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What is Love?

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I honestly don't know. I haven't had love in the way other's describe it whether it be religious, societal, family, relationship, etc. The value of love isn't my highest value, and very foreign to say the least. I have other values that would sit in the place of love but still have the same intensity and experience. Just I'm still working on experiencing that value(s) by actions. If that's the act of love, that's probably how I'd define it. I've seen vitality, gratitude, spirituality, and peace but never love.
 

Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
I see the real essence of love not being a feeling but an action (although when the feeling are there it is great).

Jesus on the cross acted the greatest act of love... "Father forgive them..." - wasn't getting any goosebumps, no love feelings, a love decision...

The feelings came back when He saw millions and billions of people coming into Heaven's gates.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
That's a wonderful question. I am far from living my ideal but love is my goal and my destination.

To me love is the beginning and the ending of the reason for existence.

Love for self and one's pleasure is the lowest rung on the ladder. Then comes love of family followed by love in widening circles until love encompasses the whole of creation and every one in it.

So when we look at suffering children anywhere in the world and feel that it's our children who are suffering, we are manifesting love. When we look at people suffering from lack of food, lack of medical care and lack of freedom and feel that we are ourselves suffering what they're suffering, we are manifesting love.

Having a warm feeling for others is the first step. When we put ourselves out to help someone else, we are manifesting love. If my wife asks something reasonable of me and I'm tired and grumpy, love tells me to get up and do what she asks and never let a hint of complaint touch my lips.
 

Gargovic Malkav

Well-Known Member
Love is a word I'm careful with in its use and interpretation because I feel its meaning is often tainted by people who have only love for their own desires or love for contempt. And that kind of love can make one and others rather hateful ironically.
 

Eyes to See

Well-Known Member
That's a wonderful question. I am far from living my ideal but love is my goal and my destination.

To me love is the beginning and the ending of the reason for existence.

Love for self and one's pleasure is the lowest rung on the ladder. Then comes love of family followed by love in widening circles until love encompasses the whole of creation and every one in it.

So when we look at suffering children anywhere in the world and feel that it's our children who are suffering, we are manifesting love. When we look at people suffering from lack of food, lack of medical care and lack of freedom and feel that we are ourselves suffering what they're suffering, we are manifesting love.

Having a warm feeling for others is the first step. When we put ourselves out to help someone else, we are manifesting love. If my wife asks something reasonable of me and I'm tired and grumpy, love tells me to get up and do what she asks and never let a hint of complaint touch my lips.

This answer says a lot about you. I really like the reply you give here.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I see the real essence of love not being a feeling but an action (although when the feeling are there it is great).

Jesus on the cross acted the greatest act of love... "Father forgive them..." - wasn't getting any goosebumps, no love feelings, a love decision...

The feelings came back when He saw millions and billions of people coming into Heaven's gates.
Humans are naturally altruistic within their own perceived tribes. Self-sacrifice is automatic, unthinking. It's a relic of our pleistocene, band-based, hunter-gatherer evolution development.

Love, as an abstract concept, is not a hard-wired behavior.
 

Howard Is

Lucky Mud
What does love mean to you? How have you seen love in your life?

Love is an action, a behaviour. Love is something you do.

If I say I love someone, it is not merely about an emotion I feel internally.
To love someone is to actively care for them, in whatever ways I am able.

Those ways could be physical, emotional or psychological. It may be cooking meals or helping to dig a garden. It may be attentiveness to the loved one’s feelings, an enabling of emotional expression.

Whatever else it is, love is an action you choose.
 

Eyes to See

Well-Known Member
God is love. - 1 John 4:8.

Tony above stated it correctly when he stated "love is the cause of creation." Love and only love. Everything exists because of love and we will continue to exist because of it.

God does not possess or have love, he is love.

And true love throws fear out. As fear is acting as a restraint. Love allows one to bear all things and believe all things.

This may sound a little academic here...in the Greek language there are four words for love, unlike the one in English. We have agape, this is principled love, often translated charity, but is much more than simple charity, it allows one to love even a stranger or an enemy. There is storge, love between friends, philia, natural love between family members, and finally eros, which is romantic love.

Concerning love the Bible says:

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up,  does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.  It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."-1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Love is an action, a behaviour. Love is something you do.

If I say I love someone, it is not merely about an emotion I feel internally.
To love someone is to actively care for them, in whatever ways I am able.

Those ways could be physical, emotional or psychological. It may be cooking meals or helping to dig a garden. It may be attentiveness to the loved one’s feelings, an enabling of emotional expression.

Whatever else it is, love is an action you choose.
I disagree. Love is an emotion or drive. It manifests various behaviors, but love, itself, is an abstraction.
 
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Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
God is love. - 1 John 4:8.

Tony above stated it correctly when he stated "love is the cause of creation." Love and only love. Everything exists because of love and we will continue to exist because of it.

God does not possess or have love, he is love.

And true love throws fear out. As fear is acting as a restraint. Love allows one to bear all things and believe all things.

This may sound a little academic here...in the Greek language there are four words for love, unlike the one in English. We have agape, this is principled love, often translated charity, but is much more than simple charity, it allows one to love even a stranger or an enemy. There is storge, love between friends, philia, natural love between family members, and finally eros, which is romantic love.

Concerning love the Bible says:

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up,  does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.  It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."-1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
You're trying to apply religious doctrine to a psychological or neurological phenomenon.
 

osgart

Nothing my eye, Something for sure
Love is to care about those who care. That's when love is ideal. It can also be through hard times. Sometimes people can't reciprocate perfectly but the intention is there, and the will. As long as the will is there, and the intentions it's worthwhile to care. I love on the basis of will and intention not necessarily on the ability to act on those cares. Real genuine love never dies, and sees things through no matter what happens. I have such commitments.

Love is also having mercy on those that are hard to love. That in no way means going easy on them.

Then there is the self loves that are common.

I try my best to stick with deserve. Knowing that perfect judgment isn't always clear.
 

Estro Felino

Believer in free will
Premium Member
I guess love is being happy for the neighbor's happiness.
If for example, your husband decides to leave you because he has fallen in love with someone else...
Well...I can suffer, but since I love him very much, I am happy if he is happy...even if with someone else
 
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