God is (Is God) Love. (?)

[an anarchist]

A reply I saw earlier raised some good points.

I'm very sensitive to cognitivity: there are some theistic claims that I'm just not sure are even saying anything at all, like "God is love." I understand what "God is loving" would mean, because it's saying God has a property. But "God is love" is saying that God is a property, which is somewhat just nonsense. So I do struggle with claims that seem noncognitive at times, and will ask for clarification where possible. I often don't get satisfactory explanation though.

To those who believe that God could be correctly described as simply love, what do you mean? Can God be a property? What does that mean? I will give my personal beliefs on the matter.
I believe God is Love, is love, is love.
I believe the only way it is possible for God to be manifested in the temporal world is through Love. As God, in His totality, is incomprehensible to the temporal mind, no religious text can hope to fully elucidate on what God is. I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love. As followers of God, we are tasked with manifesting God in the temporal realm. If God is love, then we are tasked with being literal manifestations of love while we are spending our time on this earth. When someone acts out of love, and reaches out to somebody else with that love, in effect, the person at the receiving end is experiencing God incarnate. In order to spread God’s message, we must simply act with love. In order to establish God’s temporal presence, we must act with love. In absence of any sacred text, God would still be knowable through this method of cognition. The purpose of sacred texts are to make this message abundantly clear. God is love.
I’m being a bit abstract I’m sorry but this is an abstract concept and I’m not educated. Chime in y’all help me out
I will use Zoroastrianism as an example. I have begun studying the Gathas, which are Zoroastrian hymns which are attributed directly to the founding prophet, Zoroaster. When he established Zoroastrianism, this is what he did. He founded a Monotheistic religion in a culture of polytheism, first of all. The existing religions of the time was focused on ceremony and sacrifices. Zoroaster’s message throughout the Gathas is that what this singular deity requires is Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. To be a practicing Zoroastrian, in theory, you must commit yourself to do these three things at every opportunity.
Zoroastrian theology says that these loving actions will help serve in establishing literal Heaven on earth. The good God and the bad god are in a cosmic battle for control of the universe, and our loving actions (or lack of) has a bearing on this battle. In order for God to be established on this literal, temporal, earth, He needs humanity’s love. If humans do not act out of love, God’s kingdom will not be established. In this theology, God can be clearly described as literal love, I think. God requires humans to act out of love in order for God to bring peace on earth. God is literally in their loving actions, while His opposition is in every hateful action. On a metaphysical sense, God is the positive energy and so is love.
Essentially what I’m saying is that if humans aren’t loving there will never be a rapture type event and no Heaven on earth, ever. Collective Human love is a prerequisite to these things. I think that shows what it means that God is Love.
Is God love? How do you explain that

 

[dybmh]

I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love.

I haven't found anything claiming or implying that God is Love in the OT. Perhaps that's an outlier?

 

[sun rise]

To those who believe that God could be correctly described as simply love, what do you mean?

I believe the only way it is possible for God to be manifested in the temporal world is through Love. As God, in His totality, is incomprehensible to the temporal mind, no religious text can hope to fully elucidate on what God is. I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love. As followers of God, we are tasked with manifesting God in the temporal realm. If God is love, then we are tasked with being literal manifestations of love while we are spending our time on this earth. When someone acts out of love, and reaches out to somebody else with that love, in effect, the person at the receiving end is experiencing God incarnate.

This is my belief as well.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Is God love?

It depends on one's understanding of God. For you and some others, it is, for some it's something else, and for some God is irrelevant to their worldview.

 

[sun rise]

I haven't found anything claiming or implying that God is Love in the OT. Perhaps that's an outlier?

Isaiah 54:10 - Bible Gateway has many different translations that use 'love', 'compassion', 'loving-kindness', kindness. It's not literally "God is love".

