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Sex, Time, and Meaning: A Theology of Dating
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2014
Abstract
Our paper sets the groundwork for a Christian theology of dating. We begin with a critique of the religious and secular sources on dating. We next turn to theological works on friendship, marriage, and feminist spirituality to distill issues that we deem important for a positive Christian theology of dating. Because dating differs from these perspectives—it is both temporary (as opposed to marriage) and sexual (as opposed to friendship)—we conclude by offering a two-tiered perspective on dating. On the first level, we offer a narrative: two people are each on a separate journey, they encounter each other, their journeys become intertwined and are forever changed from the meeting even if they do not remain together. On the second level, we sublate the narrative by locating it within the broader Christian gospel.
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References
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