I pretty much agree with all of this. For better and worse. :-/
I've heard it said that Jesus' injunction to "love thy neighbor" was intended to combat the near/out/far distinction: that neighbors were the ones in potential competition with oneself, but of course a stranger could be treated with hospitality because they weren't a threat. …
I pretty much agree with all of this. For better and worse. :-/
I've heard it said that Jesus' injunction to "love thy neighbor" was intended to combat the near/out/far distinction: that neighbors were the ones in potential competition with oneself, but of course a stranger could be treated with hospitality because they weren't a threat. I don't know how plausible this was for Judaic society circa 30 AD - it certainly wouldn't match the earlier story of Sodom and Gomorrah - but AFAIK it does seem to describe Bedouin Arab society circa 1900, and some other societies I can think of.
I pretty much agree with all of this. For better and worse. :-/
I've heard it said that Jesus' injunction to "love thy neighbor" was intended to combat the near/out/far distinction: that neighbors were the ones in potential competition with oneself, but of course a stranger could be treated with hospitality because they weren't a threat. I don't know how plausible this was for Judaic society circa 30 AD - it certainly wouldn't match the earlier story of Sodom and Gomorrah - but AFAIK it does seem to describe Bedouin Arab society circa 1900, and some other societies I can think of.