But, for example, in Judaism Chapter 3: Hasidism – Religion Online

For Hasidism the world was created out of love and is to be brought to perfection through love. Love is central in God’s relation to man and is more important than fear of God, justice, or righteousness. The fear of God is only a door to the love of God -- it is the awe which one has before a loving father. God is love, and the capacity to love is man’s innermost participation in God. This capacity is never lost but needs only to be purified to be raised to God Himself. Thus love is not only a feeling; it is the godly in existence. Nor can one love God unless he loves his fellow man, for God is immanent in man as in all of His creation. For the same reason the love of God and the love of man is to be for its own sake and not for the sake of any reward.

 

[an anarchist]

I haven't found anything claiming or implying that God is Love in the OT. Perhaps that's an outlier?

I personally think God’s love is clear in the OT when you see how many times He forgives and saves Israel, regardless of their repeated sins. Of course this is an action of love, not love itself I guess perhaps

 

[dybmh]

Isaiah 54:10 - Bible Gateway has many different translations that use 'love', 'compassion', 'loving-kindness', kindness. It's not literally "God is love".

But, for example, in Judaism Chapter 3: Hasidism – Religion Online

For Hasidism the world was created out of love and is to be brought to perfection through love. Love is central in God’s relation to man and is more important than fear of God, justice, or righteousness. The fear of God is only a door to the love of God -- it is the awe which one has before a loving father. God is love, and the capacity to love is man’s innermost participation in God. This capacity is never lost but needs only to be purified to be raised to God Himself. Thus love is not only a feeling; it is the godly in existence. Nor can one love God unless he loves his fellow man, for God is immanent in man as in all of His creation. For the same reason the love of God and the love of man is to be for its own sake and not for the sake of any reward.

I appreciate what you've said, but I'm not sure the Isaiah quote communicates God is love. Certainly God is described as loving creation.

Regading the quote about Chassidism, It's not exactly a sacred text, which was what I reacted to. Also, it may depend on which version of Hassidism. The Chabad community stresses the intellectual side more than the emotive side.

Edit: from your quote: "love is not only a feeling; it is the godly in existence." A little earlier in the article it says God is panentheistic. So "godly in existence" is not defining God in Chassidism, it's defining love and existence.

 

[MonkeyFire]

God is LOVE. It’s a living thing that is responsible and the ultimate source of all romance, child rearing, and friendship. I’ve been FAITH since I was a little boy based on a reoccurring religious experience. The Dalai Lama is living buddhist incarnation of compassion. We all do this or love is impossible, as there must be level of difference in every human and if we all had the same nature there would be no different.

 

[SigurdReginson]

I personally think God’s love is clear in the OT when you see how many times He forgives and saves Israel, regardless of their repeated sins. Of course this is an action of love, not love itself I guess perhaps

Hmmm... Does that make every other god forgiving or saving a nation or a city state exhibiting love?

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I haven't found anything claiming or implying that God is Love in the OT. Perhaps that's an outlier?

I have a Jewish stepfather.

He is very bright and a joy to talk with.

We discuss various topics from the (what I call OT)

One time I mentioned a new concept for me “God is Love”

He said “how can God be love, he can love, but he can’t BE love”

I used to think of it the way he does.

Now, I firmly believe that God IS love.

 

[dybmh]

I have a Jewish stepfather.

He is very bright and a joy to talk with.

We discuss various topics from the (what I call OT)

One time I mentioned a new concept for me “God is Love”

He said “how can God be love, he can love, but he can’t BE love”

I used to think of it the way he does.

Now, I firmly believe that God IS love.

What made you change your mind?

 

[Regiomontanus]

This is my belief as well.

Pope Francis beautifully touched on this, in a way:

"This is faith: to welcome God-as-Love. To welcome God-as-Love who gives Himself in Christ, who moves us in the Holy Spirit; to let ourselves be encountered by Him and to trust in Him. This is Christian life. Love, to encounter God, to search for God, and He seeks us first. He encounters us first."


POPE FRANCIS: "THE TRINITY IS LOVE." - Catholics Striving For Holiness

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

What made you change your mind?

Oh my.

I really appreciate you asking me.

If we could visit together sometime I would love to explain it.

