Fractured Faith/Uncommon Hope: AIDS and the Church

Abstract

According to Joshua Love, AIDS challenges the very limits of human compassion and endurance. From its debut as a misunderstood killer of people on the margins to its modern incarnation as a destructive catalyst of change for millions of lives, AIDS has required that people infected and affected by the disease delve deep into their physical, emotional, and spiritual resources for survival. AIDS' global impact rivals and exceeds that of wars and natural disasters. The impact of AIDS fractures relationship with the body, the community, and faith, requiring radical acts of healing and restoration. AIDS is a walk of the spirit, an exploration of faith, and a confrontation of our most palpable humanity. A single human strength keeps AIDS from overwhelming the lives of all who it touches, uncommon hope.