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Friendship: The Heart of Being Human
In this vibrant theological reflection on the meaning of friendship, experienced pastor and leading Christian ethicist Victor Lee Austin argues that friendship is the medium through which God shares grace with his creatures. Mixing personal reflection and theological commentary, Austin provides a fresh reading of classical writers and biblical texts; shows how a robust theology of friendship addresses contemporary controversies in the areas of marriage, celibacy, and homosexuality; and draws on cultural examples of the desire for true friendship. Ultimately, Austin helps readers understand the strange yet real possibility of friendship with God.
About the Series
Pastors are called to help people navigate the profound mysteries of being human, from birth to death and everything in between. This series, edited by leading pastoral theologian Jason Byassee, provides pastors and pastors-in-training with rich theological reflection on the various seasons that make up a human life, helping them minister with greater wisdom and joy.
About the Series
Pastors are called to help people navigate the profound mysteries of being human, from birth to death and everything in between. This series, edited by leading pastoral theologian Jason Byassee, provides pastors and pastors-in-training with rich theological reflection on the various seasons that make up a human life, helping them minister with greater wisdom and joy.
- GenresTheology
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2020
3 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 14, 2020
3.5 stars, rounded up
This book elevates friendship as the definitive human relationship experience. Victor Lee Austin pushes back against common secular and Christian assumptions about human nature, arguing that even though sexual love is deeply important, it is not essential for life and happiness, while friendship is central to our humanity. He encourages Christians to prioritize friendship instead of exclusively emphasizing marriage as the path to connection and joy, and he also writes about friendship within the Trinity, and about being friends with God.
Friendship: The Heart of Being Human is part of an academic series for pastors, but because Austin writes in a warm, engaging, and personal style, this book can appeal to a broader audience. Nothing about the text is specific to pastors, and it never reads like a dry or detached treatise. Austin’s work encourages readers to see past cultural myths and engage with friendship at a deeper level, and I especially appreciated the chapters that explore literary examples of friendship and practical advice for maintaining friendships. However, I wish that Austin had addressed a wider range of practical concerns and delved deeper into controversial issues.
The synopsis and early parts of the book indicate that Austin will eventually engage with issues related to same-sex attraction and how celibate gay people can cultivate meaningful friendships, but he barely addresses these topics. He does not clearly communicate a position on why Christians should or should not affirm gay sexual relationships, and even though he writes about the importance of the church prioritizing friendships instead of making marriage essential to social acceptance, he does not address friendship dynamics for gay people in any detail. It seems odd to me that he would address this controversial topic at all, since he does not share an in-depth perspective on this aspect of sexuality or provide practical advice for gay readers.
Also, he does not address in general how people can maintain healthy friendships with people to whom they might otherwise be attracted. For example, even though he de-prioritizes marriage as the only relationship that matters, he does not offer a perspective on how married couples can set healthy boundaries while also pursuing same-sex and cross-gender friendships. I understand that this is primarily a theological work, not a practical guide, but because the book’s description promises engagement with current controversies, it disappointed me to see how many core issues Austin did not address.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book elevates friendship as the definitive human relationship experience. Victor Lee Austin pushes back against common secular and Christian assumptions about human nature, arguing that even though sexual love is deeply important, it is not essential for life and happiness, while friendship is central to our humanity. He encourages Christians to prioritize friendship instead of exclusively emphasizing marriage as the path to connection and joy, and he also writes about friendship within the Trinity, and about being friends with God.
Friendship: The Heart of Being Human is part of an academic series for pastors, but because Austin writes in a warm, engaging, and personal style, this book can appeal to a broader audience. Nothing about the text is specific to pastors, and it never reads like a dry or detached treatise. Austin’s work encourages readers to see past cultural myths and engage with friendship at a deeper level, and I especially appreciated the chapters that explore literary examples of friendship and practical advice for maintaining friendships. However, I wish that Austin had addressed a wider range of practical concerns and delved deeper into controversial issues.
The synopsis and early parts of the book indicate that Austin will eventually engage with issues related to same-sex attraction and how celibate gay people can cultivate meaningful friendships, but he barely addresses these topics. He does not clearly communicate a position on why Christians should or should not affirm gay sexual relationships, and even though he writes about the importance of the church prioritizing friendships instead of making marriage essential to social acceptance, he does not address friendship dynamics for gay people in any detail. It seems odd to me that he would address this controversial topic at all, since he does not share an in-depth perspective on this aspect of sexuality or provide practical advice for gay readers.
Also, he does not address in general how people can maintain healthy friendships with people to whom they might otherwise be attracted. For example, even though he de-prioritizes marriage as the only relationship that matters, he does not offer a perspective on how married couples can set healthy boundaries while also pursuing same-sex and cross-gender friendships. I understand that this is primarily a theological work, not a practical guide, but because the book’s description promises engagement with current controversies, it disappointed me to see how many core issues Austin did not address.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2021
What a splendid book this is! Although the cover proclaims it to be part of a 'Pastoring for Life' series, this volume is simply too good to reserve to the clerical/ordained folks among us; members of the laity, too, need to partake of its insights! Drawing from a wide variety of sources -- classical (Aristotle, Cicero, Aelred), biblical (the story of Jonathan and David, Job and his comforters), and the more contemporary (Mark Twain, the film 'Lost in Translation,' the Harry Potter books) -- the author lays out the elements of friendship and how it operates in our lives. Curiously, Austin maintains that friendship, not marriage, is the ultimate goal of human interaction, and he makes a sound case, debunking the widely-held view that the relationship between Jonathan and David is a picture of the ideal friendship -- pointing, instead, to Job. There is, of course, much theology -- but it is discussed in a non-technical way that Christians of all walks of life can understand and appreciate. Highly recommended!
November 6, 2024
Friendship with God has been a priority of the Bible. Not only with God but with each other. We were not meant to be alone. God is always there. He sends us friends so we are not alone. We have to listen to God. This can be a hard thing as it is not always what we want to hear.
This is a very educational book and well worth reading. It has many insights that are good to consider. It helps us to value friendship. I know that I value friendship more after reading this book. I hope it will do more for other readers.
This is a very educational book and well worth reading. It has many insights that are good to consider. It helps us to value friendship. I know that I value friendship more after reading this book. I hope it will do more for other readers.
November 2, 2021
New favourite book on friendship. Will need to review properly
August 1, 2023
I highly recommend this theological and practical exploration of the importance of friendship.
January 1, 2025
Theological, practical, and pastoral.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews