Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    How graceful are your feet in sandals,
    	O queenly maiden!
    Your rounded thighs are like jewels,
    	the work of a master hand.
    Your navel is like a rounded bowl
    	that never lacks mixed wine.
    Your belly is a heap of wheat,
    	encircled with lilies.
    Your two breasts are like two fawns,
    	twins of a gazelle.
    Your neck is like an ivory tower.
    Your eyes are pools in Heshbon,
    	by the gate of bath-rabbim.
    Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon,
    	overlooking Damascus.
    Your head crowns you like Carmel,
    	and your flowing locks are like purple;
    	a king is held captive in the tresses.
    
    How fair and pleasant you are,
    	O loved one, delectable maiden!
    You are stately as a palm tree 
    	and lay hold of its branches.
    Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
    	and the scent of your breath like apples,
    and your kisses like the best wine
    	that goes down smoothly,
    	gliding over lips and teeth.
    
    	-- Song of Songs 7:1-9 (NRSV)

    Eros is *powerful*.  It's biggest drawback, IMO, is that it depends
    on an accompanying feeling; a feeling that's often difficult to
    recapture.  Eros is sexual, but it is also _more_ than sexual.
    
    Peace
    Richard

    	If EROS is NOT more than sexuality then it is as fully expressed in
    laying with a prostitute or in rape as it is in laying with a loving
    spouse. Since I speak no Greek, I cannot distinguish the intent of the
    term in that language. Perhaps they have different words for laying
    with a loved one, "unemotional" animal lust, and sex for the power/hate
    of it ?  Have we a Greek scholar in our midst ?
    
    DaveM

    Nope Charlie,
    
    It's not just you -- it *is* getting warm in here... ;-)
    
    Eros is passion, creative energy.  Sexuality is only one aspect
    of Eros, perhaps the most powerful or impactful because human
    beings can procreate as a result.  However passion is not and has
    not always been expressed appropriately.  Passion -- Eros, or creative
    energy must be balanced with the energy of nurturance, gentleness, 
    and kindness.  Passion expressed with _compassion_ is love.  Eros in its
    highest form is just that - a balanced expression of compassionate
    passion.  The Song of Songs in .1 is a beautiful example of this.
    
    When people are taught that there is something bad or wrong about their
    bodies and sexuality, healthy Eros is repressed, yet it eventually comes 
    out in abusive, or harmful sexual activities that are totally lacking in
    compassion -- for others and for self.  
    
    Karen

re: Note 45.4 

Dave,

A nit...rape is not an act of sexuality, it is an act of violence.

Peace,

Jim

    re .6
    
    Yes, rape is a sexual act usually grounded in dominance, hatred and control.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    I feel eros for my spouse, and occassionally (confession time) others.
    I don't act upon the latter.  Neither do I dwell upon it.
    
    I do try to act out agape both with my spouse and with others.  I
    believe this to be what God requires, at least, in part.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    But Richard, when you work for peace, or justice for the poor, are you
    perhaps also expressing Eros?  Not sexual Eros, but an Eros of passion
    and involvement in life?  That is the broader definition of Eros that
    Plaskow and Fox seemed to be using in the passages I cited in the base
    note.
    
    -- Mike

    -- Mike,
    
    Had to read your basenote again.
    
    Yes, I suppose there is some degree of passion inherent in the vision
    and in mission.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

    Agape, Eros, and Philos all have feelings as part of them.  Jesus had a
    passion for Jerusalem as was seen in His tears for those people.  That 
    however, was not eros but it was both agape and philos.  You see all
    three words express feelings of passion, but they are the result of
    different reasons.  Agape would be a passion toward lost souls
    or toward those in need spiritually or physically.  
      Eros would be sexual passion for a person, and not a sexual desire
    only.  Passion and desire are not the same.  Philos would be a passion
    toward a family member or someone you look at as a family member.  You
    can have all three types of love toward one person.  In fact you should
    have all three types of love toward your mate.  Again I believe all
    three types indicate passion toward a person.
    
    
    
                                     Marshall
    

    I've been reading about Carl Jung, lately, and one of the things he
    observed was that, while most of the world's great religions (including
    Christianity) are based on the LOGOS principle, Islam is based on Eros.
    
    I'm not sure what he meant, but it's clearly more than sex.  
    
    DR

		Love is as powerful as death;
		  passion is a strong as death
		    itself.

		It bursts into flame
		  and burns like a raging fire.
		Water cannot put it out;
		  no flood can drown it.

		But if anyone tried to buy love
		    with his wealth,
		  contempt is all it would purchase.

				(Song of Songs 7:6b-7)