I ask this because it seems if a person doesn't know how to love one's self or that love is not a pure love or the person has a different definition of love than their neighbors then it follows that it might be almost impossible to love your neighbor as yourself. Couldn't it be twisted into something extremely selfish even violent in subtle or gross ways? Thoughts? Thank you.
2007-11-14 07:07:15 · 25 answers · asked by Yogini 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Even sane people don't love themselves. Self-love is actually quite difficult if you consider the number of people addicted to this substance or that. Eating disorders, rape, anger, intolerance.... it gets very murky.
2007-11-14 07:17:17 · update #1
We don't always have pure intentions. It takes a lot of self observation to know if your intentions are entirely pure or if they are coming from a place of selfishness.
2007-11-14 07:20:24 · update #2
I think that self love is a concept that most of us, well alot of people, struggle with...we are raised and programmed by those who were more then likely worse off then we are... less educated, less earning potential....thus putting more frustration into the world and thus into the individual....
Mind you, that those of generations past, lived up to a different standard then the people of today...those believing in an honest days work, etc...
Basically, i believe to one extent or another, we are all scared little children, hiding behind the mask of bravado....egomaniacs with inferiority complexes.
And nobody can beat me up, lay on the guilt, shame, and remorse like i can to myself....therefore, i think we find it hard to "love thy neighbor" for fear that our neighbor might really discover the inner truths about ourselves...which would be a feeling of less-then, substandard.. And what we ourselves do not realize, is that our neighbor is living in the same way.....
just my humble pagan thoughts...
)o( Trinity
2007-11-14 18:48:21 · answer #1 · answered by trinity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We could almost certainly relate this to the Good Samaritan in the Bible. The Samaritans in the Bible were not popular with the Jews, yet this Samaritan, knowing how the one he found hurt was a person who did not like him, he still took the injured man to a place where he could be helped medically and paid the bill for him also. This is the example Jesus is giving us in reciting this. Jesus is saying, no matter how much someone hates you or is unkind or persecutes you or is your enemy, if you find this one in trouble and you can help, do so. Do whatever you can for the one who is suffering in this world, no matter what the cost. Another aspect of loving your neighbour as yourself is doing everything you can to keep the peace and get along with those around you such as neighbours, friends, etc. When they don't cut their trees down and they overhang your patch, go the extra mile and cut them for the neighbour. If you notice they have forgotten to put the garbage bin out, put it out for them. Shovel their snow if they are aged, offer to cut their lawn if they are ill, take a nice pie over to a person who is housebound, or offer to walk the dog or do their shopping. These are things you would like done for you, so do them for others when they have need.
2016-05-23 04:02:16 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only flaw in loving thy neighbor as they self is when you do not realize your boundaries and become an enabler to the other person. Some people are givers and some are takers, if you don't realize that you are being taken, then it can become a real problem.
People are suppose to bare their own burdens, you can console and counsel them, help them in any way you can, but when their burdens fall directly on you and not on them, that's when the real problem occurs because they are not carrying their own cross, they are making you carry it for them. Love thy neighbor, but also remember tough love.
Do your best to be your best to other people, but don't let them walk all over you, this shows their lack of love and respect for you. Remember the saying also applies to them.
Be aware of what you do, how you love, how you give, but also be aware that loving a person does not mean that their life becomes your life and their burdens become your burdens.
We must all carry our own crosses and love, give of ourselves appropriately and remember that tough love is love too.
2007-11-14 07:26:32 · answer #3 · answered by I'm Here 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Loving one's neighbor as oneself doesn't happen just by trying to make it happen. You can't just decide to love someone if you don't feel it. In Buddhism, there are many methods for developing love for others. In Buddhism, it starts with developing love for oneself through the practice of meditation, and then that love or compassion extends to others. I am not a Christian, and I have had a difficult time determining how, in Christianity, love is developed for one's neighbor, or even one's enemy. So far I have come to the conclusion that there are two methods in Christianity for developing love for others. The first is by praying for them. If you pray for others, your mind will tend to hold them in a higher regard. The other method is by practicing love for others by doing what the Bible teaches about how to treat others, for example, by turning the other cheek, offering your cloak, offering to go the extra mile, not judging others, doing good works, blessing those that curse you, and so forth. Much of this is found in the Sermon On the Mount in Matthew 5, which ends with the instruction to be perfect. Much of what precedes the instruction to be perfect is what to do to achieve this kind of perfection.
2007-11-14 09:05:19 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. WD 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can understand this quite well. My mother-in-law believes that love is micromanagement and ultimate control, so that nothing bad can intrude. She pampers her cats, but in my opinion, she smothers them and overtreats them, so that they have only a shadow of life. She also wishes she could do this in her son's life (and thus mine). She thinks this overconcern and constant fear for safety is "love." She can't live without constant attention and this is not how I would love, nor how I wish to be loved. It doesn't appear to work for her, either, as she is usually miserable and she tends to inflict that misery on everyone around her so that she can feel normal. (a literal practitioner of the "misery loves company" adage). Her version of love seems to be destructive and stifling. And I'm her neighbor. It is a constant struggle. (On the other hand, I live and let live--she thinks I'm mentally deficient, but I'd rather be looked down upon than smothered.)
This ties in to the "first yama" too, doesn't it? Non-violence to oneself as well as to others. Someone who does not take care of him or herself cannot care properly for others. I see this played out in this situation too. Good question!
2007-11-14 07:35:58 · answer #5 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself"
A SANE person wouldn't hurt themselves on purpose or starve thyself, or just leave an injury to "heal" by itself. They would be kind, eat, and bandage a wound. (just like the Samaritan did for the Jew.)
2007-11-14 07:13:45 · answer #6 · answered by Rasha' 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
great question its not impossible i don't HATE my neighbors and i wouldn't ever be violent or gross i don't wish them harm i just don't enjoy socializing much so i don't bother, but i like my neighbors and i wish them well isn't that enough,like is it necessary to be nice if you don't want to be,or pay them lip service and be nice just because its a commandment seems pretty hypocritical,i don't expect my neighbors to love me,that's asking alot
2007-11-14 07:16:46 · answer #7 · answered by emma_undoo 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, due to the fallen nature this world is in, we tend to look at things with a heart that is tainted.
Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving
2007-11-14 13:08:14 · answer #8 · answered by Gir 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I suppose. If you had a twisted, violent, selfish, gross mind to begin with.
2007-11-14 07:17:54 · answer #9 · answered by byHisgrace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normal people will have no trouble with it. It's finding a "normal" person that's the problem.
Does this mean you shouldn't love your neighbor MORE than yourself?
2007-11-14 07:11:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