But, it would take me way too much time to write it all down here.

It was a process that took 2-3 years ish to arrive at, with considerable Bible reading and study. Lots of concepts coming into the mind. Lots of verses.
I pretty much read Genesis, prophets, and gospels. I will expand that someday, maybe.

I will say, that the moment I believed that God is love, the Bible and my understanding changed dramatically.

 

[Fool]

A reply I saw earlier raised some good points.

To those who believe that God could be correctly described as simply love, what do you mean? Can God be a property? What does that mean? I will give my personal beliefs on the matter.
I believe God is Love, is love, is love.
I believe the only way it is possible for God to be manifested in the temporal world is through Love. As God, in His totality, is incomprehensible to the temporal mind, no religious text can hope to fully elucidate on what God is. I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love. As followers of God, we are tasked with manifesting God in the temporal realm. If God is love, then we are tasked with being literal manifestations of love while we are spending our time on this earth. When someone acts out of love, and reaches out to somebody else with that love, in effect, the person at the receiving end is experiencing God incarnate. In order to spread God’s message, we must simply act with love. In order to establish God’s temporal presence, we must act with love. In absence of any sacred text, God would still be knowable through this method of cognition. The purpose of sacred texts are to make this message abundantly clear. God is love.
I’m being a bit abstract I’m sorry but this is an abstract concept and I’m not educated. Chime in y’all help me out
I will use Zoroastrianism as an example. I have begun studying the Gathas, which are Zoroastrian hymns which are attributed directly to the founding prophet, Zoroaster. When he established Zoroastrianism, this is what he did. He founded a Monotheistic religion in a culture of polytheism, first of all. The existing religions of the time was focused on ceremony and sacrifices. Zoroaster’s message throughout the Gathas is that what this singular deity requires is Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. To be a practicing Zoroastrian, in theory, you must commit yourself to do these three things at every opportunity.
Zoroastrian theology says that these loving actions will help serve in establishing literal Heaven on earth. The good God and the bad god are in a cosmic battle for control of the universe, and our loving actions (or lack of) has a bearing on this battle. In order for God to be established on this literal, temporal, earth, He needs humanity’s love. If humans do not act out of love, God’s kingdom will not be established. In this theology, God can be clearly described as literal love, I think. God requires humans to act out of love in order for God to bring peace on earth. God is literally in their loving actions, while His opposition is in every hateful action. On a metaphysical sense, God is the positive energy and so is love.
Essentially what I’m saying is that if humans aren’t loving there will never be a rapture type event and no Heaven on earth, ever. Collective Human love is a prerequisite to these things. I think that shows what it means that God is Love.
Is God love? How do you explain that

Oh my.

I really appreciate you asking me.

If we could visit together sometime I would love to explain it.

But, it would take me way too much time to write it all down here.

It was a process that took 2-3 years ish to arrive at, with considerable Bible reading and study. Lots of concepts coming into the mind. Lots of verses.
I pretty much read Genesis, prophets, and gospels. I will expand that someday, maybe.

I will say, that the moment I believed that God is love, the Bible and my understanding changed dramatically.

god is a verb, an action, and self is a mirror, image of that reflection


exodus 3:14, to be is a verb

 

[Fool]

It depends on one's understanding of God. For you and some others, it is, for some it's something else, and for some God is irrelevant to their worldview.

"pure" consciousness, nirguna brahman is love. nataraja is love

 

[DNB]

A reply I saw earlier raised some good points.

