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Spiritual Proxemics

Spiritual Proxemics is a framework of “closeness” and relative group size in relationships with spiritual components, especially relationships of Discipleship and co-mission. It can be applied to The Journey Map and other ways of conceiving the spiritual journey and movement for insight into how relationships should form and evolve.

The framework is based on Alex Absalom and Bobby Harrington’s interpretations of Edward T Hall Jr.’s Proxemics — a framework for thinking about human spaces through a sociological lens. Specifically, Absalom and Harrington are using the Four Human Distances:

Intimate

Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

  • Close phase – less than one inch (one to two cm)
  • Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)

[Use: creating transparent co-knowing and deep collaboration]

Personal

Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family

  • Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm)
  • Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 122 cm)

[Use: creating friendships and solidarity]

Social

Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

  • Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)
  • Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

Use: Creating neighborly connections.

Public

Public distance used for public speaking

  • Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)
  • Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.

Use: Taking in experiences.

The Four Human Distances can perhaps be seen in The Way of Jesus like this:

3

Jesus’ Intimate

The Three (Peter, James, and John)

Church Intimate

[Spiritual Friendship, Discipleship]

12

Jesus’ Personal

The Twelve

Church Personal

Small Groups [Small Bible Studies, Ministry Leadership Teams]

70

Jesus’ Social

The Seventy, Parties

Church Social

Ministry Programs, Block Parties, etc.

crowd

Jesus’ Public

The Crowds

Church Public

Worship Services, Concerts, etc.

[Possible] Evolution of Spiritual Proxemics

Current Research > Some recent experiences make me think that these “circles” are somewhat emergent or evolutionary out of movement. In other words, there are natural times for clarity on each of these to emerge, namely (according to The Journey Map) 2 Story: Crowd, 3 Revelation: The 70, 4 Growth: The 12, 5 Flow: The 3.

  • Did Jesus separate out the 3 a particular stage of ministry? Cross check first occurrence (raising of Jairus’ daughter?) with [7] The Way of Jesus.
    • Raising of Jairus’ Daughter is Mark 5:21-43; Transfiguration was Mark 9:2-13.
    • According to the Net Bible Synopsis of the Four Gospels (15), Mark 5:21-43 parallels Luke 8:40-56; Mark 9:2-13 parallels Luke 9:28-36.
    • This places Mark 5 into the first transition from (4) Hacking Judaism / Growing Disciples into (5) The Workflow of the Kingdom and Mark 9 at the beginning of the second cycle of (5) The Workflow of the Kingdom.