On Augustine's Friendship

Friendship is a virtue which is closely associated with community. Since the beginning of classical philosophy, friendship has been seen as closely related to political and ethical themes. Model in classical philosophy, the friendship was given a political commitment to quality from the beginning in order to maintain the internal stability of the ethical community ties. If it is said that in the classical philosophy of friendship eventually developed into a focus of individuals attention , concerned about their own and do what they can, Therefore, the friendship eventually developed into a self-love, friendship and thus unable to assume the political role of the community. Well, the times to the Christian faith as a Christian fraternity, Augustine breakthrough concept of the pioneers of the personal friendship and the narrow personal understanding, friendship and grace will be linked, so that people recognized a friendship into a classic exposition of the grace of friendship , followers of the Holy Spirit to enter the bridge.Augustine's understanding of the fraternity has a unique perspective, he stood by "the relationship between man and God" perspective into the reflections of the friendship, and in its conversion process to realize that the tension friendship - His understanding of the process of its conversion to the tension and affection, love can be perverted, "For Love"(Cupiditas), which would undermine the people's social relationships with God, love and longing can be a good God, this is the Church shows the relationship between the new community, which has made man and God has a real community - "City of God" was born."City of God", this kind of a new community has demonstrated a new form of relationship between "the human beings" and "man and God", which is by a "sacred love" (Caritas), it is possible for everyone of us to "be friend of God" through Christ, that is, the characteristics of friendship relations - based on the body of Christ. Through the love of Christ, love as a grace within the community has been apparent, the relationship between human beings has been the construction of the new - love God, love neighbors, love their own, these three kinds of love are able to reconcile with each other and access to the internal unity because of loving in God, the love of Christ in our brothers and sisters as much as possible in the implementation of love. This is also shown in the new Christian community relations. Community Christian is a love of leaning against the expansion of God's love of brothers and sisters, which makes the Christian community continue to love towards God, towards the well-being of the real perfect agreement.