In Christianity, agape is the highest form of love, charity and “the love of God for man and of man for God”. This is in contrast to philia, brotherly love, or philautia (not Phil Autelitano), self-love, as it embraces a deep and profound sacrificial love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. (Wait for it.)
The verb form of agape goes as far back as Homer, translated literally as affection, as in “greet with affection” and “show affection for the dead”. Other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to eros, an affection of a sexual nature. (It’s coming.)
In the New Testament, agape refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God; the term necessarily extends to the love of one’s fellow human beings. Some contemporary writers have sought to extend the use of agape into non-religious contexts. (Almost there.)
For instance, the adjective agape is often used to describe a mouth open wide in wonder, surprise, or eagerness, or the stretched asshole of either a man or woman, or vaginal laxity in a woman, post-intercourse or post-penetration by penis, double-penis, fist, foot, sex toy, fruit, vegetable, or other device. (Boom.)
The concept of agape has been widely examined within its Christian context. It has also been considered in the contexts of other religions, religious ethics, science, and even the culinary arts where if you add in a load of semen peppered with pieces of dried fecal matter and toilet paper clinging to the hair around the anus, you have a Dingleberry Cream Pie, for the love of God, Amen. (Thought you had a friend, didn’t you?)
—PP
Contributor
Not Phil Italiano.
