‘Greet one another with a holy kiss.’ This is the advice of the New Testament time and again. Perhaps the following analyses of kisses (to which I was pointed by David Wayne) will help you fulfil this command.
According to Cynthia Nielson, the following are useful categories of kiss:
- Aristotelian kiss. A kiss performed using techniques gained solely from theoretical speculation untainted by any experiential data by one who feels that the latter is irrelevant anyway.
- Hegelian kiss. Dialiptical technique in which the kiss incorporates its own antithikiss, forming a synthekiss.
- Cartesian kiss. A particularly well-planned and coordinated movement: “I think, therefore, I aim.” In general, a kiss does not count as Cartesian unless it is applied with enough force to remove all doubt that one has been kissed. (cf. Polar kiss, a more well-rounded movement involving greater nose-to-nose contact, but colder overall.)
Ben Myers responded with some slightly more theological kisses:
- Luther: If the Word of God tells me to kiss, then I will kiss—and let the pope, the world and the devil be damned!
- Karl Barth: “I kiss you.” There are three related problems to consider here. I kiss you. I kiss you. I kiss you.
- N. T. Wright: Every kiss is a dramatic enactment of our return from exile.
- Billy Graham: Will you walk down the aisle and kiss me tonight? Will you do it tonight? You many never have another chance—you might be dead tomorrow!
Do visit the linked sites; there are even more kisses there for your osculation.
September 11th, 2006 at 12.59 am
I did not understand the K. Barth one until I visited the linked website. The differents words need to be italicised: I kiss you. I kissyou. I kiss you.
September 12th, 2006 at 2.18 pm
Many thanks for letting me know. It does vitiate the joke, doesn’t it?
September 19th, 2006 at 5.05 pm
But they are italicised! – and I’m using the computer in an office belonging to the Church of England! If they’re italicised for me, surely they’re italicised for you?
Note that here there are three foundations: my own perception of the italicisation, which is real objectively as well as subjectively; the italicisation intended (and provided) by Daniel; and the perceptions of the third party.
September 19th, 2006 at 5.11 pm
Liam, I find only one thing wrong with your statement of the Anglican foundations of the post: you don’t allow for the possibility of change. After all, as someone has said, change means change of italics, sentences, ideas, posts.