Everyone: Let's talk about the true meaning of Love. (no superficial or shallow answers, please) more...?

Question

I will not bore the most cynical of us (take your two points and move on).

But for those of us who remain, whether theist or atheist, regardless of what power you worship or recognize, regardless of how you explain it, we all recognize a power called "Love" that moves us to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of another.

To put this in the lexicon of christianity (the religion I'm most familiar with and my apologies for mangling this quote) "for god so loved humanity that he sacrificed his only begotten son on the cross so that they might be saved". Even a god must follow the dictates of Love and surrender a part of himself for those he loves.

I want you to focus on someone you love, or have loved, intensely. I want you to imagine the worst hell possible, and place your beloved smack dab in the middle of it. I want you to ask yourself, would you risk all, your body, your soul, your life, would you give it all if it were the only hope your beloved had to escape that hell?

Why?

Answer 1

As a mother, I would do whatever it took to rescue my kid.

Here's a good analogy:
I once was in a class where they gave me the example, that they would pay me money to walk a high wire between two skyscrapers at the top with no umbrella and high winds. How much would they have to pay me. I said there was no money in the world that could make me walk that tightrope.

Then they used the analogy, that I was on the top of one building and a madman had a gun to my child's head at the top of the other building and they would shoot my child and drop her off the roof if I didn't rescue her myself in the next 3 minutes and the elevators between the two buildings were broke. How long would it take me then to step out on that high wire.

So, would I go to hell to protect my child?

Yes

Answer 2

I'm very cynical, but I don't find this to be the least bit boring. Your question is about survival- personal versus interpersonal survival- about what it is to be a human rather than just a body and maybe a few other fairly deep subjects.
You're talking about altruism- risking ourselves for the sake of others. Isn't that what every parent does? When we have children, do we not dedicate the rest of our lives to our chidren's future?
Any good person would place a higher value on the life of a loved one than on his or her own life. This is a perfect test of basic human values. It is also part of the story line of every movie that has any plot involving good versus evil. Evil people (if they in fact exist) are too selfish to think of anyone except themselves. Good people (in case there are such beings) would rather sacrifice themselves than to see an innocent or a loved one suffer.
Otherwise there would be no firefighters or rescue workers who often place themselves in dangerous situations to save the lives of others.
Do you really want to find out who you are? It's simple. Everyone will eventually die. Whose death does it give you more pain to think about- your own or someone you love?
The best components of any religion are the ones where we notice our own best, most noble, most worthwhile values and project those values at the sky.
You'll get a different answer from younger people. They haven't learned the truth yet. They will learn, Lord willing.

Answer 3

Of course, I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.
For my children, grandchildren, and my husband of 28 years.
WIthout a second though, without a seconds hesitation.
Because the thought of their pain is worse than any actual pain I might have to endure. I never liked the "sacrificed his only begotten son" line. After all, He knew where He was going.
But then I have often heard so many say that they would give their lives for someone, when in reality it is so much more difficult and, in essence, more loving to live their lives with someone else. True love is more a quiet sustaining joy than a flashy gesture or promise.

Answer 4

This question has made me well up with tears. It reminds me of my grandpa who died three years ago from cancer that spread throughout his body. He went through his own personal "hell" trying to fight it.

I would have given anything to take all that away from him. I would have done everything possible to insure that he was my grandpa again. Why??? Because my love for him is completely unselfish. I would have rathered gone through the treatments and the pain for him because I am much younger and healthier than he was at the time, and my body could have withstood everything much easier than his body did. I would have done this so that he could continue seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up into the wonderful people they are now.

Answer 5

Love is God.

Everything else is temporary perception of an imaginary conditional reality.

Ultimately, the only REAL TRUTH is GOD.

Would I risk who I imagine myself to be here, for someone I LOVE? Sure I would... though my human ego might disagree for a moment.

At some point, risking yourself to save another is sort of like a "Love Reflex".....

It all depends on what your perception of "death" is or not?

If a person fears death as an END, more than they fear the loss of whoever it is they love....... then I suppose they wouldn't sacrifice themselves for the other.

Ego fears death... Love does not fear death.

Love is Truth..... Love is aware of this;
Ego is often only aware of itself.

Answer 6

Love of a spouse is not being able to live without them. Love of country is standing up for what you believe and letting others say what they believe.
Love for a dog, feed him, keep him warm and healthy.

Love of history, science, math, literature. Is a learned thing.

Your question is extremly well thought out.

I have risk and survived all. It was worth it.

Answer 7

LOVE /It keeps the world going without it would have ended long ago LOVE YOU love all,one who knows God is one who loves all. LOVE GOD,world is fading NAME ONE WHO LOVES ALL EATING ONLY FROM THE TREE OF LIFE,ONLY LOVE IS WITHIN YOU,TH ATS WHAT ARE.A SPIRIT in love with love sending it back to God BY loving all Behold should I STAY OR SHOULD I go.L=3 O=6 V=3 E=5///18:666/What happens when you cut down the tree of life.LIFE becomes nothing a void in darkness/whats next

Answer 8

I would probably say i wouldn't, but i know that if i were to ever be placed in that type of situation and i really and truely had that real Agape Godly) love for them, then i would do all i could to help or save them.

Answer 9

sorry dude the answer is the same as it was several hours ago. naw, not going to hell if she's there it's by her own selfish choice, she could have avoided the whole seen. but if she's in hell it's on her.

Answer 10

in a sense i have given up my own life for someone i love
someone that needs me and needs me to be with them
i have given up many things for this and never with resentment and never for my own gratification , because i see how it is worth it all
i seen how my mother gave up many many things for me and my sister , never with resentment and never for her own gratification
if we truly love others ... we will put them first , we will give up everything
in the end ... we see how rich we are due to it