Jesus wanted his followers to embody agape (affection), which he defines as caring for the well-being of another. In biblical terms, love involves caring, affection, and self-sacrifice. Love is the foundation for the Triune Godhead’s eternal relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The human experience of loving is unique to the image-bearer of God. For example, a dog owner loves his pet and cares for its health and well-being.
Humans can experience two kinds of love: romantic love and hate. Although the emotional range is large, the biological and evolutionary foundation for love are often similar. Interestingly, studies of human neurophysiology indicate that passionate love increases activity in reward-processing areas of the brain. The brain regions that are activated during passionate love are the same as those that are activated in people who use cocaine. The question then becomes, how do we know if love is truly universal?
Many philosophers and scientists believe that love cannot be defined by a single emotion. Despite this, it is not surprising that love is difficult to categorize. Some philosophers have suggested that love is an experience of the Absolute – the self-awareness of the other – and that the subject and object become one. Other experiences are simply ‘appearances’. A few of these theories have gained a wider following.
Love is the ultimate happiness experienced on a mind-body level, when one is united with the Universe and is unified with themselves. The experience of love is a blissful feeling, void of worries, pain, and pleasure. It does not require a special relationship or a romantic partner to feel like this. All it takes is one experience of love and you will know what true happiness is. And while you may not have ever experienced love, you will soon.
As far as how asexuals experience real love, they are not immune to other forms of attraction. They may feel romantic attraction, but this does not always turn into love. However, for some, romantic attraction marks the beginning of a loving relationship. In these cases, it may stick around throughout the relationship. So, if you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll be attracted to someone, be sure to be yourself. Nevertheless, love can be difficult for a person who has no interest in sexuality.
The classical Greeks, for example, attempted to define love and included multiple forms of it under the umbrella of ‘agape’. They distinguished three kinds of love: phila, agape, and eros. In contemporary terms, the three types of love are often confused, with one causing the other to suffer. If you’re looking for a guide on what constitutes agape, check out this guide! Love is more than a passion – it’s a deep feeling that makes us feel alive.
In early relationships, it can be hard to distinguish between lust and love. Both feelings are associated with physical attraction, intoxicating feel-good chemicals, and an overwhelming desire to be close to another person. However, only true love can last. True love requires two people to spend time and become familiar with each other. It also involves mutual trust and acceptance. Love is the foundation for a fulfilling relationship. The best way to distinguish lust from love is by being aware of what you’re looking for in your partner.