The Conspiracy of Love: Are humans capable of true love?

Well, are we? Not in the conceptual feel-good way, but in the "biblical" sense. Is it something humans can truly attain?

Text-If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..(continued)

I would like to know if this kind of love is possible in a practical way. I guess this question would be more geared towards people who practice Christianity or are not Christians but agree with this concept of love. Do we REALLY practice this beautiful concept even if halfway? How do we feel about our neighbor (literal neighbor)? The partner who cheated on us? The gays (or straights)? The Sharia Muslims? The "other" denominations? The child-molesters? Remember, love does not "Dishonor others". Are you easily angered by people, nations or concepts that oppose you? Do you love your enemies?

Matthew 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite fully use you, and persecute you;

Well, can we love people who use us? Or persecute our faith (or lack thereof)? What about those who hate our lifestyles and our choices and our countries and our ways of life? Do we love and forgive and honor them?

Can we love "truth" even if most of the time we can't tell it apart from "Perception of truth"?

Is biblical God even capable of this kind of Love?
The Christ asks followers to go through this narrow gate but I feel it's an impossible task.

Any thoughts?

I dare say love or anything cannot have something so full of contradictions as the standard to be compared against.
The bible contradicts every point it makes constantly.

For every:

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
--1 John 4:20

there is:

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34-39 NASB)

Humans created the word to describe an emotion. The simple fact is: most confuse said emotion with various things that don't fit.

Are humans capable of "true love".. obviously the answer is yes because humans define love as well as what "true" is.

reply to post by lordtyp0


Yes, I agree. But what I mean is "true love" as the bible states it. I feel this is impossible and somewhat misleading. As an ideal, sure, wonderful. As a goal? Too hard.

reply to post by Isawsomething


Given the bible changes it's own definition on whim I have to ask how you are seeing it define..?

Are you meaning unconditional universal love? Are you meaning the devotion one feels to another while being "In love" etc. etc.

reply to post by Isawsomething


In my opinion the Bible passages you post refer to the Christian equivalent of a Kundalini awakening in the heart chakra. That is a very powerful mystical experience. Maybe our task is to make ourselves open to such an awakening and then leave the rest of the job to transpersonal divine love.

“Your task is not to seek for love
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.” -Jalal ad-Din Rumi

reply to post by lordtyp0


I mean loving your enemy. Literally. Or anyone for that matter. You know, completely selflessly. Zero benefit for my own self. Zero ego. Complete sacrifice.

Originally posted by Isawsomething

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..(continued)

I would like to know if this kind of love is possible in a practical way. I guess this question would be more geared towards people who practice Christianity or are not Christians but agree with this concept of love.

Definitely, Yes, this definitely happens. I suspect it is rare, but I have experienced it myself, so I know it exists.

It does not take a Christian to demonstrate this kind of love.

reply to post by Isawsomething


If thats all there is then Yes, humans are capable of that. At least I know that feeling well.

Although i do not believe in love (hey im only 17 give me a break) i believe the only thing we can do is choose to respect everyone even if they have different opinions.

reply to post by Isawsomething


I agree with all your 'what if's', but maybe all these bible verses, and commandments are attributed to a post apocalyptic scenario where everyone(well whoever is left) is forced to come together, and work together to survive. people would hopefully break their conditioning to judge every person they ever encounter whether it be on lifestyle, age, race, gender, sexuality, weight, clothes, height, voice, accent, anything people make petty judgments on.

other then that scenario where humanity is forced to unite in order to rebuild, no I do not think a human could love each and every person on earth they encounter. reason being because no matter who you are, or how nice people perceive you to be, every single person has been affected with some form of social conditioning where we learn to 'yes' or 'no' people by just looking at them.... and then subconsciously analyze them as we smile and say hello.

Originally posted by Student X
“Your task is not to seek for love
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.” -Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Actually, according to Rumi's Wikiquote page, that quote is actually by Helen Schucman.

Are humans capable of true love?

Humans are capable of it .. but very few actually reach a point that they can do it. True love is total and complete sacrifice without even a thought for oneself. That's nearly impossible. It can be done, but it's exceptionally hard.

Example - I totally love my daughter and want her to be well and to do well. Nearly all of that good wishing is for her and because I love her. But I have to admit that a tiny part of it is that it is easier on me if she is healthy and self sufficient. That tiny sliver of selfishness is still there, even though I'm full of love for her.

reply to post by Isawsomething


If you have a child, then you should know true love. We are very capable. I would give my life for my child. The love that comes from a child is unconditional.. If you have a child and don't feel this. Maybe you personally, are not capable of love or are to stuck on yourself to see it ...

