The Library of Babel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
libraryofbabel) wrote2021-08-27 01:38 am
libraryofbabel) wrote2021-08-27 01:38 am
Agape
Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to unconditional love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God". The word is not to be confused with philia, brotherly love, or philautia, self-love, as it embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others. The noun form first occurs in the Septuagint, but the verb form goes as far back as Homer, translated literally as affection, as in "greet with affection" and "show affection for the dead". Other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to eros (an affection of a sexual nature).
Within Christianity, agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for humankind. In the New Testament, it refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one's fellow human beings. Some contemporary writers have sought to extend the use of agape into non-religious contexts.
Miaoshan Du first felt she understood agape in her childhood, as she dutifully studied the holy texts (see "Early Childhood Education in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom"), but at that time it was a purely academic understanding, and a basic one, at that.
It was well into her third decade when she felt she had grasped it better at last. Having seen suffering, suffered much, and inflicted great suffering, she found that she did not wish to abandon the world, though her soul ached for the burden it carried. Rather, she made her new purpose to improve the world by whatever means she could—by encouraging others to choose kindness, and by eliminating what unnatural monsters walked the earth.
She even found in herself compassion for some vampires outside her Order that she felt cared for the world on their own terms; however, she was long conflicted about this, as on multiple occasions needing to operate within vampiric society to influence those individuals tied her hands in the pursuit of justice.
It is worth noting that the definition of "love" can vary from person to person. In the case of Miaoshan Du, she has always felt that agape means giving care, dignity, and respect to all others. It is also her philosophy that respect means that others are free to make their own choices, but are not free from the consequences of their actions.
Within Christianity, agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for humankind. In the New Testament, it refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one's fellow human beings. Some contemporary writers have sought to extend the use of agape into non-religious contexts.
Miaoshan Du first felt she understood agape in her childhood, as she dutifully studied the holy texts (see "Early Childhood Education in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom"), but at that time it was a purely academic understanding, and a basic one, at that.
It was well into her third decade when she felt she had grasped it better at last. Having seen suffering, suffered much, and inflicted great suffering, she found that she did not wish to abandon the world, though her soul ached for the burden it carried. Rather, she made her new purpose to improve the world by whatever means she could—by encouraging others to choose kindness, and by eliminating what unnatural monsters walked the earth.
She even found in herself compassion for some vampires outside her Order that she felt cared for the world on their own terms; however, she was long conflicted about this, as on multiple occasions needing to operate within vampiric society to influence those individuals tied her hands in the pursuit of justice.
It is worth noting that the definition of "love" can vary from person to person. In the case of Miaoshan Du, she has always felt that agape means giving care, dignity, and respect to all others. It is also her philosophy that respect means that others are free to make their own choices, but are not free from the consequences of their actions.