Something to Think About

This important distinction has huge implications for male-female friendships in community:

"It is important at this time to make the distinction between the negative impact of individualism of excessive individualism found in Western culture versus the healthy role of individuation. Individuation is a valuable Western philosophical, psychological contribution which allows for the healthy and necessary differentiation of the individual from family/society/culture/people groups/nations. Individuation allows individuals to grow up and make their own decisions--not based soley upon the pressures of society."

Next Evangelicalism 

This is a vital distinction for the flourishing of healthy relationships between communities, leadership, and male-female friendships in churches. Ideally, there is a mature, healthy tension in between the individual, community, and leadership or else the community suffers from shallow conformity instead of a robust, deep consensus in leadership honoring individuals while seeking oneness in community.  There is no deep oneness in community if there is no deep honoring of individuation.

Comments

[Sheila]

Absolutely!!!

[Maria Kirby]

Amen. It is important for those in communities to choose their communities/ their identities. Otherwise, the communities have no integrity, morality, and end up like lemmings with a strong charismatic leader. I don't know how an individual makes an effective choice without individuation.

[rob culhane]

I couldn't help but notice that words like 'chose' and 'individual' are classic icons cherished by the Christians who live in the United States of America (which we call in Australia, "The Land of the Free" in parody of the actual situation of what occurs in American civil society. Please don't over-react to my criticism, but in other countries, a community is not something in which a bunch of individuals chose to get together and keep their individuality. They are invited in and made aware of the internal culture and rules. Individualism is a modern Western expression of narcissim, the Flesh to use Paul's terminology.

Bye, Rob