In Japan, the traditional sects:
Pure Land/Nichiren/Zen Buddhism dwindle
and new ones faithful to Buddhist teachings
try to humanize Japanese culture
alienated by technology and debilitating wealth
in Japan, like many countries and religions
hierarchy dominates and is a dirty word for many
but both oppressive/dominator/political
and growth/actualization/psychological hierarchies
exist – and the latter serve us
by showing us the road to human development
in ancient Greece, even love had (age-related) hierarchies:
philia – the bond of family and friends when you are young
eros – the bond of lovers when you are adult
storge – the bond of empathy when you are broken by life
agape – the bond of God-love when you finally surrender
the supreme love – the love of God
was preceded for Augustine by the “love of wisdom” –
“philo-sophia” or “philosophy” which he discovered
thru the Roman philosopher Cicero’s book Hortentius –
love of wisdom turned Augustine away from his sinful life
and toward God
philia is love expressed in family and community –
brotherly/sisterly/communal love –
eros is love longing to be one with the other
storge is love feeling what the other feels
agape is love repaying evil with good
agape loves those broken/rejected/marginalized
but according to Carl Jung agape begins with self-knowledge –
a religious undertaking because it involves
getting to know your shadow – all the rejected/lost parts of your soul –
embracing your shadow is the main path to healing
and to the unconditional love of God – how can you believe
God unconditionally loves you
if you don’t unconditionally love yourself?
Spinoza, a philosopher, agrees with Erich Fromm, a psychologist:
proper love of the soul/self-love/self-affirmation/courage
and proper love of others and God are all interdependent
and so all loves are part of each other – all loves are one.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 