I was thinking about why we have relationships and about scripture. God made Eve after saying it is not good for man to be alone. We have stories of David and Jonathan as friends. In the NT, commandments are summarized as love God and love neighbor. Although things like marriage are not obligatory (as Paul affirmed in his epistles), but perhaps friendships or at least some sort of relationships are not merely a mental health and emotional thing, but also a moral obligation?
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Moral obligation to a relationship with others?
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Heb. 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
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I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist
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Good verse to quote for Anastasia's question OBP.3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures --1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (borrowed with gratitude from 37818's sig)
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Originally posted by Anastasia Dragule View PostCan we say it is permissible to do this for a time? What then can we make of the desert fathers? Did they not isolate themselves?Veritas vos Liberabit<>< Learn Greek <>< Look here for an Orthodox Church in America<><Ancient Faith Radio
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I recommend you do not try too hard and ...research as little as possible. Such weighty things give me a headache. - Shunyadragon, Baha'i apologist
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Originally posted by Anastasia Dragule View PostCan we say it is permissible to do this for a time? What then can we make of the desert fathers? Did they not isolate themselves?אָכֵ֕ן אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל מִסְתַּתֵּ֑ר אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃
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As anthropologists have concluded, in the world of the Bible and in most cultures throughout history, the vast majority of people lived in community. They literally did not know what to think of themselves without people telling them (consider Jesus' question, "Who do men say that I am?"). The Bible is permeated with the idea (both implicitly and explicitly) of living for others and putting yourself at their disposal.
Also, friendships and more casual relationships do more than just benefit society. In a normally functioning human, you must have them (some more than others) for proper emotional health. Even as an introvert who's fine and dandy being by myself, I couldn't be a hermit.
Basically what I'm saying is that God has hard-coded in the fabric of reality the objective need for community. Even within the Godhead, there has always been the give and take of love between each member of the Trinity.
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Originally posted by Sparrow View PostMy (EO) pastor once mentioned a term used for the Trinity, or someone's description of the Trinity, which referred to it as a "circle dance": an eternal, perpetual movement of love among the three persons of the Trinity. I wish I could recall what he said more specifically, but it was a charming concept. We as human beings are called to become like that.
---Seneca, about why the image of the Three Graces (divine maidens in Greco-Roman thought) are always seen dancing in a ringLast edited by Manwë Súlimo; 05-31-2014, 10:32 PM.
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Well, it's kinda funny you brought that up because it's related to the sociology angle my original post was about. I found that quote from David DeSilva's "Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity" who talks about this kind of thing - how the Biblical world was all about living in community and exuding grace, etc.
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Originally posted by Sparrow View PostI wish I could recall what he said more specifically, but it was a charming concept. We as human beings are called to become like that.
TL;DR Loving one another and being in community fulfills us as human beings and is life-giving. Also, it's impossible to love God without loving others.
Perichoresis?Last edited by footwasher; 06-01-2014, 12:38 PM.
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I think friendship is one of God's many gifts to us. While there are risks; the rewards are great. And I am in no way downplaying the risks--betrayal, rejection, disappointment, death, etc. The dark side of friendship and all relationships is that often those who can hurt us the most are those closest to us. And this applies not only to being hurt by them, but also to feeling pain because they are being hurt.
And yet--life is just so much more with friends to share it with than alone.
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