Does "unconditional" love really exist?

[ohiosmith]

[BarenakedLady]

1. Yes

But only for your own children, imo.

[Bunny]

3. Yes, I think it only applies to children.

[Deja Q]

4. I concur.

[ohiosmith]

6. So, a child of yours could do nothing that would cause you to stop

loving them?

[BarenakedLady]

10. No

I don't think I could ever stop loving them. I could perhaps dislike them, but I would still love them.

[ohiosmith]

15. Even if they:

Ate at Olive Garden,

Voted republican,

Wore baby seal slippers?

[BarenakedLady]

22. Oooooo

Everything but voting Republican.

That shit is just unforgivable.

[ohiosmith]

24. point, game, set, match

[begin_within]

2. Only in non-human animals. Humans aren't capable of it.

[Left Is Write]

35. Yes, we are.

[miss_american_pie]

5. Yes

[Susang]

7. Probably not

Doesn't stop us from trying for it. ;-)

[BOSSHOG]

8. We have no children, have been happily married for 30+ years

I would die for my wife. I don't know if that is unconditional. In fact, I don't know what unconditional love is but I would do anything, sacrifice anything, kill or be killed for my wife.

[ohiosmith]

9. Would you feel the same if you learned your wife had betrayed you?

[BOSSHOG]

18. I've never considered that

I've had no reason too. However, if she did have an affair (is that what you meant?) I would propose a mutually acceptable divorce and move on with a broken heart. Maybe I'm naive but I can't imagine that happening. We are not only spouses but best friends and find a great deal of joy in each other's company.

[ohiosmith]

25. You're a lucky man.

[BOSSHOG]

26. You are very right

I'm the pain in the ass, the one with the occasional short fuse, the one who often has to get his way and she spoils me rotten. And she has worked every day we have been married; is great in the bedroom and in the kitchen, is 54 years old and looks 25 and goes to the gym at least four days a week. I do not deserve her, but as I said, I'd die for her.

[RetroLounge]

34. I can answer that.

but I won't. not yet. not ready...

:cry:

RL

[buddhamama]

11. Yes

it does. The meaning of love can be hard to define. You'll hear the usual love is "respect, honesty..."

but what is respect and honesty? there's no one answer here either.

unconditional love is acceptance of humanity and never wishing harm. it is not the absence of judgment, imo, as i have been told. i have "judged" and continued to love unconditionally.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Yes. It is that which I feel for my family and close friends.

My mother is a real *you know what*...and I love her still.

She started one of the most malicious rumors about me that one can start...I love her still and still do pretty much anything she asks.

[idgiehkt]

20. I'm sorry to hear that

That is such a complete betrayal. I have some of that in my relationship with my mom, too, and I know how hurtful it can be. :hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Luckily, I have my two brothers, who cope with her right alongside

me. She can still pull our strings. :hug: I made a promise to myself never to do that to my kids.

[Richardo]

13. It depends.

[ohiosmith]

On?

[Richardo]

19. 'Unconditional' + 'it depends' = humor

At least that was my intention. :shrug:

[Phillycat]

28. I laughed.

:shrug:

[Richardo]

29. You're a pal, janesez

:pals:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

31. Ooooo boy I have just THE rock album for you.

Hint: it's by Jethro Tull and consists on one 40-something minute song.

[Phx_Dem]

32. good one!

[LaurenG]

14. Yes

but it's very hard to practice. My grandparents made me think they loved me unconditionally. I think my son feels that I love him that way and my husband probably does too.

I think they love me as near to unconditionally as I could hope to ask for as well.

[bluethruandthru]

16. Absolutely!

However, I think it's most likely only a parent for a child. I will love my children no matter what they do and I would bet most parents feel the same way.

I'm not sure if that road goes both ways though. I don't think parents necessarily receive unconditional love from their children...at least not from their adult children.

[L A Woman]

17. Certainly for children, but only special people have it for strangers

People like Mother Teresa have an ability to love all humans unconditionally. People like that are few and far between and I'm sure not one of them. I love my dog unconditionally. That's about it!

[Radical Activist]

21. In two cases.

Children, and the other kind of unconditional love is usually unhealthy and destructive.

