Atheists: Is Love Eternal?

[tomspug]

I am always fascinated by how atheists interpret ideas like love. From your own personal perspective, what is the value of love? How do you respond to romantic notions such as "love never dies" or that "love conquers all"? Does love have a historical source? Does love even exist at all?

I suppose I could ask a million questions about love. But I'll just stick with those for now!

 

[LuisDantas]

I am always fascinated by how atheists interpret ideas like love. From your own personal perspective, what is the value of love?

The same as for anyone else, probably. We just don't have a ready explanation for it. Or rather, we tend to explain it in biological and psychological terms.

How do you respond to romantic notions such as "love never dies" or that "love conquers all"?

Once upon a time I liked them. Reality, however, taught me that it is dangerous to believe in such concepts, beautiful as they are.

Does love have a historical source? Does love even exist at all?

Oh, it exists alright

It has historical triggers in a personal level, but not a source per se. As for its origin, it is apparently an instinct that we inherited from other animals. Love is useful from a biological perspective, because it motivates mammals such as us to gather together and take care of each other. Mammals have little offspring and fragile constitutions, therefore such a defensive stance is quite needed.

 

[UnTheist]

From your own personal perspective, what is the value of love?

I think love is very valuable, but overrated.

How do you respond to romantic notions such as "love never dies" or that "love conquers all"?

I think they're fooling themselves.

 

[Willamena]

I am always fascinated by how atheists interpret ideas like love. From your own personal perspective, what is the value of love? How do you respond to romantic notions such as "love never dies" or that "love conquers all"? Does love have a historical source? Does love even exist at all?

I suppose I could ask a million questions about love. But I'll just stick with those for now!

The value of love is understanding.

The romantic, poetic phrases of love have their places.

In a sense everything has a "historical source" since all our ideas are built-up.

Love, like all our things, exists.

 

[Nanda]

From your own personal perspective, what is the value of love?

I think love is quite valuable - as social creatures, it's the primary motivation of most people. It keeps us in communities large and small, working together toward common goals. It keeps us mating and ensures that the species will continue. It goes hand in hand with altruism. Love is powerful stuff.

How do you respond to romantic notions such as "love never dies" or that "love conquers all"?

I think it's a lot of bullpucky, to be honest. Some loves never die, but many and most loves do - we see it all the time. If love never died, divorce wouldn't run rampant. As for love conquering all, while a nice sentiment, it is also too often untrue. Love can conquer all, but it usually doesn't.

Does love have a historical source? Does love even exist at all?

Of course it exists. It exists like any emotional state exists. As for love having a history, we can easily view love's origins in our nearest relatives - Apes. It starts as altruism, which greatly benefits creatures who live in close-knit societies.

 

[crystalonyx]

What does love have to do with religion?

Or, why is an atheist supposed to think differently about love than a theist?

 

[Engyo]

Unless you are specifically talking about *religious* meanings of the word love, why should there be a difference?

Besides, all things are impermanent, according to the Dharma.

 

[Kungfuzed]

First of all, I don't believe in eternity.
Secondly, romantic love is a chemical addition that fades over time.
There are other types of love that last much longer.

 

[logician]

Is love really the eternal quest not to be alone?

 

[BucephalusBB]

I think love is very valuable, but overrated.

I disagree. Love for me is the same as affection, but to the extreme.
People tend to use "love" for about everything. In that way, love is very much underrated..

Sometimes I have the feeling that "love" for me is way more valuable than "love" for a theist. But it's actually more in the description of the word..

 

[crystalonyx]

Love is a search for meaning.

 

[DarkSun]

Love is a search for meaning.

I'm not an atheist, but I'll say this,

Love between siblings and friends, empathy for your fellow man when he is in need... these things cannot be explained by the so called "need to reproduce". They're something more....

 

[yearningknight]

Love does exist however it isn't eternal because all love is an animal attraction or an affection to animals feel when they are together. Love is something that keeps some people sane or insane do to heartfelt days spent together or heartbroken days apart. I believe love is viewed the same however love dies when you die for to me there is nothing after death.