Visions of Agapé

This book brings together philosophical and theological perspectives on agapistic love. The aim of the text is to illuminate the nature of unlimited love by distinct and integrative approaches to the intersection of the divine and the human. Various scientific approaches to human forms of love seem to shed light on our nature as social beings. But to what extent are the natural desires for affection, sexual love and friendship augmented, revised, perfected or replaced by the gift of grace? In other words, we can ask how is it that agapé modifies or shapes the natural loves? Diverse theological and moral traditions address the question in quite startling contrast. Thomists follow the dictum that 'Grace does not destroy nature but perfects it'. Lutherans draw a sharp contrast between law and Gospel while Wesleyans see charity as the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Some feminist theorists see the idea of self-giving love as contrary to genuine self-fulfilment while the neo-Kantians see love as a duty to others, and some Kierkegaardians see the command to love as an unusual manifestation of divine command ethics. These diverse approaches, in light of contemporary research in the natural and social sciences, can provide fertile ground for the exploration of the intersection of human and divine love. To date, there is no text available that brings scholars from various theological and philosophical backgrounds together to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue on this important and much neglected aspect of research into the human and divine loves. This book offers a significant attempt to remedy the situation.

Craig A. Boyd is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of Faith Integration at Azusa Pacific University, USA.

Contents: Introduction: perspectives on love and Agapé; The perichoretic nature of love: beyond the perfection model, Craig A. Boyd; Nature, grace and measuring Agapé: science, religion, and the 'flame of love', Stephen G. Post; The love of God the Father: Agapé and masculinity, Ruth Groenhout; Agapé and nonviolence, Nancey Murphy; Can love be commanded? Kierkergaard's view of neighbor love, C. Stephen Evans; Agapé, brokenness and theological realism in L'Arche, Kevin S. Reimer; God's love encountering human love: psychological perspectives informing (and informed by) theology, Alan C. Tjeltveit; That than which nothing more lovely can be conceived, F. LeRon Shults; A relational God and unlimited love, Thomas Jay Oord; Index.