Originally posted by NewlyAwakened

Originally posted by Student X
“Your task is not to seek for love
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.” -Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Actually, according to Rumi's Wikiquote page, that quote is actually by Helen Schucman.

But if that's true, then it was only channeled through her as was all the rest of A Course in Miracles. Maybe Rumi channeled it through her into that book.

Originally posted by VI0811
reply to post by Isawsomething

 

If you have a child, then you should know true love. We are very capable. I would give my life for my child. The love that comes from a child is unconditional.. If you have a child and don't feel this. Maybe you personally, are not capable of love or are to stuck on yourself to see it ...

Do you understand the only reason you love your child so much is because it is YOUR child? It's possessive by nature. My dogs will also give their life if anything threatened their young. That's survival or DNA instructions. Let's not be cliche about this. The kind of love I am trying to debate is the one that will allow you to love ANYONE ELSE'S child as your own, this would include even an enemy's child. And yes, you are right, I am not capable of everlasting, 100% pure love.

I am glad you are, though.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Are humans capable of true love?

Humans are capable of it .. but very few actually reach a point that they can do it. True love is total and complete sacrifice without even a thought for oneself. That's nearly impossible. It can be done, but it's exceptionally hard.

Example - I totally love my daughter and want her to be well and to do well. Nearly all of that good wishing is for her and because I love her. But I have to admit that a tiny part of it is that it is easier on me if she is healthy and self sufficient. That tiny sliver of selfishness is still there, even though I'm full of love for her.

I am glad to read that, unlike others, you are honest enough to admit there might be a sliver of selfishness that does not allow you to channel 100% pure love towards her. And this is ok, we are not God. When my father passed away, the first thing I thought was "How am I going to live without you?!". Notice the selfishness in my thought. I was thinking about MYSELF mostly. How would I live! What would I do! Why did you leave ME. Had I TRULY loved him 100% like I thought I did, I would have understood that death is a natural process, that he was not suffering the trials of the flesh anymore and perhaps there was a chance that he would be very happy in some other dimension.

Originally posted by Isawsomething

Is biblical God even capable of this kind of Love?
The Christ asks followers to go through this narrow gate but I feel it's an impossible task.

Any thoughts?

Yes it is an "impossible" task to follow the teachings and edicts (commandments) of the Jesus of the Gospels; you will end up confused with numerous contradictory beliefs, you would have to give up carrying money, abandon wearing shoes, have no more than one robe, carry a sword (illegal in many nations), and become a homeless, penniless, wandering exorcist, miraculously heal leprosy, blindness (and do even greater things allegedy that Jesus was supposed to have done); and so forth, and to top it all off, you would have to strictly adhere to the letter of the Judaic law and the prophets, which would have genocidal consequences; you would have to love everyone, and hate your own family and your own life, forgive your enemies, but be prepared to subject them to genocide when your theocratic dictator returns, etc., etc. You would end up with so many contradictory beliefs that you would simply go insane and become just another victim of religious psychosis.

The desire to Love and be Loved is part of the human condition. The Bible will be no help to you on this matter.

Lux

"When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion, it is called religion."

reply to post by Isawsomething


I seriously doubt it, and thats why the only company i will have is little dogs, like many on earth i find they are better than humans.

Originally posted by Open_Minded Skeptic

Originally posted by Isawsomething

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..(continued)

I would like to know if this kind of love is possible in a practical way. I guess this question would be more geared towards people who practice Christianity or are not Christians but agree with this concept of love.

Definitely, Yes, this definitely happens. I suspect it is rare, but I have experienced it myself, so I know it exists.

It does not take a Christian to demonstrate this kind of love.

Of course it doesnt take a CHRISTIAN to experience this...what a heap of cr*p if CHRISTIANS think they are the only ones who can experience this. Jesus himself didnt experience unconditional love, if he did he wouldnt have said with his dying breath "Father, why have ou forsaken me?", if he experienced unconditional love he'd have accepted his fate without questioning his father and the lord...

reply to post by Isawsomething


Humans are capable. And its basically being humble to others. If you got enemies and know you can seal their fates 100X fold is it not better to pray for them to overcome their evols as to prevent YOU from having to slay them.