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Book, Language of Eden

In which I need your help with opposites

Howdy gang!

I was brainstorming parts of a book proposal on a recent train trip and need some help.

You know I’m a taken with  “the language of Eden” and how it was supposed to be what flowed out of us, but instead we speak the language of Eden Lost.

In thinking of how we were supposed to speak and how we now speak, I’ve made a list of opposites. Do you think the opposites go together? And even if they go together, is there a better word or phrase that comes to mind?

Love …………… Fear (disconnection)

Faith ……………Disbelief (or disloyalty?)

Hope ……………Despair

Contentment …Discontentment

Unity……………Disunity

Blamelessly …..Blame

Belonging …….. Loneliness/isolation

Recreation……..Empty escape

Stewardship …..Living in extremes (hoarding or poverty)

************

Any I missed on my list? And as you can see, I need some help with the first two and any others that you can!

Thanks, Amy :)

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22 Comments April 12, 2013

About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. Sara says

    April 12, 2013 at 7:22 am

    Hey Amy, what about disengagement for the opposite of love? Or maybe even apathy? Those are both more on the disconnection side of things than fear, so maybe not exactly what you’re going for. Also, for recreation, maybe “empty escape” could be simplified down to “distraction”? That’s how I think of my own non-recreative attempts at recreation…

    Reply
  2. Susie says

    April 12, 2013 at 7:42 am

    Perhaps faith….distrust? And Joy….apathy/futility?

    Reply
  3. Kristi says

    April 12, 2013 at 7:46 am

    I know “perfect love casts out fear,” but maybe indifference for love? Maybe acceptance would be the opposite of fear? Indulgence also comes to mind for an opposite of recreation. You know you’re going to have me thinking about opposites all day. Hope you’re happy! haha :0)

    Reply
  4. Sarah Koci Scheilz says

    April 12, 2013 at 7:58 am

    peace . . . anxiety
    peace . . . stress
    trust . . . worry
    joy . . . depression
    celebration . . . grief
    pride/esteem . . . shame/embarrassment
    generosity . . . greed

    Hope these help :) Much love!

    Reply
  5. JoDee says

    April 12, 2013 at 7:59 am

    I’m thinking apathy for fear. Faith and unbelief, I think…I’m still thinking… :)

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    April 12, 2013 at 8:05 am

    Insecurity the opposite of love if you are thinking of it in the “being” sense. Feeling loved is knowing security, and showing love gives security. How about the opposite of faith is distrust? When we trust Him and other people we believe they are who they say they are and will do what they say they will do. Would you go all the way to covetousness as the opposite of contentment? It certainly seems inevitable, but it doesn’t start with a “D” :o)

    Reply
  7. Martha says

    April 12, 2013 at 8:11 am

    Great list to think about… what patterns am I following more?

    What about joy? I know “contentment” is on the list, but “joy” seems even more superlative. Maybe disgruntled or unsatisfied for its opposite?

    Ooh, and in honor of David (and the Macarena), what about dancing? Perhaps that’s stretching a bit too far, but I am sure that pre-fall Eve danced like no one was watching to praise the Father. Maybe rejoicing is really what I mean. I’m not sure how you would label its opposite… stubbed toe? :) Maybe shame?

    Reply
  8. Paula Phillips says

    April 12, 2013 at 8:18 am

    These came to mind immediately:
    Acceptance and rejection
    Forgiveness and judgement

    still thinking…..

    Reply
  9. Jeff brown says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:28 am

    Elation – indifference

    Reply
  10. Kristi says

    April 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    Maybe acceptance and alienation? Respect and abuse or maybe use? Edify and belittle or build up and tear down. Bless and curse. Freedom and bondage. Purity and corruption. Sacrificially and manipulation. Maybe I’m getting off the topic of how we were meant to speak and how we do speak.

    Reply
  11. LeAnne P says

    April 12, 2013 at 2:59 pm

    I’ve always thought the opposite of love as apathy.

    Reply
  12. Mark Allman says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    Love – Pride
    Faith – Misunderstanding
    Hope – Suicide
    Contentment – Puzzled
    Unity – Discord
    Blamelessly – Unforgiveness
    Belong – renegade
    Recreate – bored
    Stewardship – unresponsible

    Reply
  13. Amy says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:54 pm

    These comments are so helpful! Thanks! Keep ’em coming :). Full of gratitude!

    Reply
  14. Kristi says

    April 12, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    This really has me thinking. Language is so complex. Especially the language of emotions. I wonder what personal experiences makes one of us choose one word as an opposite and another person chooses a different word. Is the complexity a result of the fall or does it reflect the unfathomableness of God or the diversity of each of us as His creation?

    Another pair: purpose and futility

    Reply
  15. Pam says

    April 12, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    peace……anxiety, althought contentment and anxiety may be opposites for me.
    solitude……chaos
    Thanks for asking.

    Reply
  16. Karin B says

    April 13, 2013 at 12:16 am

    One that jumped out at me is faith. I think that a good working opposite for it is “uncertainty” or perhaps “mistrust.” If I have a lack of faith in someone, it means I am uncertain of what they are going to do or I don’t trust how they will act towards me. If I have faith in a person, I know that I can be certain of him or her, I can trust him or her. I can see where “disloyalty” is coming from in this sense, but with the language of it, I like the idea of doubt, uncertainty and lack of trust. I as thinking of the Latin root of “fidelis” and “fidelity” — that is another slant. So perhaps faith vs. infidelity? (Again, I see the disloyal slant there!)

    I love the “love vs fear” pairing. That one is so very true, I think.

    Maybe with “blamelessly” the opposite is “shamefully”? I was trying to reach for an adverb+adverb instead of adverb+noun combination. As in: if I were making up a word “blamefully” what is that word, really? (lol) Blamelessly could also be ” exemplary” (adj) or “virtuously” and adverb opposites of those are erring (adj)/wickedly…

    Are you wanting to stick with all nouns, verbs, adverbs? All of them are nouns, except for “blamelessly,” so perhaps change that one to a noun form? Virtue versus Dishonor?

    Interesting stuff, chick! ;-)
    xx
    Karin

    Reply
  17. Frank says

    April 13, 2013 at 4:36 am

    unity…. discord? (if you didn’t want to use ‘unity’ in the opposite word again)
    recreation…. can it also be coupled w/ workaholism?
    stewardship…. could waste also be here?

    just snacks for thought (not worthy of ‘food’ =)

    Reply
  18. Kristi says

    April 13, 2013 at 7:43 am

    Me again.
    God-exalting and self-exalting
    purity and corruption
    purposefully and futilely
    restorative and destructive
    with abandon and with reservation
    extravagantly and sparingly
    freedom and obligation
    sincerity and deception

    Reply
  19. Kristi says

    April 14, 2013 at 7:42 am

    peace and chaos
    stewardship and excess
    submission and superiority

    Sorry for repeating myself.

    Reply
  20. Kristi says

    April 15, 2013 at 6:45 am

    insight and ignorance

    Reply
  21. Susan says

    April 15, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    Joy ……………Despair
    Hope………….Hopelessness
    praise………..provacative display
    satisfaction…..greed
    acceptance……insecurity
    love……..lonliness

    Reply
  22. Nicole says

    May 11, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    The opposite of fear….. COUR GE =)

    Reply

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My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet. Read More…

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