Rev'd Dr. Danielle Treweek

Singleness Lessons I Learned from the Early Church

The lessons we can learn from the ancient church about singleness are many and mighty, but they are neither simple nor straightforward. In fact, early church leaders do not offer us a singular narrative about being single. However, when we examine the Christian history of celibacy on its own terms, the conversation yields something far more complex and interesting.

Choice and Circumstance: Not a Single Thing

Christian singleness is a case of either choice, or circumstance. Or is it? Could it be that taking the time to consider our perspective about singleness and single Christians might help us to understand the importance of being more nuanced in our thinking about it, and about them?

The Humanity of Hamilton

In the character of Alexander Hamilton we see our exquisite, tragic, complicated selves reflected back to us, as if in a mirror. We see our yearnings for meaning, significance, relationship, security, pleasure all laid bare, alongside our self-defeating and self-corrupting ways.