November 23, 2004
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Love – Proof of God’s Existence?
Believe it or not, I used to be pretty religious back in high school. Probably even more so than my brother is now. Over the years, certain incidents and difficult hardships in my life have steered me away from religion and God. Becoming more analytical and skeptical with age didn’t help my faith either. Personally I think the human element is what creates the negative stigma (war, terrorism, bible-thumping fundamentalists, etc.) surrounding all religions. One of the things that all religions have in common at their core is that they all begin with a Creator. Now I’m not the most religious person in the world anymore but I do believe in God.
The following is just a mere perspective on my part regarding the existence of God and is not meant to be construed as me preaching or anything. Perhaps it might even help the skeptical people out their re-evaluate their spiritual lives. *shrug* Here we go…
The debate between the concepts of evolution and creation has been one that’s been going on for years. Only until recently did people start considering that perhaps the two concepts could co-exist. The time frame of creation as described in the Bible does not have to be taken literally as “7 days” as we have no idea what “1 day” covers by God’s definition. Rather “1 day” could symbolize a point in time that covers the span of millions of years in the evolution of the Earth and its inhabitants.
A key component of evolution is the idea of adaptation to environmental changes and the necessities for survival. The 5 senses that all of us have are shared by many different species on some level and they all serve some purpose. For example, the sense of smell allows us not only to taste food but it also serves to warn us of possible danger (smoke, toxic fumes, etc). For other animals, it allows the detection of pheremones, vital to sexual attraction and reproduction.
Of all the senses and emotions that humans and animals alike share and experience, there is one emotion that serves as the greatest evidence of God. That’s the existence of LOVE as a human emotion with a recognized equivalent amongst other “lower” forms of life.
Love does not make sense.
It doesn’t get you ahead in life. It doesn’t necessarily perpetuate any species. It can lead you into a suicidal self-sacrifice for an evidently unworthy individual, people, society or idea.
Why is there love, except that it is a mirror of God’s existence?
Why are we driven to self-sacrifice? Why are we driven to form alliances so risky, alliances against all common sense of self preservation?
It serves no purpose to perpetuate any species. We form love bonds with the same sex, with lower orders of creatures, with groups and societies, and with ideas. Why?
Love seems to be some weird invisible thread that permeates all of creation, yet it has no logical foundation in any theory of evolution or proposition of creation except that it is an idea that approximates the “heart of God”.
Sexual attraction is evinced by chemical reactions and fits into the theory of evolution and procreation. Love does not. In certain circumstances, there might be a genuine and measurable non-erotic quickening when you are in the presence of something or someone you love. That love continues to exist, however, even when the quickening is absent.
So what is the logical reason behind the phenomenon of love? How did it ever help the evolutionary process?
What makes a dog keep going back into a fire looking for his owner, until he had irrepairably damaged himself? Even on a sub-human level, this action seems contrary to the idea of self-preservation and the constant evolution of species.
Allow me if you will to speak briefly of love from a Christian perspective. Is it any surprise that the idea of love is exemplified in Jesus sacrificing Himself for the salvation of mankind? Even if you’re not a Christian, you’ll find the concept of love intertwined in most religions.
As we all go about our daily lives, perhaps the proof of God’s existence has been there all along, evident in the love we have for our family, friends, significant others and even pets.
With Thanksgiving Day coming up this week, try to look at the time spent with your chosen company as something more than the celebration of “turkey day”.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Comments (39)
From the biological perspective, men look for women who are shapely and good-looking. They have to look suitable for bearing children. Females look for men with strong personality traits; they look for guys who would be able to support a family. The males’ role is to impregnate as many females as he can as to perpetuate the survival of the species. Once he gets a female pregnant, he can move on to the next one while the first is in her incubation period. However, by ritually uniting couples (i.e. having them get married) it forces the male to stay with the female, therefore keeping relationships monogamous. The two benefit from this because if the male is with the female, then he wards off competing males. Also, a supportive father is always beneficial to the offspring. Look at the children of divorced parents. They can’t be completely all right (but that’s not to say that children of married parents are doing better; they might just be better off overall).
