Spiritually speaking: Is "love" a natural response or must we "learn" to love?

It's definitely a learned response.

I remember a sociology class where we talked about this issue. But I don't remember the specific culture this was from, but the people of this tribe did not believe in love. The males were to care for their nephews instead of their own children. In that culture fear was the mainstay.

Based on the fact that a child can grow up in a house or a culture without love, it definitely is a learned behavior.

Love is union. It's as natural as the chemical bonding of two atoms. Any time two things come together in union it is an act of love, however great or small.

Some people do indeed seem to be capable of more love than others in a social, emotional, romantic, or spiritual sense. I think a lot of it has to do with how much that person has been loved. It's a lot easier to grow in love when those who are around you love you.

Love is a social construct. We are taught from an early age that it is right or natural to love. No two people defines or feels love in the same way. So, I am not totally sold on love being natural.

I personally believe it is a natural response (I believe this because when babies are born they are attached to mom, I know it's because she feeds them but even after they have weaned and become more independent they are usually still very clingy to them) BUT, there are cases, for example neglecting moms, or babies given up for adoption who never really bond with a caretaker, or maybe even someone who grew up with a loving mom but was wired different, who do not get to feel this bond either because they're not capable or they were not stimulated enough. And these people lose their ability to love naturally. I believe they may either be able to learn to love later in life, or become sociopaths.

Honestly, i think most us were bought up believing some convoluted idea about what love is. I learn everyday how much I did not know about love and continue to learn to love and receive it the way God designed it. I think it is a natural response that we try to do according to the world and not according to how it was designed.

An excellent question.

I've always believed it to be a natural response. It seems more likely to me that we learn to hate. I mean, isn't that the very definition of "the good"--the acts which are loving? Isn't evil really "that which is done in spite of love"?

Spiritually speaking: LOVE is a natural response but only when one receives and accepts LOVE can one recognize and respond LOVE.

When one is not taught LOVE one cannot experience or recognize Love naturally from the spirit.

GOD BLESS!

Love is an attraction. It can be physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, universal, or limited to one person or one idea. But it's common denominator is "attraction".

It is natural in it's rudimentary stages. And as we experience results we learn to do it to a greater or lesser degree depending on the history of our previous outcomes.

Example: When we are in the "love bliss" of a new relationship we also find ourselves loving and helping complete strangers more than we did before. (Of course, if we can help them while we (me and my mate) are helping them together.) The first thing new lovers like to say while they are helping others or doing important things together "We are a team". --- and of course u la la !

We naturally love our friends, but not necessarily others. But we don't learn to love. We just choose to love, even people we don't like, which, depending on what day it is, may be our spouse and kids. :)

There is a song by Don Francisco, "Love is not a feeling, it's an act of your will". You can learn to love. There may be a natural attraction but it's your choice to act or not act upon it.

((((Rammie)))))