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Other: Loving Self, God and Neighbour in a World of Fractures
'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?'Jesus '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like "Love your neighbour as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.' Matthew 22:36-40Noisy neighbours, international terrorism, racism, teenage violence and religious fundamentalism ...from the personal to the local to the international and theological, it is our failure to engage 'the other' that is at the heart of so many of the problems we face. Beginning with Jesus' instruction to love God, and love our neighbour as we love ourselves, Brewin explores how we might better engage 'the other' within the Self, within God and within the worlds we inhabit.Drawing on Brewin's work as a theologian, poet and teacher this accessible and highly original work prompts us to reconsider the key question of 'what kind of selves do we need to be in order to live in harmony with others?'
256 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 28, 2010
on page 175 Kester Brewin states what Other is all about:
In a sense then this book is simply a plea to see Jesus' summary of the law (Love God, Love People, Love the Self) as a new form of development practice, one that sees the face of the other as its sacred text.
Love God. Love Others. Love the self. that's it. simple isn't it? perhaps not...
Brewin's writing style kept me coming back to this book. admittedly there were times when i had to put the book down. at times i felt as though i was reading the words but not initially comprehending what i was reading. none the less i couldn't stop thinking about my relationship with the 'other.'
i think this book has made me more self aware, aware of God and (hopefully) aware of the 'other'. defining who is the 'other' in my present surroundings is my current dilemma. but i think my eyes are being opened more. perhaps some 'others' have already crossed my path. did i attribute conversations or assistance as God given, ordained times to be love? perhaps not always.
some of my favorite sections of this book dealt with 'embracing transcendence and immanence'; 'embracing the stranger and the dangerous place'; 'temporality'; 'losing our lives'; etc.
part four titled Loving the other in praxis was brilliant and practical. how do we practice loving the other? there is enough talking about it... enough theology... what about action? these sections in part four were highlights: Engaging the other within the self; Engaging the other within our faith; and Engaging the other within our communities.
kester brewin might be wrong. as he states on a blank page before the table of contents. but he might be right, too. this quote on page 133 sums it all up: "We will, in other words, begin to love the other when we love ourselves enough to allow God - who is love - to lead us." i think he's right.
L
Jesus states the greatest commandment in Matthew 22. (Love God. Love Others. Love the Self). Brewin tackles this commandment with grace - looking deeply into all three. (frankly - as many times as i've read that commandment, even studied that commandment, i've never focused on the 'love self' part) Brewin paints a picture where all three intersect in harmony. now i am beginning to see how that might play out in my life. As the back of the book states: what kind of selves do we need to be in order to live in harmony with others?
Brewin's Other is making me think... i wonder how long i can chew on his words before i either live them out or forget. i'm hoping i'll remember. i'm hoping this book continues to stick with me.
In a sense then this book is simply a plea to see Jesus' summary of the law (Love God, Love People, Love the Self) as a new form of development practice, one that sees the face of the other as its sacred text.
Love God. Love Others. Love the self. that's it. simple isn't it? perhaps not...
Brewin's writing style kept me coming back to this book. admittedly there were times when i had to put the book down. at times i felt as though i was reading the words but not initially comprehending what i was reading. none the less i couldn't stop thinking about my relationship with the 'other.'
i think this book has made me more self aware, aware of God and (hopefully) aware of the 'other'. defining who is the 'other' in my present surroundings is my current dilemma. but i think my eyes are being opened more. perhaps some 'others' have already crossed my path. did i attribute conversations or assistance as God given, ordained times to be love? perhaps not always.
some of my favorite sections of this book dealt with 'embracing transcendence and immanence'; 'embracing the stranger and the dangerous place'; 'temporality'; 'losing our lives'; etc.
part four titled Loving the other in praxis was brilliant and practical. how do we practice loving the other? there is enough talking about it... enough theology... what about action? these sections in part four were highlights: Engaging the other within the self; Engaging the other within our faith; and Engaging the other within our communities.
kester brewin might be wrong. as he states on a blank page before the table of contents. but he might be right, too. this quote on page 133 sums it all up: "We will, in other words, begin to love the other when we love ourselves enough to allow God - who is love - to lead us." i think he's right.
L
Jesus states the greatest commandment in Matthew 22. (Love God. Love Others. Love the Self). Brewin tackles this commandment with grace - looking deeply into all three. (frankly - as many times as i've read that commandment, even studied that commandment, i've never focused on the 'love self' part) Brewin paints a picture where all three intersect in harmony. now i am beginning to see how that might play out in my life. As the back of the book states: what kind of selves do we need to be in order to live in harmony with others?
Brewin's Other is making me think... i wonder how long i can chew on his words before i either live them out or forget. i'm hoping i'll remember. i'm hoping this book continues to stick with me.
February 1, 2020
“God is love. But God does not simply crave our love. God’s craving is trinity: that we might love ourselves, and God and our neighbors equally.”
This book is a beautiful look at Jesus’ answer to the question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Brewin looks practically at how to love oneself, God, and others today in a way that feels modern and compassionate and oriented around true love and social justice.
This book is a beautiful look at Jesus’ answer to the question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Brewin looks practically at how to love oneself, God, and others today in a way that feels modern and compassionate and oriented around true love and social justice.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews