In Depth:  Stefan Cantore

You will be hard pressed to find singleness, as we use the term today, mentioned in the Bible. In fact, you won't find it at all! When we talk about singleness or being single, what do you think of?

Maybe solitariness, aloneness, loneliness, unconnectedness, freedom to do what the individual wants to do, little connection with family, independent, fun-loving, self-orientated and youthful. We probably think of singles as being between 20 and 40.

One Christian author has written: 'Today, true friendships seldom occur. Very few sing the praises of friendship because very few have experienced its heights.'

Someone else has said that 'friendship is God's way of apologising to us for our families'!