missions, with a primary focus on the central role of Christ's love in shaping and supporting early Christian evangelistic efforts. Through analysis of Paul's letters, research findings highlight that the views of moderation and inclusiveness promoted by Paul reflect the principles of unconditional love. The love of Christ, at the center of Paul's views, is not only a theological theme but also an intrinsic attraction that influences the hearts and souls of individuals. Paul's inclusive and moderate attitude formed the foundation of a Christian community that was open and welcoming to all levels of society. The implications of this view are highly relevant in designing modern evangelistic strategies that incorporate the love of Christ as a central force.

김수환 추기경의 관점에서 바라본 가톨릭 의료윤리

This paper examines on the fundamental principles of healthcare activities from the perspective of Cardinal Kim Soo-Hwan. The values propagated in a material-centric society generate a culture that disregards the sanctity of human life, which could adversely affect medical practices dedicated to human life. According to Cardinal Kim Soo-Hwan, healthcare serves life in a holistic dimension. To actualize this, he reads the Signs of the Times and, with critical reflection, presents three fundamental principles of medical activities: human dignity, respect for human life, and love for neighbors(humanity). In the field of healthcare, his focus is on humanity, and the foundation of his healthcare ethics is encapsulated in the love of Christ. Furthermore, the love of Christ is realized on a holistic level, grounded in a correct understanding of the human being as a unity of soul and body. Cardinal Kim Soo-Hwan integrates love for humanity with respect for human dignity and life. He also presents a path for the community formed by healthcare professionals and patients to embody human values.

Hoffmann traditions in Selma Lagerlöf ’s novel “Gösta Berling’s Saga”

The article focuses on the study of Hoffmann traditions in Selma Lagerlöf ’s novel “Gösta Berling’s Saga”. The features of Hoffman’s poetics in the novel are revealed by using the methodology of the “Hoffman’s complex”, which is an ideological and thematic complex of motives and stylistic techniques inherent in the works by E. T. A. Hoffman. The “Hoffmann’s complex” is manifested in the novel in the problem of the rebellion of the Romantic hero-creator in relation to faith and religion, the problem of the relationship of the Romantic hero with femininity, the opposition of secular and Christian love, the motive of mechanization of man and society in the new capitalist industrial formation. The features of Hoffmann’s poetics were manifested in the novel “Gösta Berling’s Saga” also in the interweaving of Hoffmann’s images (Don Juan (“Don Juan”), Medardus (“The Devil’s Elixirs”) and plots (a defrocked monk, who under the influence of wine as an incarnate temptation, commits crimes and experiences a split of personality (“The Devil’s Elixirs”) and a rebellious Romantic hero in search of an unattainable ideal world in which his disintegrated personality must find consolidation (“Don Juan”). The conclusion sums up that S. Lagerlöf, relying on the plot, problems and images of E. T. A. Hoffman’s works (“Don Juan”, “The Devil’s Elixirs”, “Adventure on New Year’s Eve”), creates the author’s concept of spiritual transformation of personality through Christian love and reconsiders the image of a Romantic hero, transforming it into a new type of Christian Neo-Romantic hero.

Living Synodality

Many Catholics living in violent conflict zones or in situations of structural injustice, along with Pax Christi International, Maryknoll, Pope Francis, and others, have been cultivating a tectonic shift toward centering active nonviolence in Catholic social ethics and approaches to conflict. This essay will illuminate how Catholic community organizing and strategic campaigns can both contribute to this shift and be enhanced by such a shift. The first part will describe salient features of this shift in Catholic theology and social ethics. The second part will assess components of Catholic community organizing and strategic campaigns that distinctly contribute to this shift. The third part will offer some initial suggestions for how centering nonviolence can enhance Catholic community organizing and strategic campaigns. In turn, these dynamics between centering nonviolence and Catholic community organizing can better illuminate the way of Jesus and the love of Christ in both the Church and societies.

