I had expected one of those Pauling tirades against unnatural acts, then I looked up 1 Corinthians 13 (Douay-Rheims):
[1] If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [4] Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; [5] Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. [10] But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. [12] We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known. [13] And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
It is a BEAUTIFUL passage. It is one of the last I would have tagged for being problematic (especially compared to someo f the other stuff in Corinthians, not to mention law books in the OT!)
So are we to reject charity (caritas, sometimes rendered “love”)? Are we to embrace iniquity? Cling to childhood?
Amazing.
Greek, agape (Catholic translations tend to render this as charity, which is not a bad way to do it, Christian love indeed is “charitable,” but it also tends to encourage confusion with what we call charities today).
One problem is that the world often tends to encourage the polar opposite. Have at least a mean streak, even if you do avoid being a total jerk.