Symbols of Brotherhood
Several of my current writing projects touch on a similar theme: brotherhood.
Or at least that is how I, ironically a hyper-skinny, middle class white girl, would term it.
The word “brotherhood” conjures up more than just a dictionary definition … for me.
It provokes a feeling of deep camaraderie, and automatically sets off a daydreamed mashup of real life and movie-esque displays of allegiance (think secret societies, Musketeers, grass roots revolutionaries, disciples).
The term brotherhood, almost by itself, seems to infer something I believe: that people can transcend norms and develop deep and purposeful bonds that stir goodness in the world.
But, there are some downsides to this specific word, which advisers keep alerting me to in hand-scribbled notes in the margins.
Even though I have always read “brotherhood” in a very universal way, seeing myself and other women as easily fitting underneath it’s umbrella, there is probably a better term than would more intentionally include women.
And then there’s the fact that the word brotherhood has been hijacked and pasted on all kinds of social and political movements. Thus, the word may trigger people to think about specific agendas or positions, which my writing is not pushing.
And so people throw out recommendations… synonyms–words like friendship and community–and I struggle over each of them, trying to decide whether it holds the same romance and imagery as knights sworn in allegiance to a king…as people intimately connecting over cause and family.
And I’m having a hard time finding an alternative term that fits as incredibly into the metaphor of spiritual brotherhood that I see in the language of Jesus, the disciple John, or the apostle Paul. Daughter, your faith has made you well. Adopted heirs with Christ. Anyone who hates his brother…
And it leads me to ask this question, what term best inspires you to feelings of brotherhood?
I would love to hear your opinion if you would click the comment link and offer a few ideas.
Shelly Miller January 26, 2012 (3:57 pm)
You used the words friendship, community, knights, allegiance to a king, initmate connection,family and spiritual brotherhood and the first word that popped into my head is Camelot. It embodies all that. But I will keep thinking.
Mark Hanson January 26, 2012 (5:15 pm)
The first word that comes to mind is “comrade” (or camaraderie, as you put it in your post). But some of us might associate that word more closely with the Eastern Bloc. Guess that’s the problem with colorful words: Everyone interprets the color a bit differently.
Ericka (Kelsey) Hardin January 26, 2012 (8:18 pm)
Hi Sarah!
I recently saw your blog and I’m really enjoying it! My husband Patrick and I plan to tell our advent stories from the perspective of sheep and donkeys and angels next year! :) And congrats on all the places writing has taken you! Sounds like life has been exciting since SAU.
So…I thought I would respond to this post because I coincidentally found myself thinking on something similar today. I was listening to Mumford & Sons and their song “Timshel.” In the beginning the lyrics sing,
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance
But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we’ll hold your hand
Hold your hand
~ ~ ~
My thoughts…
Death, in any sense of the word, takes something. In the midst of loss we find ourselves fumbling, clumsily trying to re-orient life without that thing or thought or person that was once there. This song, through a brilliant arrangement of a simple acoustic guitar and a solid swirl of male vocal harmonies, brings alive in the heart of the listener a swell of knowing that in the disorienting moments of loss, we are not alone. So as I sat today with all that the Mumfords stirred up in me, I thought about what I’ve learned from my “brothers.”
For me, “brotherhood,” whether it is spoken of in the context of loss or some other storyline, often conjures up a sense of being grounded, secure, steady. I have three brothers, and I have my guys whom I affectionately refer to as my “brothers.” Our friendship is many things – most often it looks like doing stupid things and laughing too hard at ourselves. But whatever life looks like, the “brotherhood” I have come to know is marked by strong, safe, and unwavering love.
peace.
ericka (kelsey) hardin
Mike Rowell January 26, 2012 (9:26 pm)
The Lord Of The Rings movies reawakened my jaded ear to the term “fellowship,” in the sort of relational context you’re speaking of.
Perhaps your writings are a chance to inject an overused/familiar term (“together”?) with deeper meaning, the way Gladwell did with Blink or Godin did with Tribes.
Nicole January 26, 2012 (11:06 pm)
I, like you, struggle to find a better/different word than brotherhood to describe this “thing.” I’ve used the word cadre, I’ve said “gang”…but I struggle with people’s cutesie labels outside of these words. I call my people my “crew”, my “team”, my “gang” , “the revolutionaries” but nothing quite seems to measure up. I absolutely love the term “band of brothers.” OK, that’s it. :)
Alan January 27, 2012 (9:45 am)
This is a great question. My answer is a little off base. I wonder if part of the struggle is really against the idea that men and women cannot share the same bond that men and men or women and women share. Brotherhood and sisterhood both convey a sense of allegiance and support. But they also have different perceptions. The bond of sisters may share the same intensity as that of brothers, but with a perception of greater sensitivity and compassion. Nicole’s reference to “band of brothers” is a good example. The WWII model of grit and determination to support your brother in arms is very different from the strong, but compassionate support of a sister. The “rub” comes from whether the relationship between a brother and a sister approaches the same degree of emotional response. I’m just not sure that it does. Regardless of reality, or possibility even, I just don’t think the relationship between brother and sister is perceived as strong as the relationship between brothers or the relationship between sisters. Even if it does, “sibling” as a term clearly doesn’t fit the bill.
Mike January 27, 2012 (1:15 pm)
Hey Sarah!
I think brotherhood is a great term for it. I also like the word community. Though I think community may be more diluted than brotherhood. However, I think both of those terms are worth rescuing. I also think, whatever they conjure up in an audience can probably be adjusted/clarified by giving your own disclaimer and redefinition in the beginning.
Lindsay Sterchi January 30, 2012 (11:17 am)
Sarah,
Have you considered the Greek word “adelphoi”? This word is used in the original language of Scripture (for example, in Galatians 1:11), and means siblings. Unfortunately, there is not an English equivalent of this word, and many Bible versions translate it simply as “brothers” or “brethren”. I appreciate how some translations, including the updated NIV, translate this as “brothers and sisters”. The footnote in my NIV Bible says it refers to “believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.”
I do realize that the Greek word would not be immediately recognized, and it would require a short explanation to establish a common understanding of its meaning. But I agree that the word “brotherhood” is problematic, so this seems to be an appealing alternative.
Hope that helps! Thank you for your work and your writing!
joseph February 10, 2012 (10:02 am)
Sarah,
The word Koinonia is what comes to my mind. It’s the Greek word used in the new testament to describe the kind of relationship people in the early church had with one another. It’s an incredible word! There’s not one english word adequate enough to express the depth of what koinonia means.
Acts 2:42-47 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the communion, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”