Brother

The word brother conjures up many different images for different people. The most natural definition of a brother is a male in relation to the other children of certain parents and this is what many people think of when they hear brother used. However, this type of brother is not the only definition of the term.

First, brother has a religious usage, especially in Christianity. In the Catholic Church a brother is a religious who has taken a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience (1). A person who chooses this lifestyle is usually addressed as brother so and so (e.g. Hello Brother Thomas). However, sometimes brother is used in a general sense to describe a male with whom one shares the Christian faith. In this case, brothers refers to the relationship of male believers with God as father.

Second, brother can be used to refer to our connection to each other as humans. We call our fellow males brothers to indicate that we are all united, brother and sister, in the human race. Brother is typically used in this sense by idealists. In this way, calling each other brother emphasizes our connectedness. The song “ Brother Can You Spare A Dime?” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother“ are good examples of this usage.

Finally, brother is a slang term used among the African-American community. The facts show that black people will call males in that race their brother to emphasize the solidarity they share as blacks, especially black men. The term brother was more widely used in the 70s and 80s, but can be used today in this context too.

Another brother is worth mentioning: the friend who is like a brother. This is sometimes called a brother from another mother, which implies that the friend is so close that he might as well be a blood related brother. Many individuals have experiences of being let down by real brothers and sisters but finding a strong family like relationship with good friends from school or the neighborhood.

Throughout history, there have been many famous brothers. In the Bible, Cain and Abel and Jacob and Esau are prominent examples. The legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were twin brothers. In the middle ages King John and Richard the Lionhearted were brothers. Modern day famous brothers include the Marx brothers, politicians George and Jeb Bush, and actors Luke, Owen, and Andrew Wilson.

Why not tell us about your brother? Leave a comment about your brother or any famous brother we may have missed in our information. Check “post to Facebook” to share it with your friends.