Defining Unconditional love

I don't believe unconditional love exists or has ever existed. If there is one condition to it then it is not unconditional. Why don't we just be honest? Why can't we say you will have to change behaviour for me to love, accept you and support you.QUOTE [The best you can do is come as close to absolutely unconditional as you can.]How do you propose we do that when we don't know what it is? I grant you that if we remove condions then we would have to be close, but what is it and is it possible?

Phew! A lot to digest. Thanks for keeping me on my toes I would just like to play devil's advocate and speak on behalf of 'abusers'. Are there any abusers (in any form) on this forum who can give us their point of view? Have any of you loved someone unconditionally but they haven't accepted you for who you are? Have any of you tried very hard to be what the other wanted you to be in order to be loved unconditionally? Have any of you been confused and can't understand what is wrong?I doubt there will be any replies. No-one thinks of themself as an abuser, even when the evidence is clear. They are who they are. Human beings with a past. A past we need to understand. They have become who they are in exactly the same way as we all become who we are. We are all the same. It is judgment that sets us apart. "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone."Who are we or you to say that loving them unconditionally is enabling them? I believe a warped version of love is the initial problem and it is that which is being enabled. How can they learn to love, support and accept when they haven't experienced it themselves?Thus far I have deducted that to love unconditionally, it must include acceptance,understanding,empathy and commitment. It cannot contain judgment or expectation. I believe this would only work when the relationship was equal. There you go, another condition to unconditional love, equality.I believe the pursuit of unconditional love actually causes more harm than good. If we didn't need it, then we wouldn't be hurt by another's treatment, or vice versa.There are many divisions within humanity and this is one of them. It's time to close the gap and to love from the heart instead of a judgmental mind.

Thanks, three dogs, I agree with the definition of unconditional. Absolutely. Without strings. Without judgment.Literally speaking, are you saying we will recieve unconditional love in the after life IF we obey the conditions laid down in this life?How can you reason that unconditional love comes from conditional love? If we have to obey and change ourselves then we are not being loved for who we are. We cannot be who someone else wants us to be, no matter how hard we try. No matter what we project on the ouside in form of behaviour, we are the same person on the inside.The bible interpretations come in the form of emotional blackmail. Fear is no way to promote love for all mankind.

If the case of the devil and fallen angels not being human is true, we have nothing to worry about, unless they are aliens.Why are we even discussing these mythical creatures and the mythical hell that they are going to and not us?Do you believe they enter us silently and unseen? I don't think so. We are born innocent and everything that enters our minds is put there by the individual's experiences.All devilish traits and all godly traits come from our upbringing. It's called being human.It's time we stopped passing the buck on to these mythical creatures and take responsibility for the whole of humanity.

Hi three dogs. I think you are getting too hung up on Jesus and the bible. The topic is 'definition of unconditional love'. God and Jesus are just reference points in which to clarify the definition.In your example of Jesus' love, it is clearly 'conditional' love. If this is the 'love' that is imitated by humanity, then what chance have we of understanding and accepting each other for who we are?We are born equal and we are all a product of our whole life experiences, without exception.

Amen, I truly wish you could read your own post objectively. It blows me away.Yes, you do think for yourself but look at your thoughts! Good god, how many millions of people over thousands of years have had those same thoughts and beliefs? I find it utterly incredible.Edited by Heinrik, : No reason given.

[What is wrong with God having conditional love?]If you don't know then God help us!

Amen, I don't think I made the point I was trying to make. I found your thinking to be stuck in the past. The world has completely changed and yet you hold on to these mythical ideas from a different time and place.Don't you think it may be time to challenge your thinking and give yourself a chance to come up with original thought based in today's reality?

Where have your beliefs changed from the past? How have you learned from the past when you just repeat the same ideas? Do you really believe you will be cast down into a lake of fire? When did that ever happen?
If you aren't meaning these ideas to be taken literally, then what do you mean?

This is what I needed to hear. Thanks, I can now appreciate your perspective. I know it was awful for you. I have expereinced my own hell.I'm sorry you felt I was judging you and I won't hold it against you. However, I might have to have a word with god about you calling me stupid.

I am posting this message to the originator of each thread in which I have participated. I apologize to those I have not been able to respond to. Living a double life (see below) even on a forum is very time consuming. I have had a wonderful experience and aplogize for my deceitful behaviour. I prefer to judge myself and implement the consequences myself. I prefer to be my own judge and jury. In this case the punishment is a life time ban. I will retire DAMEEVA as from 1.2.08 (just to give myself time to pack my bags) unless a higher authority decides otherwise, in which case authority has the final say.I have thoroughly enjoyed this forum and have learned a lot that otherwise I would not.

Another one bites the dust

Bit over the top, aren't you Larnii?

Well that certainly didn't work, did it? Didn't dameeva say that he/she had broken the rules, and was not in fact avoiding an issue?Would not he/she still have access to the other identity?Edited by Heinrik, : No reason given.