Before kings were using their daughters to close deals with rival countries, or rich families making their daughters marry into other rich families, what else besides sexual attraction and affection was there? People didn’t always marry, or at least procreate, for political or financial reasons – at least not as much in this day and age as they did say… centuries ago. I think extreme affection (love) for another exists to give us more reason to remain with the same partner (that is, aside from the fact that if we’ve chosen them as suitable partners).
I can’t really comment on the religion part.
I think I started to zone out; I might be unclear somewhere else, but so far I meant to say “don’t” where it says “People didn’t always marry…” and text in the last set of parentheses was supposed to be about suitable partners for procreation.
If only God created the universe in 5 days. Then we would only have 3 weekdays. Just get rid of Tuesday and Thursday.
Good post. I personally like introspective and open minded discussions of religion prolly the best of all argueing/ conversing.
I too agree that strictness of religious enterpretation will only bring division and thus creationism v evolution debates in the world. Personally I think christians are dumb logically if they cannot accept that God mighta created the function of evolution just as he created other natural processed like aging or like water that though the years cuts canyons in mountains.
But to answer your question on Love. (I come from a quasi eastern Philosphy background) Love exists because it can. Actually it has no choice becasue there is hate. Hate serves no purpose in many cases too. is self destructive. Doesn’t further survival. Many times just destroys. So Love must also exist. Sometimes serving a purpose like keepin a family together, making you truely care for your kids, etc but also sometimes it just exists just cuz. Cuz in the end anything is possible. And if you ever divide so you can see one from the other. You have created two….heat needs cold….black needs white….love needs hate.
Without the opposite neither can exist.
nice
yah, heart warming stuff. i’m on the same page on u with this. but seems like alot of people get it twisted. thinking going to church and believing god somehow makes them greater than the person who doesnt. i doubt that this, all loving god, is so evil, angry, and unforgiving as church people make him out to be nowadays.
i don’t know if love is proof of god’s existence. i think love is used to aid humans in understanding their god’s existence because many, if not all, religions are based on the notion of love. love is the simplest form of euphoria one can experience in many degrees. every single person has been loved, given love, or felt love(d) but not everyone has experienced peace, patience, understanding, or nirvana which is the “goal” in most religions. everybody needs to feel loved and feel that someone cares for them which is why religion fluorishes amongst the masses during times of strife. religions need love and the notion of love to survive and draw believers. they also need love to develop hate. they teach their followers that their gods love them and in return the masses naturally would want to reciprocate. but when someone comes along to attack their loved one, beware of the wrath a pious person holds. some religions teach to love others as well as their god. however, some don’t, and that’s when things get scary…all in the name of religion.
anyway, bottom line is, i’m not sure if the beatles were right to say that all we need is love but we sure do need to be careful of the extremists.
what is love but the search to end loneliness?
my astronomy professor mentioned god once in passing. he wondered why matter subsisted over antimatter after the big bang. the universe’s atoms make up but one part in ten billion that did not get cancelled out immediately after the big bang. why did god leave an excess of matter?
it could have been god’s creation story, but i don’t wish to believe it. as i see it, god is much less scientific, and much more mystical than this.
dude, is this the fucking gay shit that you write since there’s no wow yet?
hahaha @ lowphat’s comment.
good entry. =)
quoting the sentence: “Love seems to be some weird invisible thread that permeates all of creation, yet it has no logical foundation in any theory of evolution or proposition of creation except that it is an idea that approximates the “heart of God”.
that is SO true. the one thing that can’t be understood or explained…is also the one thing that is everywhere. happy thanksgiving!
you continue to blow me away with your reflections.
here’s my two cents…the idea of “love” should not be confused with “attachment” and “committment.” many mistake “love” for sexual attraction, or an overwhelming desire to be with someone else (and you addressed this fact in your posting). but my perspective is that the word ”love” (past sexual attraction and/or the desire to be physically close), is a label overgeneralized and assigned to describe the affects – attachment and unwillingness to lose all that was invested (time, effort, history,) as crass as that may sound. perhaps a more appropriate word to use is “committment.” as any long-term or married couple will attest, oftentimes, while the flame may no longer burn as brightly as it had in the intial stages of their relationship, their level of dedication to their partners continues to grow and bring them closer together. but the fact that they stay together, act in the best interest of the other, exhibit unmistakable signs of loyalty to each other, etc. has more to do with pragmatism and logic than it does, necessarily, the ambiguous and all-encompassing word….love.
