So this is what it means to Love...

But how do you love everyone unconditionally? Easier said than done really. People, like me, have been hurt many many times so we put a wall up. We don't want to be vulnerable and be hurt again so love becomes impermeable coming in and going out. I think it's the ego. Conquering the ego has to be one of the hardest things to do. Are there any steps to take to come to that point of abundant love from within? I'd like to get there one day. As of right now, I'm a pretty cold-hearted person because of my past.

any proof?)

I was a christian for many years. I sincerely gave my all and trusted for answers and provision.

But.......alas, after those many years I had nothing to show for my faith. I began asking questions that desparately needed answers.

My prayers WERE NOT ANSWERED. I am female, found myself thrown out on to the street, and rediculed by church people.

You see......I was married for over 30 years to a man who had a ThD, taught and pastored several churches. Unknown to me he also led a double life.

My marriage ended in one day. My grown sons saw that I had no more money to give them and choose their father who had double-crossed all of us.

Needless to say, I no longer believe in any god up in the sky who does what the bible says he will do.

If there is any god it has to be US. It's a copout to point to a book, and say "your answer is in it" while not offering to help in a more physical way.

Religion has provided what many think is a safe harbor for themselves, and look at the world with condemning eyes.

Religion tells us that mankind is wicked beyond measure. Even with my experience I refuse to believe that. It's religion that has condemned the very inborn nature that the Creator has placed in each one of us.

Religion has separated the man from the Creator.

No great master artist has ever painted a masterpiece without leaving a piece of himself in it.

Personally, I think we need a new definition of Love. The definition in this OP's thread comes closest, imo.

Beloved.......we MUST love one another, and end the judging and condemnation.

I was a christian for many years. I sincerely gave my all and trusted for answers and provision.

But.......alas, after those many years I had nothing to show for my faith. I began asking questions that desparately needed answers.

My prayers WERE NOT ANSWERED. I am female, found myself thrown out on to the street, and rediculed by church people.

You see......I was married for over 30 years to a man who had a ThD, taught and pastored several churches. Unknown to me he also led a double life.

My marriage ended in one day. My grown sons saw that I had no more money to give them and choose their father who had double-crossed all of us.

Needless to say, I no longer believe in any god up in the sky who does what the bible says he will do.

If there is any god it has to be US. It's a copout to point to a book, and say "your answer is in it" while not offering to help in a more physical way.

Religion has provided what many think is a safe harbor for themselves, and look at the world with condemning eyes.

Religion tells us that mankind is wicked beyond measure. Even with my experience I refuse to believe that. It's religion that has condemned the very inborn nature that the Creator has placed in each one of us.

Religion has separated the man from the Creator.

No great master artist has ever painted a masterpiece without leaving a piece of himself in it.

Personally, I think we need a new definition of Love. The definition in this OP's thread comes closest, imo.

Beloved.......we MUST love one another, and end the judging and condemnation.

Wanna hear something depressing?

I've never experienced love.

I've lived my entire life without anyone loving me. Even my biological family has never seen any value in me, nor invested in any way.

Everyone I've ever loved has turned away, rejected me, and abandoned me.

Yet.......I still love humanity. For some reason that I don't understand I was born "cursed". I was unwanted by both of my biological parents, yet instead of placing me with someone who might have loved me, they kept me so as to not feel guilty, I'm guessing.

I'm almost 70 years old, and all I've ever experienced is "what love isn't".

It's hard to believe, right? But it's true.

Anyone who's ever been hurt can relate to your post.

You say you're a cold hearted person but your post denies that. Your statement is just another brick in the wall of protection.

May your healing come quickly and may you find the person that sees the "real" person behind the wall.

One can feel love and hate at the same time, while love and indifference can't be felt simultaneously; love and hate drive action, and indifference couldn't care less.

Indifference is the emotion, that's left when all other emotion is gone. Indifference is not something you can decide upon, but when it shows, it signals finality.

Indifference welcomes hate, and can ignore love...

Indifference is a dangerous emotional state because, ignoring love is tragic; ignoring hate is deadly.

Actually, most christians simply say that the people who did/do such horrible things are not christian. They wash their hands of it, in other words. Some are so adamant about that "those weren't christians!" I wonder sometimes if christianity is actually younger than Islam. There didn't seem to be ANY christians at all up until recently if you listen to some of these people.

I not only agree that they should simply refrain from such things, but would put forth that they also need to act immediately against those who are also christian who do the same things to this day. There are parts of the world where christians still torture, rape and murder people who are not christian. For the christian in other parts of the world to simply yell "those aren't REAL christians!!!" is beyond dishonorable. They are allowing a group of people to malign their deity and rather than do something about it - they wash their hands of it. If they don't just pretend or deny it does exist in modern days.