«Так нас природа сотворила…»: преступление без наказания? (Ф.М. Достоевский и И.А. Бунин)

The article substantiates the need to conceptualize the “dark” nature of man, as presented in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment and Ivan Bunin’s short story “Loopy Ears.” Asserting the truth in God, the writers also reveal the “dark” in man. Dostoevsky employs Raskolnikov’s words about the right of the “extraordinary” “according to the law of nature” to murder, while Bunin, through a detailed description of the “born criminal,” outlines another — not biblical — image of the “crown of Creation.” The subject of the first article is Raskolnikov’s words about the right to commit a crime. They are considered in the light of philosophical and religious sources: it is shown how stable prerequisites for the emergence of “schismatic” views were formed in European science; the plot motives of the “sixth day” of creation, the “second” creation from “nothing,” the “return” of Cain are comprehended in conjunction with this. Dostoevsky, remaining “with Christ” in the explanation of man, does not simplify his understanding of the anthropological problem: there are not only “people” who fill history with atrocities, but also Cain who always returns in the “wickedness” of the “wicked tribe” and returns, perhaps, to “ourselves.” Dostoevsky leads the reader to the “sixth” day of Creation (“apophaticism backwards”), illuminating his path both with the love of Christ and with his experience and knowledge of humanity. For Dostoevsky, the anthropological question remains open: not because of faith (“I would rather stay with Christ”), but because of historical facts and the modern understanding of man, where he appeared as “split,” as described in Raskolnikov’s article. The actualization of the ontological and anthropological problems of the novel reveals the opportunity to evaluate Crime and Punishment in the words of the Apostle Paul: “ written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”

Dialogue Between Christian Love and Pancasila Values According to Driyarkara

This article discusses Christian love and the essence of Pancasila values according to Driyarkara. This secondary research (desk research) uses a qualitative approach with Paul Ricoeur's hermeneutic analysis method. This research critically examines Driyarkara's writings regarding the Pancasila and the Christian Religion. Driyarkara reflected deeply on the essence of the Pancasila as being love for God. Driyarkara's findings regarding love as the essence of the Pancasila will be used as a starting point to explain the relationship between the Pancasila and Christian love. The synthesis of the dialogue between the two becomes the basis for explaining how to become a Pancasila Christian. This article finds several things. First, the point of convergence between Pancasila and Christian love lies in love itself. In the light of the church's faith, Christian love which comes from Christ is the soul, while love as the essence of the Pancasila is its embodiment in the life of the nation and state. Second, the implementation of the Pancasila by Christians is a manifestation of their duty to take part in Christ's mission in the world, namely to proclaim the Kingdom of God which is nothing other than the complete welfare of humans. The research concludes that for a Christian there is no other way to become a Pancasilaist than by truly being a Christian who fundamentally implements Christ's love for others.

Christian Love And Whitehead’s Poetic God

Whitehead uses the term God along two lines of thought: to make a typology of religion – i.e., a typology of how divinity is understood in each type of religion (Religion in the Making) – and to formulate his own philosophy in terms of metaphysics (Process and Reality). I propose a comparison between the concept of Christian Love and the meaning, in each of these two contexts, of the term God. In this way I want to investigate whether God, as he appears in Whitehead’s philosophy, maintains a relationship with the way divinity appears in Christianity, particularly when it is defined as Christian Love.

The Love of Christ in Husband - Wife relationships based on Ephesians 5:22 – 33 - Implications for Christian Families

The Bible contains important teachings about the mysterious relationship between Christ and the Church, as explained in Ephesians 5:22-33. This article highlights the deep relationship between Christ and the Church and has important implications for Christian families in the Church, where teaching about the Christian family especially from Ephesians 5:22–33 is only given or preached at the time of the marriage blessing, and even that is not explained well. So it can be said that the description of Ephesians 5: 22-33 is just a routine without meaning. In Ephesians 5:22-33 the apostle Paul uses the analogy of marriage to explain the relationship between Christ and His church. He compared the relationship between a husband and wife to the relationship that exists between Christ and the church. Just as a husband is the head of his wife, Christ is the head of the church. It emphasizes the surrender of the church to the authority of Christ and the love and sacrifice Christ gave to His church. This passage emphasizes even more the sacrificial love that husbands must have for their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her, husbands are also called to love their wives as Christ loves and cares for the Church. This underscores the importance of selflessness, grace and devotion in a Christian marriage by each of the spouses. Ephesians 5:22-33 moderates the patriarchal view of marriage, and it re-expresses the concepts of submission and leadership in a family. The wife should always submit to her husband's authority as she would to Jesus Christ. The husband needs to always exercise his authority with love and try to imitate Christ.