Together & Lonely

In this book, the authors discuss two of the most fundamental of human experiences: loneliness, and belonging. There have been other publications, over the years, about each of these topics separately, but none about how they interact and influence one another, in one integrated volume. Loneliness is an existential and basic human experience that all those who ever walked on this earth have experienced. Loneliness is always painful, subjective, all consuming, and an experience which we all try to avoid. This book reviews the most updated literature, research, and experimentation involving loneliness, human alienation, and separation. Covered are definitions and an understanding of what is loneliness, loneliness in philosophy, literature and the Bible, loneliness of marginalized populations, the difference between essential and transient loneliness, loneliness of the seriously ill and the dying, what causes loneliness, and how can we cope with it successfully. Addressing humans'' great desire to belong, the book covers that overwhelming wish and need to be part of a community, a family and a romantic dyad, to belong and be valuable.