i can put you on the layaway plan if you want.. i just want people to have a good time.. if its a funds situation, Id be more than happy to work something out for ya.. drop me an email.. and let me know
I’ve been browsing through your Xanga for the past hour or so and I just had to leave a comment. I love how opinionated you are and I love how you articulate your thoughts. You have a wonderful way with words and I definitely think you’ll make a great lawyer. I don’t necessarily agree with everything you say (such as this entry’s topic) but it’s still food for thought and I enjoy reading it. Take care and have a great Thanksgiving.
Jenn
I concur…love is the same feeling that makes you treat people well that treat you like shit…but you do it because of love for them and love for God…bc you know that even if they don’t appreciate it, God will.
Must read:
The Italicization of America: Fonts Slanted to the Right
Written by: Typography von Slantenburg
hey man.. i don’t know if u read ur comment or not, but ur xanga is interesting.. ur topic n everything.. well i’m from california and a senior in high school, i’m doing a project on “should using a cell phone while driving be illegal?”.. i was wondering if u run out of topic to write about mayb u could write about that.. if u do.. i mite quote u in project
hey wassup david hyung, i found this off of simon hyungs xanga…
that guy in the painting has a small wang.
= )
but
that guy in the painting has a small wang… = )
otherwise, this was a pretty deep post.
i JUST got the free oberto in the mail today. how long did that take? i think i signed up for it on the day you posted the link.
CHECK ME OUT!
why? you have a gf and you’re obsessed with wow.
thats a really nice entry! awwwww
your online but i cant’ IM you….
touching
May I use this entry on our Poetic Challenge pages. Get back to me with a yes or a no. I’d appreciate it.
Best regards and I think it was an excellent entry.
LittleE
If you don’t care, just copy and send to me in an email so you don’t have to leave your site open for copying. Thanks so much, I appreciate it and yes, I thought it was a super post. Email from my site.
Regards,
Hi, me again, I got it so no need to send. Thank you so much again.
wow, PhatBoY113, you haven’t updated (publically?) in a while. i’m not sure if i told you or not, but i can’t comment on your site from home, i have to do it from work; my computers jacked.
anyways, i liked this post. you’re right. love doens’t make sense. on an Earthly level, there is no place or reason for it. but there it is, right there. isn’t it cute?
What is love anyway? How is love different from mere attachment or physical/mental attraction? Besides the fact that Evolutionism is simply a bullcrap, Christianism does not have too much proof on its validity either.
If “love” is used as some sort of sign of an intelligient creator, it can also be used as the anti-sign since as you so articulately pointed out, love does not make sense most of the time. People automatically assume love is good but what’s so good about a dog sacrificing itself to save his master? If the master sacrifices himself to save the dog, would you consider him a saint? Once you begin seeing things objectively (as in Objectivism), you will see how twisted religious rationals are.
encore
i’d like to know that love always exists..
[hehehe now everytime i see that pic i always think of the one that says.....
And God said, “Adam, quick! Pull my finger”
Anyways, I don’t think i’m special or seomthing but I have a lot of names on my list that I don’t read and I’d rather not go one by one through all of them. I’d like to just add people I know who read me cuz for the most part I read them too. It’s to take the work load off of me
yup.
very tintalating entry. lol. made me think….
I have felt sexual attraction, but i have not yet been able to distuinguish what the feeling of love is from the feeling of sexual onturning. Either that or i have been feeling love and have been thinking it is sexual arousal.
I guess i have no choice but to throw another question in here: Is love a tangible feeling (able to be perceived by senses) or a state of mind (i guess rationality or something involving thought)? Or….what the heck is it?
I dunno if you will even notice this post but if you do, then maybe you can comemnt on it if it stimulkates any response from you. I’m in a relationship right now and am conflicted with this notion of love.
you rock my world phat man =)
i love this entry… i swear i’m gonna be u in ten years.. what the.. were u a part of Seekers in BronxSci?…. i was thinkging about leaving gratuitous info about my faith but … blah…