Who has UNconditional love?

patio34

Hi all,

I have seen the term 'unconditional love' used often in reference to JWs. Now, I understand the import: they love someone only on the condition that someone remains a JW "in good standing."

However, the term 'unconditional love' is proferred in a positive light. My question is does anyone ever love anyone UNconditionally? Aren't there some lines we will not allow to be crossed over?

Maybe with a child or a mentally handicapped person, one might extend unconditional love. But towards a grown person?

My thoughts are that my love extends only so far towards anybody who is mentally able and adult. E.g., a mate who becomes abusive and philandering would no longer be loved; hence, it was not unconditional love. A friend who is disloyal and causes you great harm would no longer be loved. A parent who cheated you and belittled you as an adult might no longer be loved. Anyway, you get my drift.

What do you think? I'll be at work all day and unable to check this until evening.

Signed,
Cogitating in California

joelbear

True love is unconditional. If it had conditions it wouldn't be love.
However, this love is rare.

We use the word love to mean many things, I love you, I love that color, etc. etc.

Love, which I define as a total commitment to the good of the other rather than the self, is very difficult to achieve since it requires personal sacrifice.

Most of what we call love is actually friendship or cooperation where we unite with others for a common goal and might give of ourselves at some points, but typically expect to receive something back at some other point.

Joel

ashitaka

I believe I have this love with my wife....we've been through so much together, (she's almost died, we eloped), I can't see not loving her for any reason.

It's beautiful and sacred. Other people around me are so hollow it seems, because unconditional love is like running naked through the streets-there's a lot of risks involved, and it creates one place for two people to hide.

ashi

DIM

my wife and I have this, but as for anyone else involved with my life, i'm not really sure....yet.

i'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight-short-sighted-narrow minded hypocritics. all i want is the truth just gimme some truth - John Lennon

Satanus

Pat

It should be interesting to see what gets posted. I was going to say there was no such thing, but some claim they have it for their wives. Let me pose these questions. If your wives had an affair, or left youse (plural for you) would youse still love her unconditionally till the day you died? What if she murdered someone? Would youse stick w her through the trial, visit her in jail and wait for her to be released, to be reunited again? What if she swindled thousands of dollars from a a charity that needed the money to feed starving kids, or house battered women? What if she turned into a pathological liar or went insane? I'm not posing these questions to make fun of your love. Uncondition means absolute, without limit. Do you guys think there could be a limit for your spousal love? I'm also asking because god is supposed to BE the very essence of love. So much so, he could be said to love unconditionally, yet from hearing the christians on this board, his love may have more conditions on it than your loves for your spouses. I look forward to understanding this subject better.

SS

ianao

I have unconditional love from.... (drum roll)...

NOBODY.

sleepy

Unconditional love, theres another word for that .
Stupidity.
Anything without conditions is open to abuse.Think of the unconditional devotion to the "faithful slave".
I would not expect someone to love me if I wronged them badly.

ashitaka

you're mixing up unconditional love with unconditional behavior....loveing someone precludes no action....if my wife left me forever, and even stopped loving me, yes, I would love her unconditionally until my passing day, but that doesn't mean I'd be PINING for her until the day I died.

Love is not always expressed through actions.

ashi

Andee

Hi Pat,

I have expressed my opinion on this topic many times in this forum. That opinion being that "UNconditional love" is a myth. That does not mean that we humans are not capable of loving an individual very deeply. Loving someone inspite of their flaws is not unconditional love. The Brothers and Sisters of the WTS have many conditions. Mainly, one MUST be a witness. There really is no consideration for who and what the person is on the inside.

I agree with you. There is a line. Murder or stealing. Harming a child. I think that most of us have our limits. Generally, though we could pick someone that we think would not do those things.

I think the love that a parent can have for a child is the closest to unconditional love. Especially a Mothers.

True love? not sure what that means either. Either it's love or it's not. Under Joel's definition, I have falsely loved my husband all these years. Poor guy. So, True love is a myth also, IMO.

Someone posted link a few weeks back that had an excellent essay about unconditional love. I've tried to find it, no luck.

Anyway, I know I will be in the minority on this topic, as usual

Andee

sleepy

ashitaka

Doesnt this mean your uncondisional love is open to abuse.

Who has UNconditional love?

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