That kind of crap doesn't fly in the Heathen community. We vigorously defend our deities and our symbols and we deal with our problem people loudly, swiftly and publicly - and brutally if necessary. If we didn't, we would be proving ourselves to be just as dishonorable as the people who are maligning our deities. Silence does imply more than a little apathy about the good name of one's own kin and deity, and could also be construed as outright complicity.

~ anonymous

But how do you love everyone unconditionally? Easier said than done really. People, like me, have been hurt many many times so we put a wall up. We don't want to be vulnerable and be hurt again so love becomes impermeable coming in and going out. I think it's the ego. Conquering the ego has to be one of the hardest things to do. Are there any steps to take to come to that point of abundant love from within? I'd like to get there one day. As of right now, I'm a pretty cold-hearted person because of my past.

I am sorry for your anger!

It's not my anger, but from an anonymous source...
For you to see anger in a post, you must be angry yourself.

No anger, just more Truth than your religion's god, messiah, "holy" book(s) and icons.

There's no Spiritual value in religion, NONE(~).

It appears that your religion's slavery chains are indeed very tight around your Soul(~.

Now >>> Please read my signature.

IMO, unconditional love doesn't have to look or show itself, or seek approval. And, it doesn't mean accepting and engaging those that treat us badly.

Ex: I can love you, even when I don't like you.

a relationship with The Most High God

And that "most high god" is who, what?

no not so - I believe religion is wrong - that religion is but a poor and failing substitute for a relationship with The Most High God

Yahushua! Jesus! The One that gave His Life for you and I!

Hey Lil Lioness - thank you for your post!

I very much appreciate and agree with your answer but am struggling with the idea that ignoring hate is deadly...can you please expound on this?

TY

Wanna hear something depressing?

I've never experienced love.

I've lived my entire life without anyone loving me. Even my biological family has never seen any value in me, nor invested in any way.

Everyone I've ever loved has turned away, rejected me, and abandoned me.

Yet.......I still love humanity. For some reason that I don't understand I was born "cursed". I was unwanted by both of my biological parents, yet instead of placing me with someone who might have loved me, they kept me so as to not feel guilty, I'm guessing.

I'm almost 70 years old, and all I've ever experienced is "what love isn't".

It's hard to believe, right? But it's true.

Wanna hear something depressing?

I've never experienced love.

I've lived my entire life without anyone loving me. Even my biological family has never seen any value in me, nor invested in any way.

Everyone I've ever loved has turned away, rejected me, and abandoned me.

Yet.......I still love humanity. For some reason that I don't understand I was born "cursed". I was unwanted by both of my biological parents, yet instead of placing me with someone who might have loved me, they kept me so as to not feel guilty, I'm guessing.

I'm almost 70 years old, and all I've ever experienced is "what love isn't".

It's hard to believe, right? But it's true.

if you believe that ^^^^ post, then why are you posting this: Let us all choose to let go of evil and turn to Love - Jesus Christ is That Love!

jc is a religious belief and creation(~

When you believe in things you don't understand, you suffer!

For your p.o.v., how do you have a relationship with the most high god?
ty

You're welcome, the word indifference struck a chord, and even more so now.

Hate requires indifference because to truly hate, one has to be devoid of guilt, and conscious.

Hate is an action word, not only does one not show empathy, one seeks contempt; hate is not executed in silence.

Ahhh, hate is deadly because it is like a weapon, people use hate as a way to get what they want; they hate the things they cannot change.

When we are poor, we hate the rich; when we are rich we hate the poor.

^^^^ that is complete religious BS, falsehood and deception that religion uses to enslave its believers(~).

jesus = buddha = moses = all the other "gods", "messiahs" that religion created.

When we are poor, we hate the rich; when we are rich we hate the poor.

But religionists preach that people should love, forgive, and forget those who hurt them.

That is just wrong, in ever way.






Why would anyone want to "love" someone they don't like?

Sheer nonsense.

Awesome! Let's search this out a little bit more -

Is it possible that when one "hates", they care at least enough to tell, show or display their displeasure / disagreement with another? While indifference means one cares absolutely *nothing* for another?

The relationship with Jesus is available to you...right now, at this very moment! In order to enter into a relationship with Him, you must believe that He Is Who He said He Is...full surrender to Him, repent, which is to turn away from sin and follow Him - which means we are to love Him with all of our mind, soul and strength AND love others *as much* as we love ourselves! Following Jesus is *not* a simplistic vocal commitment to follow Him, but rather a life of "doing", a life that is defined by doing those things that Jesus did! [link to www.allaboutjesuschrist.org]

Thank you for being open minded in this conversation.
So far, without attaching a label..philosophical discussion preceeding having a philosophical point of view leading discussion.
If you still care to play, I wonder what we could craft from it..hmmm