[redqueen]

27. For romantic love? No.

For other types of love, of course.

As for the love one has for one's child... that's the only kind.

[Orsino]

30. Not in people.

The human brain has obviously evolved for deal-making. While there certainly are folks who struggle on in completely one-sided relationships, I'm sure there are things one could do to make such people give up. Because the brain has also evolved to form beliefs, we are capable of amazing feats of selfless devotion, but I don't think anyone sane can muster absolutely unconditional love.

[leftofthedial]

33. "love" is an imprecise and ambiguous concept

there are so many different emotions, situations and conditions that we call "love," even though they are not the same thing.

I "love" my kids unconditionally. When they were little, they "loved" me unconditionally.

Romantic "love" is only unconditional for brief moments when biochemistry inhibits everything in our brains except desire.

I guess I don't know what you mean by "love" and I don't know what you mean by "unconditional." I think both are most frequently no more meaningful than the dreck inside a Hallmark card.

[Midlodemocrat]

36. Yes. Without question.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

37. My dear ohiosmith........

I do think unconditional love exists.......

I have it for several people.......

It is wonderful when you can do it! :bounce: :bounce:

[ThomCat]

38. No.

There is no relationship so secure that it can't be destroyed by hostility and animosity. Not even the relationship between parents and children. :(

[Book Lover]

55. But a relationship can be destroyed, yet the feelings still exist

"Oh, sweet torture!"

[Burma Jones]

39. Yes

I have it for my Kids and Buffalo Wings

[wildhorses]

40. yes.

there is a reason that dog spelled backwards is god

[Fox Mulder]

41. No, it doesn't.

[Ron Green]

42. It's the only kind there is.

Anything with strings attached is not love, right?

[ThomCat]

43. If there are no strings attached then it's an obsession.

Love require something. Sometimes it's need, or being needed, or reciprocal affection, or sometimes just the simple absense of malice. But love requires something in any form.

[Ron Green]

44. I disagree. Love requires nothing.

It's totally giving, expecting nothing in return. What we engage in here in this life is an approximation of love, and we call it love, but it's got to be imperfect as long as we're bound by time and space, and destined to die.

Nevertheless, we ought to practice it as much as possible and the best we can.

[ThomCat]

47. Only someone who has never been disowned

and never been abandoned could ever say that. Relationships may last indefinitely, but not unconditionally.

If your parents hated you, you would probably see your love for them wither and die. If your children were malicious and ungrateful you would probably see your love for them wither and die. If your best and closest friends turned on you, you would probably see your love for them wither and die.

Try being gay in a homophobic family, or convert to another religion in a fundamentalist family. You would find out quickly that love is far from unconditional. It's very fragile.

[Ron Green]

51. I wish for you to have the love you need.

:hug: It's in short supply, and we here on DU ought not to forget to spread it around.
:loveya:

[buddhamama]

agreed.

thank you for this. unconditional love has no expectations attached.

there are times when the most loving action one can do for another is to do nothing,

or to let them be.

[Guava Jelly]

45. only between a mother and a child

I use to believe it did

[buddhamama]

48. ...

do you believe yourself incapable of it, bud?

[Guava Jelly]

49. I believe I am

Just have a hard time believing in having the same love returned.

[buddhamama]

50. hmmm...

i love you unconditionally. my response up above:

The meaning of love can be hard to define. You'll hear the usual love is "respect, honesty..."

but what is respect and honesty? there's no one answer here either.

unconditional love is acceptance of humanity and never wishing harm. it is not the absence of judgment, imo, as i have been told. i have "judged" and continued to love unconditionally.

[Guava Jelly]

52. The way you describe love I can believe in

Specially from you.You are such a unique soul.
I guess i may be confusing love with trust?

[Tikki]

46. Yes...and it is Grand....and it is everything you...

think it might be.....:) :)



The Tikkis

[Lilith Velkor]

53. No, but unrealistic expectations do.

[Book Lover]

54. For me, yes

100%

[trof]

56. Yessir.

If it didn't, I'd have been out of here about some small, pissant, minor annoyance YEARS ago.
:-)