Atheists: How do you explain the concept of LOVE?

Question

And, how can you prove that you love someone?

I'm an Atheist. This question just popped out last night. I just wanted to throw it to you guys....

ZERO COOL: Damn your short memory....you've answered several of my questions, and still you think I'm a theist??? hummmm,....

Answer 1

love is a series of reactions that are in part chemical, arising from man's desire to procreate, and als partially a learned social concept.

it is a combination of different psycological responses to different situations, a desire to be wanted, needed and provide for another person.

The emotions that dictate these desires are all chemical responses and pre-programmed traits we have.

Answer 2

Ah yes. I knew exactly what you were getting at before I even clicked on your question. The fact is that I can prove I love someone. Know I am going to leave out the stuff about brain chemistry to brake it down to an easier level void of a lot of hard scientific proof. It can - love - be proved scientifically and is verifiable by "earth bound" evidence without the complexities. When ever I huge, kiss, or tell my wife I love her. If I am disrespectful of her than she knows it, it has been verified by my actions. Faith cannot be verified precisely because it is a one sided conversation. It is impossible to prove the exists of some other force interacting with you. An example could be that you heard gods voice and how is that any different than your love of your wife. The fact of the matter is that if I hear some voice - presumably by god - how can I distinguish this from merely talking to myself. Further more how do I prove that - conclusively. If I hit my wife there is verifiable evidence that I probably don't truly love her. You need to come up with much better questions than this one. I for on am shock at the lack of good question about this subject on this site. Most of you guys are caught up in really elementary questions. Why not do a little research and ask about early hominid evolution or something more changing. Or do you even know where to being. I have read your intelligent design materials and your young earth crap. Come with it. Bring it on. Where are the real questions, you guys are also always dodging the ones I put on-line - if you answer them at all. Bring it!!!.

Who's brilliant know Jonny! IM me and I'll agrue with you until your comb over catches fire. Word Up.

Answer 3

I suppose that you're hinting at that because we don't believe in god due to lack of 'proof', that we can't believe in love because of the same? If that's the case, let me tell you the difference:
Love is a feeling, and different people may describe it a little bit differently, you can be sure it exists because it's a feeling you can feel, and see other people acting on it. It's not an entity by itself, like god is supposed to be.
I think we atheists may have the same concept of love as anyone from any religion, it just doesn't involve god.
As for me, i find it a little hard to describe what love really is, but i do know it's a feeling, of affection and caring, and you do certain things for the people or the things you love, that show that you do.

Answer 4

The concept of love is easy. Our species gives birth to helpless immature children. It takes years to raise them to the age that they can take care of themselves and reproduce and pass on our genes. There is an advantage to this as it allows for development of complex beings without having an overly long gestation period. And it allows us to pass very useful knowledge from generation to generation. Love is the drive that keeps families together long enough to raise a family. It keeps males and females bonded so that the female can carry babies to term and nurture them while the male gathers food and protects them.

But we have very complex brains that let us find all sorts of meaning in things and that makes love a lot more interesting and fun.

How can I prove I love someone? That is pretty vague. I don't know if you mean how do I prove to my wife that I love her or if you mean, how can I prove that love exists.

Answer 5

"Love" is apparent through out the animal kingdom, even though most species are not monogamous, many care for their young in a loving manner. Dogs and cats show (often) show a strong affection for their masters and elephants will mourn at the bones of a dead elephant that they knew. It's pretty obvious that the emotion love developed for 2 reasons: 1) to ensure that parents/adults raised their young until they could fend for themselves and 2) to bond the male and female together at least though the initial years of child care. It's also fairly clear form the chemical changes in our minds and the numerous customs of various societies that humans by nature are not monogamous nor are them limited to loving only one partner.

Answer 6

How do Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, Pagans, Red Indians, Jains, Aborigines, and countless others explain love ? In exactly the same fashion as you do, love is an emotion,love is NOT a gift from a supernatural being, it exists with or without faith. Silly question !

Answer 7

Many species of birds and mammals are monogamous, and it is obvious that the bond between mates, as well as parents for offspring is genetically hard wired in the brain's emotional centers.

As far as personally experiencing this evolved capacity for emotional attachment, it is a most delightful thing. I have been intensely in love with my mate for 15 years.

Answer 8

Love is an emotion... you really can't explain a conceptual emotion that is different for everyone... just like faith. As far as proof, all there is is a person's word... just like faith.

Love has NOTHING to do with god or religion.

I know where you're going with this question and it just won't work. Nice try, though.

Answer 9

Love is an emotion. It does not take a belief in God to experience emotion? Sheesh, the questions sometimes are just too idiotic for words.

Answer 10

Love, in its most basic form, is the desire to keep someone from being harmed. An emotion like this is perfectly explainable through darwinian thought.