My longsuffering husband would probably say ‘Yes!’ Accompanying me in a swim to an island near Cape Tribulation, would be a standout example. ‘Our landlord knows if there are crocs around’, was my rationale. Against his better judgement, David came, hoping to protect me. The ancient Greeks would have nodded sagely, their worst fears confirmed: this Eros love is dangerous!

The Greeks had many words for love, because of its different forms. Afraid of Eros (romantic love), they preferred other types. Eros would hopefully lead to Pragma in long term couple relationships. A mature love formed by deep understanding, Pragma is willing to make compromises to make the relationship work. An attitude of wanting to give love, rather than be the recipient, is at its core.

Philia is the deep love of friends, based in loyalty, sacrifice and sharing of emotions. Storge is used to describe the safe, understanding love of a parent for their child. Philautia is self-love of two varieties, with very different outcomes. Narcissistic Philautia has an obsessive focus on self and its acquisitions. The preferable Philautia cares enough for itself to be physically healthy and emotionally stable, enabling it to love others well too.

I think David’s love for me when ‘swimming with crocs’ was the highest form of love, Agape, described by C.S. Lewis as ‘gift love’. It is selfless and freely offered to everyone, including strangers. Christians regard it as the highest form of love, extended by God to us, and for us to emulate. Agape is the word used in the popular biblical wedding passage 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a (NRSV)

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
​
And, yes, that kind of love can be dangerous. Please share it around anyway.

 
那長期受我折磨的丈夫可能會說‘是的！’ 他陪我在Cape Tribulation (Queensland東北岬角的熱帶雨林渡假地）附近游泳前往一個小島，便是一個突出例子。‘那房東地主應知到有沒有鱷魚出沒的’是我的理由根據。大衛竟然不顧一切地上前，希望為我護航。那些古希臘賢者當然會意地點頭，他們的最壞恐懼落實了：這樣的Eros浪漫式的愛是危險的！
 
古希臘人有很多愛的字眼，因為它具不同的形式。為了避免Eros（浪漫式的愛）他們寧願選取其他形式的。Eros浪漫式的愛最好導致夫妻關係的pragma犧牲方式的愛。那由於深切認識而成熟的愛，pragma犧牲方式的愛是願意退讓使那關係完成的。其核心為寧願付予而不求接受。
 
Philia友愛是朋友間的深愛，基於忠誠、犧牲和情感的共享。Storge慈愛是父母付予子女安全和信賴的愛。Philautia自愛是具兩類不同效果的愛護自己。Narcissistic Philautia 自戀狂具變態的只為自我及其所得。可取的Philautia自愛管好自己的身心建康，兼及愛護他人。
 
我認為大衛對我的愛，見於他‘與鱷魚同游’是最高層的愛，那Agape奉獻式的愛，C.S. Lewis（名作家）形容為‘賜與的愛’。這類愛是無私的，任何人都可以領受，包括陌生者。基督徒認為它是最高境界的愛，由上神賜予我們而讓我們爭取的。Agape奉獻式的愛是婚禮中引用聖經的常用字眼， 哥林多前書第13章第4至第8a節 (NRSV)：
 
‘愛是忍耐，也是仁慈。愛是不嫉妒、不自誇、不傲慢’不粗野。愛是不求自己的利益，不輕易發怒，不記住自己受到傷害。愛不以不公正的是為樂，只為真理得勝而歡喜。愛永不方棄，永不失去信心，而是常存盼望， 在任何情況下都能堅忍到底。’
 
是的，那類愛可能是危險的。雖然如此請廣傳他人。
 
.......................................................................................................................................
 
爱是否危险的？  （译自Karen牧师的“Is Love Dangerous?")
 
那长期受我折磨的丈夫可能会说‘是的！’ 他陪我在Cape Tribulation (Queensland东北岬角的热带雨林渡假地）附近游泳前往一个小岛，便是一个突出例子。‘那房东地主应知到有没有鳄鱼出没的’是我的理由根据。大卫竟然不顾一切地上前，希望为我护航。那些古希腊贤者当然会意地点头，他们的最坏恐惧落实了∶这样的Eros浪漫式的爱是危险的！
 
古希腊人有很多爱的字眼，因为它具不同的形式。为了避免Eros（浪漫式的爱）他们宁愿选取其他形式的。Eros浪漫式的爱最好导致夫妻关系的pragma牺牲方式的爱。那由于深切认识而成熟的爱，pragma牺牲方式的爱是愿意退让使那关系完成的。其核心为宁愿付予而不求接受。
 
Philia友爱是朋友间的深爱，基于忠诚丶牺牲和情感的共享。Storge慈爱是父母付予子女安全和信赖的爱。Philautia自爱是具两类不同效果的爱护自己。Narcissistic Philautia 自恋狂具变态的只为自我及其所得。可取的Philautia自爱管好自己的身心建康，兼及爱护他人。
 
我认为大卫对我的爱，见于他‘与鳄鱼同游’是最高层的爱，那Agape奉献式的爱，C.S. Lewis（名作家）形容为‘赐与的爱’。这类爱是无私的，任何人都可以领受，包括陌生者。基督徒认为它是最高境界的爱，由上神赐予我们而让我们争取的。Agape奉献式的爱是婚礼中引用圣经的常用字眼， 哥林多前书第13章第4至第8a节 (NRSV)∶
 
‘爱是忍耐，也是仁慈。爱是不嫉妒丶不自夸丶不傲慢’不粗野。爱是不求自己的利益，不轻易发怒，不记住自己受到伤害。爱不以不公正的是为乐，只为真理得胜而欢喜。爱永不方弃，永不失去信心，而是常存盼望， 在任何情况下都能坚忍到底。’
 
是的，那类爱可能是危险的。虽然如此请广传他人。