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Sunday, 29 March 2015

Act Four

Exclusion and Embrace: Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation,
Miroslav Volf, Abingdon Press, 1996, page 144-145

Act Four in Volf's Drama of Embrace is opening the arms again. If theembrace is not to nullify itself, the arms must be opened to release the other, to allow the identities to move apart and stay distinct.

The other must be let go, finally, so that "the negotiation of difference", which can "never produce a final settlement", may be continued. (Walzer, 1994). The open arms that in the last act let the other go are the same open arms that in the first act signal a desire for the other's presence, create space in oneself, open up the boundary of self and issue an invitation for the other to return.

Once started, the completion of Volf's embrace cycle leaves the way open for another cycle - the movement is circular.

Posted By Jonathan, 8:00am Comment Comments: