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Love
in early religions was a mixture of ecstatic devotion and ritualised
obligation to idealised natural forces (pagan polytheism). Later
religions shifted emphasis towards single abstractly-oriented objects
like God, law, church and state (formalised monotheism). A third view,
pantheism, recognises a state or truth distinct from (and often
antagonistic to) the idea that there is a difference between the
worshiping subject and the worshiped object. Love is reality, of which
we, moving through time, imperfectly interpret ourselves as an isolated
part.
The Bible speaks of love as a set
of attitudes and actions that are far broader than the concept of love
as an emotional attachment. Love is seen as a set of behaviours that
humankind is encouraged to act out. One is encouraged not just to love
one's partner, or even one's friends but also to love one's enemies.
The Bible describes this type of active love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:
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Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It is not rude, 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. |
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Romantic
love is also present in the Bible, particularly the Song of Songs.
Traditionally, this book has been interpreted allegorically as a
picture of God's love for Israel and the Church.
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Place
me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as
strong as death, its jealously unyielding as the grave. It burns like a
blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his
house for love, it would be utterly scorned. |
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The passage dodi li v'ani lo,
i.e. "my beloved is mine and I am my beloved", from Song of Songs 2:16,
is an example of a biblical quote commonly engraved on wedding bands.
Also,
the Bible defines love as being God himself. I John 4:8 states "God is
Love". In essence, God is the epitomy of love - in action and relation.
It is God that first loved mankind and desired a relationship. (John
3:16-17) Love is the underlying drive in most people. The search for
love seems endless within the human race, throughout the ages. The
Bible defines God as being the completeness of love. Love, as being
defined by him, is demonstrated in his character and personality.
Another way of defining this type of love is "godly love", a love shown
through the example of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. However, this
"sacrificial" love can also be expressed by humans. For example, the
love of a mother for her child. It is one one of the strongest bonds of
love known to Man. The mother would sacrifice anything for the child.
It is this type of love that the Bible teaches us to follow and to
share with one another. Love, in the end, is truly a sacrifice. Mary
Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, defines Love as one of 7
synonyms for God. This indicates that Diety is more than a being that
has benevolent concerns for mankind, but rather that God is Love
itself. Love is also synonymous with Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit,
Life, and Truth and indicate the depth and wholeness of Love.The
Bhagavad Gita, India's ageless Hindu scripture, helps devotees to see
that love conquers all. It says, "Sattva—pure, luminous, and free from
sorrow—binds us to happiness and wisdom translated as purity, helps one
to see that love evolves from selflessness.
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