To those who believe that God could be correctly described as simply love, what do you mean? Can God be a property? What does that mean? I will give my personal beliefs on the matter.
I believe God is Love, is love, is love.
I believe the only way it is possible for God to be manifested in the temporal world is through Love. As God, in His totality, is incomprehensible to the temporal mind, no religious text can hope to fully elucidate on what God is. I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love. As followers of God, we are tasked with manifesting God in the temporal realm. If God is love, then we are tasked with being literal manifestations of love while we are spending our time on this earth. When someone acts out of love, and reaches out to somebody else with that love, in effect, the person at the receiving end is experiencing God incarnate. In order to spread God’s message, we must simply act with love. In order to establish God’s temporal presence, we must act with love. In absence of any sacred text, God would still be knowable through this method of cognition. The purpose of sacred texts are to make this message abundantly clear. God is love.
I’m being a bit abstract I’m sorry but this is an abstract concept and I’m not educated. Chime in y’all help me out
I will use Zoroastrianism as an example. I have begun studying the Gathas, which are Zoroastrian hymns which are attributed directly to the founding prophet, Zoroaster. When he established Zoroastrianism, this is what he did. He founded a Monotheistic religion in a culture of polytheism, first of all. The existing religions of the time was focused on ceremony and sacrifices. Zoroaster’s message throughout the Gathas is that what this singular deity requires is Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. To be a practicing Zoroastrian, in theory, you must commit yourself to do these three things at every opportunity.
Zoroastrian theology says that these loving actions will help serve in establishing literal Heaven on earth. The good God and the bad god are in a cosmic battle for control of the universe, and our loving actions (or lack of) has a bearing on this battle. In order for God to be established on this literal, temporal, earth, He needs humanity’s love. If humans do not act out of love, God’s kingdom will not be established. In this theology, God can be clearly described as literal love, I think. God requires humans to act out of love in order for God to bring peace on earth. God is literally in their loving actions, while His opposition is in every hateful action. On a metaphysical sense, God is the positive energy and so is love.
Essentially what I’m saying is that if humans aren’t loving there will never be a rapture type event and no Heaven on earth, ever. Collective Human love is a prerequisite to these things. I think that shows what it means that God is Love.
Is God love? How do you explain that

I guess to state that 'God is love', in one sense, simply means that that's His most prominent and prevalent attribute. All that God does is derived from love. Whether it be exacting justice or wrath, or applying mercy, compassion and generosity, it's all precipitated and motivated by His love.

But, also, the expression that 'God is love' does also mean that He is the architect of love. Love would be impossible in an entirely secular dimension, it would have no meaning, and not be appreciated on any level. Love would never exist nor be fathomed, in a universe created solely from stardust or protoplasm.
God is the author of love, all His motivations are derived from love, all that He demands from us is to love one another, therefore, God is love.

 

[Meow Mix]

A reply I saw earlier raised some good points.

To those who believe that God could be correctly described as simply love, what do you mean? Can God be a property? What does that mean? I will give my personal beliefs on the matter.
I believe God is Love, is love, is love.
I believe the only way it is possible for God to be manifested in the temporal world is through Love. As God, in His totality, is incomprehensible to the temporal mind, no religious text can hope to fully elucidate on what God is. I have found that all of the sacred texts I have read have this common, connecting message; God is love. As followers of God, we are tasked with manifesting God in the temporal realm. If God is love, then we are tasked with being literal manifestations of love while we are spending our time on this earth. When someone acts out of love, and reaches out to somebody else with that love, in effect, the person at the receiving end is experiencing God incarnate. In order to spread God’s message, we must simply act with love. In order to establish God’s temporal presence, we must act with love. In absence of any sacred text, God would still be knowable through this method of cognition. The purpose of sacred texts are to make this message abundantly clear. God is love.
I’m being a bit abstract I’m sorry but this is an abstract concept and I’m not educated. Chime in y’all help me out
I will use Zoroastrianism as an example. I have begun studying the Gathas, which are Zoroastrian hymns which are attributed directly to the founding prophet, Zoroaster. When he established Zoroastrianism, this is what he did. He founded a Monotheistic religion in a culture of polytheism, first of all. The existing religions of the time was focused on ceremony and sacrifices. Zoroaster’s message throughout the Gathas is that what this singular deity requires is Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds. To be a practicing Zoroastrian, in theory, you must commit yourself to do these three things at every opportunity.
Zoroastrian theology says that these loving actions will help serve in establishing literal Heaven on earth. The good God and the bad god are in a cosmic battle for control of the universe, and our loving actions (or lack of) has a bearing on this battle. In order for God to be established on this literal, temporal, earth, He needs humanity’s love. If humans do not act out of love, God’s kingdom will not be established. In this theology, God can be clearly described as literal love, I think. God requires humans to act out of love in order for God to bring peace on earth. God is literally in their loving actions, while His opposition is in every hateful action. On a metaphysical sense, God is the positive energy and so is love.
Essentially what I’m saying is that if humans aren’t loving there will never be a rapture type event and no Heaven on earth, ever. Collective Human love is a prerequisite to these things. I think that shows what it means that God is Love.
Is God love? How do you explain that

