The Gospel of Kindness

This article explores the psychological connections and ambiguities between kindness and desire. The negative effects of the tendency of Christian discourse to endorse charity and denigrate desire are explored, with particular emphasis on sexual desire. Examples are drawn from cases and research studies on homosexual desires and psychic impotence among married couples. The article continues with an appeal addressed specifically to Christians to address the divide between kindness and desire through concrete expressions of kindness that are reflective of real human desires and not, as is often the case, of its absence. It concludes with a specific appeal to pastoral theologians to embrace the kindness reflected in Jesus’ response to the implicit doubts reflected in John the Baptist’s query from prison, a response that recognized the validity of John’s own desires.