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The Realm of Neighbors

[Under construction] The Realm of Neighbors encompasses all aspects of interaction between individual humans or within or between groups of humans in which no other authority structure is involved. Within this realm, agents are bound by their common humanity. The hierarchy in this realm is unique, in that each agent is constantly and equally subject to every other serving agent.

The Origin of the Realm of the Neighbor

Of course, the Realm of the Neighbor was created as soon as there were two human beings on the planet, which happened immediately with the creation of our first parents Adam & Eve. But considering that all human beings on the planet were closely related at first, the Realm of the Family masks the Neighbor relationship — at least in scripture — for a significant portion of the book of Genesis. The first explicit demonstration of the Realm of the Neighbor as itself can be found in the 21st chapter of Genesis, in which Abraham hashes out an agreement with his neighbor Abimelech concerning relations between them and their servants and the use of certain natural resources.

The Nature of the Realm of the Neighbor


Summary of relationships in the Realm of the Neighbor
  Rights Responsibilities
Neighbor To be treated by another person as that person would wish to be treated: with dignity, honesty & charity. To treat all other persons as one would wish to be treated: with dignity, honesty & charity.

The ruination of the Realm of the Neighbor

Just like its origin, the fall of the Realm of the Neighbor happened as soon as there were two fallen individuals in the world. As the number of fallen individuals increased, the worse they treated each other. Left to themselves, people treat each other horribly. Every man is prone to tell his neighbor lies, drain his existence of all dignity and meaning, and otherwise hate him.

God’s intervention in the Realm of the Neighbor

God in his grace hinders the hatred of each man for his neighbor by means of either direct action or other men and institutions ordained for just such a purpose. God relates to human beings with grace and truth, instilling in them the dignity of being made in his image. God sends his Holy Spirit to dwell in human beings. Within them, He speaks the truth to them in love, and instills in them the knowledge that they are made in God’s image and thus worthy of respect and trust.

The Redemption of the Realm of the Neighbor

Thus redeemed, neighbors are able to choose to love their neighbors, speak the truth to them in love, and treat them with the dignity that is the right of everyone that is made in the image of God. [Developing....]