This still seems to be saying something closer to "God is loving" and "God appreciates love" rather than "God is love."

For instance, my cat is very soft. He's a sweetheart. But it would be meaningless to say that anything is a property. My cat is soft, he is not softness.

To say that God is love, God would have to be identical with love. But God isn't identical with love, because God has other properties: such as omnipotence, or omniscience, or being a person. Love doesn't have the same properties: it can be sufficiently described without invoking personhood for instance, or power, or knowledge. So love can't be identical with God. It might be a property of God to love, but that isn't the same thing as being love. Otherwise we might as well be talking about food that tastes purple; it's just inherently not a correct way to describe something to say that it is a property.

 

[Meow Mix]

I guess to state that 'God is love', in one sense, simply means that that's His most prominent and prevalent attribute. All that God does is derived from love. Whether it be exacting justice or wrath, or applying mercy, compassion and generosity, it's all precipitated and motivated by His love.

But, also, the expression that 'God is love' does also mean that He is the architect of love. Love would be impossible in an entirely secular dimension, it would have no meaning, and not be appreciated on any level. Love would never exist nor be fathomed, in a universe created solely from stardust or protoplasm.
God is the author of love, all His motivations are derived from love, all that He demands from us is to love one another, therefore, God is love.

Of course, there are alternative worldviews whereby love is perfectly capable of existing in the absence of a God figure; in universes created from stardust and protoplasm.

 

[an anarchist]

To say that God is love, God would have to be identical with love. But God isn't identical with love, because God has other properties: such as omnipotence, or omniscience, or being a person. Love doesn't have the same properties: it can be sufficiently described without invoking personhood for instance, or power, or knowledge.

I want to focus on the personhood aspect. You gave me a mind twister
Jesus Christ is believed to be God in person. Could Jesus Christ, the person, be identical with love? From a Christian view, Jesus only acted with love, no sin at all.
Could love be sufficiently described without taking in to account the human perspective? I don’t think so. Which definition of love is removed from using a human perspective?
Rather, love is a uniquely human experience (Christian belief). Love requires human properties to be fully established and defined.
Since Jesus only acted out of love, and never did any hateful thoughts, words, or deeds, could he not be accurately described as a human incarnation of Love? The belief is that He provided salvation for every human being, through the power of His love.
Tbh I ain’t really got an answer, you’re gonna require me to do some quality thinking I’ll get back to this response though, i think it is solvable.

 

[Meow Mix]

I want to focus on the personhood aspect. You gave me a mind twister
Jesus Christ is believed to be God in person. Could Jesus Christ, the person, be identical with love? From a Christian view, Jesus only acted with love, no sin at all.
Could love be sufficiently described without taking in to account the human perspective? I don’t think so. Which definition of love is removed from using a human perspective?
Rather, love is a uniquely human experience (Christian belief). Love requires human properties to be fully established and defined.
Since Jesus only acted out of love, and never did any hateful thoughts, words, or deeds, could he not be accurately described as a human incarnation of Love? The belief is that He provided salvation for every human being, through the power of His love.
Tbh I ain’t really got an answer, you’re gonna require me to do some quality thinking I’ll get back to this response though, i think it is solvable.

This would still be Jesus possessing the property of being loving, though: being really full of some quality is not the same thing as being a property.

A ruler the size of the visible universe might be really lengthy, but it still isn't length