In this short paper, I argue that while current ressourcement of Maximus
the Confessor's thought on cosmology, divine ideas and participation is
insightful, a focus on his unique vision of love has the potential to
give timely and needed critique and understanding of the nationalist,
ethnocentric and violent environments in which many Christian
communities currently find themselves. Maximus' understanding and
articulation of the sources and dynamics of love place such difficulties
within the realm of untamed desire and casts them as difficult to
maintain given the nature of God and humanity. In fact, his entire
understanding of the incarnation is framed around his understand of how
the incarnate Son fights a paradoxical war of love. Within my argument I
explain these sources and dynamics and investigate how Maximus' own
background gave him singular perspective on the intercourse between
politics, faith and ethnicity. Finally, I explore ways his vision of
love challenges complacent responses of charity with Christian
communities in the aforementioned environments.
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