This article responds to Chris Higgins’ (2010) claim that perpetuating the myth of altruism is a factor that leads to teacher burnout, thus making “flourishing teacher” an oxymoron. It does so by exploring various views of the Christian concepts of agape, kenosis, and desire, debunking some persistent definitions that linger in Christian circles as well as embracing the layers of complexity inherent in a theology of love. The implication for Christian teachers is that because self-sacrifice and self-abnegation are not synonymous, it is possible for them to live lives of altruistic love, avoid burnout, and flourish in their vocations. Implications for teacher educators are also explored.
AgneKJ (1999) Caring: The way of the master teacher. In: LipkaRPBrinthauptTM (eds) The Role of Self in Teacher Development, Albany, NY: SUNY Press, pp. 165–188.
2.
AndolsenBH (1995) Agape in feminist ethics. In: WilliamsC (ed.) On Love and Friendship: Philosophical Readings, Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett, pp. 167–181.
3.
Augustine (1996) Teaching Christianity. The Works of St. Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century, part I, vol. 11 (Hill E, trans.). Hyde Park, NY: New City Press.
4.
BadcockGD (2001) The concept of love: Divine and human. In: VanhoozerKJ (ed.) Nothing Greater, Nothing Better: Theological Essays on the Love of God, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 30–46.
5.
BalzerC (2012) Leaving a mark: The role of faculty in university-wide spiritual formation. In: BalzerCReedR (eds) Building a Culture of Faith: University-wide Partnerships for Spiritual Formation, Abilene, TX: ACU Press, pp. 63–77.
6.
Bernard of Clairveax (2012) On Loving God, Lexington, KY: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
7.
BrownCG (2012) A systemic review of the relationship between self-efficacy and burnout in teachers. Educational and Child Psychology29(4): 47–63.
8.
CarmerG (2012) Tour guides, translators, and traveling companions: How faculty contribute to the spiritual formation of students. In: BalzerCReedR (eds) Building a Culture of Faith: University-wide Partnerships for Spiritual Formation, Abilene, TX: ACU Press, pp. 217–232.
9.
CoakleyS (2001) Kenosis: Theological meanings and gender connotations. In: PolkinghorneJ (ed.) The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 192–209.
10.
CosdenD (2006) A Theology of Work: Work and the New Creation, Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
11.
D’ArcyMC (1962) The Mind and Heart of Love: A Study in Eros and Agape, Cleveland, OH: The World Publishing Company.
12.
DahillL (2001) Reading from the underside of selfhood: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and spiritual formation. Spiritus: A Journal of Christian Spirituality1(2): 186–203.
13.
EllisGFR (2001) Kenosis as a unifying theme for life and cosmology. In: PolkinghorneJ (ed.) The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 107–126.
14.
FraserJW (2007) Preparing America’s Teachers: A History, New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
15.
FrommE (2006/1956) The Art of Loving, New York, NY: Harper Perennial.
16.
GlanzerP (2012) Who are we to form students? The importance of remembering who we are. In: BalzerCReedR (eds) Building a Culture of Faith: University-wide Partnerships for Spiritual Formation, Abilene, TX: ACU Press, pp. 109–123.
17.
GoldsteinD (2014) The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession, New York, NY: Doubleday.
18.
GroeschelBJ (1988) Spiritual Passages: The Psychology of Spiritual Development, New York, NY: Crossroad.
19.
HenriksenJ (2011) Desire: Gift and giving. In: ShultsFLHenriksenJ (eds) Saving Desire: The Seduction of Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 1–30.
20.
HerbstJ (1989) And Sadly Teach: Teacher Education and Professionalization in American Culture, Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.
21.
HigginsC (2010) The hunger artist: Pedagogy and the paradox of self-interest. Journal of Philosophy of Education44(2–3): 337–369.
22.
HultellDMelinBGustavssonJP (2013) Getting personal with teacher burnout: A longitudinal study on the development of burnout using a person-based approach. Teaching and Teacher Education32: 75–86.
23.
LaddGE (1969) The Gospel of Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
24.
LewisCS (1960) The Four Loves, London: Geoffrey Bles.
25.
McLeanSV (1999) Becoming a teacher: The person in the process. In: LipkaRPBrinthauptTM (eds) The Role of Self in Teacher Development, Albany, NY: SUNY Press, pp. 55–91.
26.
MatthiasLR (2015) The Cry of the Teacher’s Soul, Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
27.
MoltmannJ (2001) God’s kenosis in the creation and consummation of the world. In: PolkinghorneJ (eds) The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 137–151.
28.
MulhollandMRJr (2006) The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
29.
NaugleDK (2008) Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
30.
NelsonT (2011) Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship to Monday Work, Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
31.
NouwenH (1997) The Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World, New York, NY: Crossroad.
32.
NygrenA (1969) Agape and Eros, New York, NY: Harper Torch.
33.
OordTJ (2010a) Defining Love: A Philosophical, Scientific, and Theological Engagement, Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos.
34.
OordTJ (2010b) The Nature of Love: A Theology, St. Louis, MS: Chalice.
35.
OutkaG (1972) Agape: An Ethical Analysis, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
36.
PietarinenJPyhaltoKSoiniTSalmelaAK (2013) Reducing teacher burnout: A socio-contextual approach. Teaching and Teacher Education35: 62–72.
37.
PlantingaCJr (2002) Engaging God’s World; A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
38.
PopeSJ (2002) Relating self, others, and sacrifice in the ordering of love. In: PostSGUnderwoodLGSchlossJPHurlbutWB (eds) Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 168–181.
39.
PostSG (2002) The tradition of agape. In: PostSGUnderwoodLGSchlossJPHurlbutWB (eds) Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 51–64.
40.
RolstonH (2001) Kenosis and nature. In: PolkinghorneJ (ed.) The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 43–65.
41.
SchlossJP (2002) Emerging accounts of altruism: “Love creation’s final law“? In: PostSGUnderwoodLGSchlossJPHurlbutWB (eds) Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 212–242.
42.
ShultsFL (2003) Reforming Theological Anthropology: After the Philosophical Turn to Relationality, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
43.
ShultsFL (2011) Introduction: Saving desire? In: ShultsFLHenriksenJ (eds) Saving Desire: The Seduction of Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. vii–ix.
44.
Smith DI and Smith JKA (eds) (2011) Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
45.
SmithJKA (2009) Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
46.
SmithJKA (2013) Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
47.
TusinLF (1999) Deciding to teach. In: LipkaRPBrinthauptTM (eds) The Role of Self in Teacher Development, Albany, NY: SUNY Press, pp. 11–35.
48.
UnderwoodLG (2002) The human experience of compassionate love: Conceptual mapping and data from selected studies. In: PostSGUnderwoodLGSchlossJPHurlbutWB (eds) Altruism and Altruistic Love: Science, Philosophy, and Religion in Dialogue, New York, NY: Oxford University Press, pp. 72–88.
49.
VanhoozerKJ (2001) Introduction: The love of God—its place, meaning, and function in systematic theology. In: VanhoozerKJ (ed.) Nothing Greater, Nothing Better: Theological Essays on the Love of God, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, pp. 1–29.
