An obvious characteristic that indicates spiritual quality.
Readership: All;
Theme: IOIs and Vetting
Length: 1,100 words
Reading Time: 6 minutes
In our study of 2 Timothy 3:1-5 on Vetting (2023/10/17), we learned that the wicked are without natural affection (2 Timothy 3:3), among many other things. Conversely, one of the characteristics of a spiritually healthy woman is that she is naturally affectionate.
Natural affection stands out as being something important that would be easy to vet for, so I did a little study of this.
Scripture and Etymology
The Greek word stergeo / storgoi refers to the natural love that members of the same family have for each other. It also refers to the fondness of familiar faces or people who relate to each other in familiar ways. Attachment Style would be related to the latter definition.
The word storgoi doesn’t appear anywhere in the bible. However, a near synonym, philostorgos (φιλόστοργος), translated as tenderly loving or kindly affectionate, appears in Romans 12:10, in which the Apostle Paul urges believers to devote themselves towards extending brotherly love with esteem and honor towards fellow believers.
She’s naughty, but naturally affectionate! Apparently, natural affection is (or should be) such a common characteristic of all believers that there should be no occasion to refer to it at all, except when it is emphasized (e.g. philostorgos) or when it is NOT present in certain individuals who are without natural affection.
The Greek word used in 2 Timothy 3:3 is astorgoi (ἄστοργοι), meaning without natural affection. (The prefix a- means without + storgoi.) Similar synonyms would include, unsociable, unloving, and inhuman. The Greek word astorgoi is found in only one other place in the Bible — Romans 1:31, which is translated as “without understanding, untrustworthy, heartless / unfeeling, and unmerciful”. These two passages provide scathing descriptions of the spiritually depraved.
Romans 1:26-27 suggests that when natural affection is absent, then it is replaced by UNnatural affections, e.g. shameful lusts and perverse relations. It stands to reason that if natural affection is absent in a woman, then she’s either burned herself out on the carousel, or she’s hiding some skeletons in the closet. A history of enduring physical abuse might also do this.
Also, Proverbs 11:22 says a beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout. This apparently puts the onus on women to draw boundaries in regards to the display of natural affection.
The Central Importance of Natural Affection
Couples should marry because of their natural affection for each other (1 Corinthians 7:9). They should also marry in order to retain their natural affection for one another. A stable family provides the proper environment, backed by gentle authority and loving support, in which natural affection can be displayed without fear of impropriety or prejudice. Furthermore, parents’ display of natural affection encourages the children to treat others with interest and respect.
OTOH, if that natural affection is gone, any pressure to persuade people to marry would be disastrous, as we learned from 2 Timothy 3:3. Women who are without natural affection are not attentive to the small gestures of love that express care and compassion. They have lost their instinctive love for their own parents, husband, and children. In the worst cases, we see the callousness that is required for promiscuity, the k!ll!ng of children (abortion), and withholding sex from a husband.
The idea of showing natural affection seems ridiculous to a conceited woman. The Ressentimentalization of Natural Affection
These days, we only see natural affection being displayed among freewheeling youths or at parties involving alcohol. Sexual promiscuity is assumed in both contexts and this essentially poisons the well by creating a psychological association of natural affection with fornication. Outside of these settings, natural affection is considered embarrassing, unprofessional, or even “toxic” because of this association. For example, everyone (except the tabloids) looked the other way when August Alsina was feeling up Will Smith‘s wife. But Val Bure’s Dominant Manhandling Incident was considered profane because the context is between a married couple and is therefore NOT illicit.
In popular culture, the display of natural affection is often portrayed as proletariat horsing around — something only “low class” individuals engage in. Worse, it is reframed as the identifying social dynamics of cronyism and sectarianism (e.g. “Whytә Suprәm!cy”), and not seen as an indicator of the humility, openness, and trust that it is.
“It is an easy trick of propaganda to portray all natural affections in the dark colors of prejudice.”
Thomas Fleming
This is an index of how far the West has fallen.
Between the sexes, natural affection can be easily misconstrued as harassment. Men are unlikely to draw this conclusion, but insecure women with a vendetta will latch on to this. Also, younger women who didn’t experience any natural affection in their families of origin are more likely to “get the feeelz” from a man who is comfortable in being kind and naturally affectionate, and then jump to the conclusion that he is coming on to her (which may or may not be true). Then all kinds of crazy ideas run through her head. HR investigations, MәT00 accusations, and police reports follow.
Another index of how far the West has fallen.
Conclusions
Christian men should exercise natural affection towards other believers within one’s sphere of influence as St. Paul urged in Romans 12:10. However, the conditions in italics must be heavily emphasized. In a secular setting, men need to be especially circumspect, discerning, and self-controlled because of the high risk of being misunderstood. Considering how RP lore has identified aloof detachment as an attractive trait (to non-Christian women), it may be best if men limited their display of natural affection to other well trusted men. OTOH, displaying natural affection may be a trait that would attract a Christian woman.
Men should take notice of women displaying natural affection, especially with her family or peer group. If it is extended to a single man, it could be interpreted as an IOI, but further observation is necessary to determine if it is truly an IOI, or if she is just being friendly. It can be safely assumed that women who display natural affection (who do not also have the other indicators of depravity given in the previous post), are more healthy individuals who are more likely to come from a healthy family. Therefore, young women who are naturally emotional, open-minded, and touchy-feely are likely to make better wives, mothers, and lovers.
Related
- Σ Frame: Tracking Raw Sex Performance on a Spread Sheet (2022/1/19)
- Σ Frame (Red Pill Apostle): Denying sex to one’s spouse is porneia. (2022/1/26)
- Σ Frame: Ressentiment, Shame, and Accusation within Progressive Identity Politics (2022/6/20)
- Σ Frame: Ressentiment within Feminism has become a Generational Curse (2022/6/24)
- Σ Frame: The Wages of Sin are Paid in Marriage (2022/10/15)
- Σ Frame: Christian Detachment (2023/1/30)
