Evidence for the Existence of Love

[SalixIncendium]

We've had several threads that have atheists asking theists for evidence for the existence of God. But that's not what this thread is about.

Do you believe love exists? Why or why not?

Are you able to provide evidence of love? If so, please do so here.

 

[WalterTrull]

Ahhh.... True love is simply revelation. You will know it when you experience it. Until then, no proof will suffice.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Ahhh.... True love is simply revelation. You will know it when you experience it. Until then, no proof will suffice.

Can the same be said for the existence of god(s)? Why or why not?

 

[ChristineM]

I love my children and husband, so yes i think it exists. As for evidence, no, you'll just have to take my word for it

 

[SalixIncendium]

I love my children and husband, so yes i think it exists. As for evidence, no, you'll just have to take my word for it

Can the same be done for the same that claim to have an experience of god(s)? Why or why not?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Love is something best described in poetry, but it can be terribly hard to define. Philosophy has also tried to tackle the subject - although, I don't feel it always does it particularly well.

The real battle is in trying to define it, I think.

Even if it's possible to do that....

For the effects of love, I'd try to look to science. It is said that love is a phenomena that activates the reward pathways in the brain, and affects hormones. Though, it still leaves the question of how these scientists are actually "defining" love in these studies, which may bring us back to square 1.

 

[ChristineM]

Can the same be done for the same that claim to have an experience of god(s)? Why or why not?

Im sure people can imagine gods.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Im sure people can imagine gods.

Can the same be said for people imagining love? Why or why not?

 

[ChristineM]

Can the same be said for people imagining love? Why or why not?

Love is of the mind, gods are of the mind, so yes, both can be imagined

 

[SalixIncendium]

Love is of the mind, gods are of the mind, so yes, both can be imagined

Thanks.

Is there a difference between taking one's word for the existence of love and taking one's word for the existence of god(s)? If not, why not?

 

[vulcanlogician]

Do you believe love exists? Why or why not?

Are you able to provide evidence of love? If so, please do so here.

Yes. Love exists. I've had deep, personal experiences of it to justify my belief. So I guess you'd call me a "mystic" of sorts when it comes to my belief in love.

 

[exchemist]

We've had several threads that have atheists asking theists for evidence for the existence of God. But that's not what this thread is about.

Do you believe love exists? Why or why not?

Are you able to provide evidence of love? If so, please do so here.

I presume your point, with this thread, is that love is intrinsically subjective and not amenable to providing objective evidence.

I certainly think there are aspects of human experience that cannot readily be reduced to objective criteria - and this is probably one of them. But then I am not reductionist.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I presume your point, with this thread, is that love is intrinsically subjective and not amenable to providing objective evidence.

I certainly think there are aspects of human experience that cannot readily be reduced to objective criteria - and this is probably one of them.

I would agree that love is more of a subjective experience. But then again, I don't really follow the idea of objective truth anyway - as an Existentialist.

 

[ChristineM]

Thanks.

Is there a difference between taking one's word for the existence of love and taking one's word for the existence of god(s)? If not, why not?

No difference, one has to apply ones own experience to both. I personally know selfless love so i at least know it exists, I've never had any experience of gods, but i know other people imagine their gods exist. That's up to them.

 

[fantome profane]

We've had several threads that have atheists asking theists for evidence for the existence of God. But that's not what this thread is about.

Do you believe love exists? Why or why not?

Are you able to provide evidence of love? If so, please do so here.

I like how you compare this to the existence of God. Just like when we discuss the existence of God, the first step is to define it clearly.

What is love?

 

[osgart]

My mother taught me love. She was a real friend to me, not just me mom. It definitely exists.

Evidence would have to come through a personal experience with it. Observation in action, or going through it yourself.

If you can imagine it then what in the physical world can prevent it?

 

[SalixIncendium]

No difference, one has to apply ones own experience to both. I personally know selfless love so i at least know it exists, I've never had any experience of gods, but i know other people imagine their gods exist. That's up to them.

Is there a difference between you knowing selfless love and others knowing god(s)? Since you feel it's fair for you to say others imagine their gods exist, is it also fair for others to say that you imagine selfless love exists? If not, please explain the difference.

 

[exchemist]

I would agree that love is more of a subjective experience. But then again, I don't really follow the idea of objective truth anyway - as an Existentialist.

"What is truth?", said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer.

As a scientist I had in mind objective evidence rather than "truth", whatever that slippery concept may be outside mathematics and logic.

 

[ChristineM]

Is there a difference between you knowing selfless love and others knowing god(s)? Since you feel it's fair for you to say others imagine their gods exist, is it also fair for others to say that you imagine selfless love exists? If not, please explain the difference.

I know that i imagine love exists so people can say whatever they want about my beliefs. As i said, it's all of the mind, I've explained the deciding factor is experience

And...

We've had several threads that have atheists asking theists for evidence for the existence of God. But that's not what this thread is about.

​

I think that's precisely what this thread is about but don't quote me on that

 

[Windwalker]

We've had several threads that have atheists asking theists for evidence for the existence of God. But that's not what this thread is about.

Do you believe love exists? Why or why not?

Are you able to provide evidence of love? If so, please do so here.

Love exists only in the mind. Therefore it's not real. We just imagine it's real, and that creates a chemical response, which fools us into believing it actually exists. It's just a trick of the mind.

It has been used to exploit believers in the myth of love, in order to try to control them and manipulate them. Therefore we need to let the believers in this silly outdated notion of love inherited from the bronze age to know the truth and be set free.