I grew up in a place where Christians are a small minority.
To me, their symbol of someone being tortured to death was
appalling, and deeply alien.
As I got older and learned some of the ideas, I didnt get
any better impression. I think it was hearing that "god is
love" kind of slammed the door for me, that being just
too outlandishly ridiculous.
It’s more of a concept of what rules our individual lives.
For instance:
There are people who love having money, love making money.
Their thoughts are shaped by money. ‘How can I get more money?’
When they go to make a purchase, they think ‘is this a good investment?’ or ‘is it worth it?’
Their intentions and desires are shaped by the love of money. They actually feel joy when their stock purchase rises and anguish when it falls, even over short time spans. Think people jumping out of windows from high buildings when stock market crashes.
His life formed a partnership with money. When the money (appeared) to abandon him, he had nothing to live for.
Now contrast that to my ‘imaginary’ love of chocolate. (I do like chocolate by the way. A lot)
My thoughts are shaped by chocolate? Yes. ‘I’m bored, where’s the chocolate?’ ‘I feel like a snack. Oh, what about something chocolate?’
I go shopping. ‘Where is the chocolate aisle?’ ‘What percentage cacao does it have?’
My intentions and desires are shaped by the love of chocolate.
It doesn’t matter if I’m gaining too much weight.
It doesn’t matter if it’s getting too expensive.
The desire fir chocolate overpowers me.
Notice how money is irrelevant to me. Only getting more chocolate.
If chocolate were banned and no longer made, I would consider jumping from a high window.
My life has formed a partnership with chocolate.
I use the word God for a reason. In the first scenario the person considered money his ‘god’. In the second, chocolate was his ‘god’
You can look at it as a figure of speech, to represent a driving force in individual lives.
