The Variaties of Love

The Varieties of Love .
Andre Willers
26 May 2008

For Egbert Louw Sr

A Present Day understanding

1.Falling In Love
Falling in Love is a obsessive compulsive mechanism to ensure more offspring . It is not a cultural thing . I hesitate to call it a disorder , since it is so obviously pro-survival in an evolutionary short-term sense . This is quite common , and mostly lasts lifetimes . Unsuccessful examples are called infatuations .
As expected , it has a description “ Falling in Love” , not as catchy as a single Greek word , but very real . The basis of most novels (read alternate Universes)

The mechanism is reduced myelization between mirror-neuronal networks .
Mediated by MHC , pheromones , etc
The mirror-neurons describing the Beloved develops patches in the myelin sheaths that allows easier dendrite communication . The Self mirror-networks has much closer connection with the Beloved’s mirror-neurons .
Self-identification occurs . Love .
This is why young people are so prone to this type of infatuation . Sheathing the axons in myelin happens mostly after 25 .
If the whole machinery goes wrong , it is called an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

2. The other varieties of Love are heavily influenced by cultural systems .
Cultures are transmitted by languages .
The Greek language was good at splitting meanings . Having words for the different meanings meant that they could be transmitted via the spoken or written word .

1.Philia : Brother , comrade , nefie , nephew , uncle , etc . A weak affection , but still used . (How’s it my bra?)

2 Eros:sexual affection (darling , love , etc)

3. Agape : Strong non-sexual affection .
This is what you feel for good friend or colleague . A Comrade in arms . A Marine will say “Semper Fi” .

The Roman Catholic Church thoughtfully removed even the word from the lexicon .
The church is an exercise in Agape , and any other one is a direct competitor .

It worked well for a long time , but it led to Nationalism . Humans seem to love to identify with larger groups .
So let us create some:




3 .The Agapo .
Like-minded people acting in the same way .
Agapo’s supersedes companies and nationals .

Social co-ordination systems like Facebook apply .
These are political systems superseding the tired old national and supra-national systems .

We only need some names :These are like seed-crystals bringing about a phase-change .

“We are Agapo” denotes a very strong bond between entities . Stronger than marriage

“Human Agapo “ The humans on Gaia .

“Gaia Agapo” : strong affection for the planetary eco-system

“Jesus Agapo” A revitalized Christian system .

“Mohammed Agapo” A revitalized Muslim system

“Buddha Agapo” A revitalized Buddhist system

“Jane Austin Agapo” ,
”Energy Agapo” . “ Spaceflight Agapao” etc, etc

Stronger than a multinational , faster than a email .

Obedience. “Love is obedience”
This is a meme found in the Old Testament . The underlying logic is that fear of the hereafter will force a present behaviour in favour of the priests of the Established Religion . Obey or else! And you have to work at it .
The corollary is that you can earn salvation by your actions .
The Christianity model of giving away Salvation for free has been in continual conflict with the old Obedience Model .

The Priests try to force it into an obedience model , which favours them , since they set themselves up as the only allowed intermediaries .

Since the Christianity model gives salvation away for free , it is interesting to see how the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Churches has twisted the system to suit themselves .





From Wikipedia: Agape
Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia—an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection, and eros, an affection of a sexual nature. The term 'agape' is rarely used in ancient manuscripts, but was used by the early Christians to refer to the self-sacrificing love of God for humanity, which they were committed to reciprocating and practicing towards God and among one another.


Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and thoughtful love. Greek philosophers at the time of Plato and other ancient authors have used forms of the word to denote love of a spouse or family, or affection for a particular activity, in contrast to philia—an affection that could denote either brotherhood or generally non-sexual affection, and eros, an affection of a sexual nature. The term 'agape' is rarely used in ancient manuscripts, but was used by the early Christians to refer to the self-sacrificing love of God for humanity, which they were committed to reciprocating and practicing towards God and among one another.

Agape as a term for love or affection is rarely used in ancient manuscripts. According to Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Love definition) the word is believed to have been coined by the Bible authors from the verb agapao.
A title of the goddess Isis was agape theon, or "beloved/darling of the gods," denoting her role as a fertility/life goddess and her pairing as a partner with the masculine god aspects. While this pairing was often sexual in nature, the term "agape" implied a genuine affection and deep love for the goddess.
Although some sources claim Agape appears in the Odyssey twice, the word is in fact not used. Instead, two forms of the word agape may be found: agapêton and agapazomenoi. Agapêton is found in Book 5 of the Odyssey and means "beloved" or "well-loved". Agapazomenoi is found in books 7 and 17 of the Odyssey and means “to treat with affection”.
Agape and the verb agapao are used extensively in the Septuagint as the translation of the common Hebrew term for love which is used to denote sexual desire, affection for spouse and children, brotherly love, and God's love for humanity. It is uncertain why agape was chosen, but similarity of consonant sounds (aḥava) may have played a part. It is not impossible that the Greek concept even originated as a transliteration from some Semitic tongue. This usage provides the context for the choice of this otherwise obscure word, in preference to other more common Greek words, as the most frequently used word for love in Christian writings.
[edit] Agape in Christianity


Fresco of a female figure holding a chalice at an early Christian Agape feast. Catacomb of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Via Labicana, Rome
See also: 1 Corinthians 13
Agape received a broader usage under later Christian writers as the word that specifically denoted "Christian" love or "charity" (1 Corinthians 13:1–8), or even God Himself (1 John 4:8, Theos ein agape, "God is Love"). The New Testament provides a number of definitions and examples of agape that generally expand on the meanings derived from ancient texts, denoting brotherly love, love of one's spouse or children, and the love of God for all people.
The Christian usage of the term agape comes directly from the canonical Gospels' account of the teachings of Jesus. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus said, "'Love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-41)
At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:
You have heard that it was said, 'Love (agapao) your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love (agapao) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Christian writers have generally described agape, as expounded on by Jesus, as a form of love which is both unconditional and voluntary. Tertullian, in his 2nd century defense of Christians remarks how Christian love attracted pagan notice: "What marks us in the eyes of our enemies is our loving kindness. 'Only look,' they say, 'look how they love one another'" (Apology 39).
In the New Testament the noun agape is often used to describe God's love. However, the verb form agapao is at times used in a negative sense, where it retains its more general meaning of "affection" rather than divine love. Such examples include:
2 Timothy 4:10—"…for Demas has forsaken me, having loved [agapao] this present world…."
John 12:43—"for they loved [agapao] the praise of men more than the praise from God."
John 3:19—"but men loved [agapao] darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
[edit] Agape as a meal
Main article: Agape feast
The word agape in its plural form is used in the New Testament to describe a meal or feast eaten by early Christians, as in Jude 1:12, and 2nd Peter 2:13. It is sometimes believed to be either related to the Eucharist, or another term used for the Eucharist.