What is love? Love is defined as a strong affection for another; a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection as a parent, child, or friend. Love is often categorized in terms of types of relationship, such as romantic love, platonic love, etc. Love is often described as how serious or deep it is, like true love, unconditional love or if its reciprocated, as in unrequited love.
Synonyms for love implies different levels of intensity or intimacy such as affection, devotion, friendship, infatuation, lust, passion, tenderness, fondness and adoration.
We were created to love and to love each other. People think that love is a matter of the heart, but the main organ that is affected by love is actually the brain. The hormones our brain releases when we experience love leads to euphoria. It makes you feel like you have butterflies in your stomach. You know, that giddy feeling you feel when that person you like is around you.
There are different types of love and each love affects us differently and uniquely. Storge, Pragma, Philia, Eros, Philautia, Compassionate, Platonic, Obsessive, Ludus, Conjugal, and Agape have been classified as the different types of love.
Storge or Familiar Love, is love that flows between parents and children or childhood friends.
Pragma or Enduring Love, is love that matures over many years. It is a type of love where a couple chooses to put effort in their relationships. Instead of "falling in love," they are "standing in love."
Philia or Affectionate Love, is love without a romantic attraction. It occurs between friends or family members.
Eros or Romantic Love, is love that comes as a natural instinct . It is a passionate love that is displayed through physical affection, such as kissing, hugging, and holding hands.
Philautia or Self-Love, is having a healthy form of love towards yourself, where you love, respect, accept and appreciate yourself.
Compassionate Love, is love filled with emotional intimacy.
Platonic Love, is the simplest of all types of love. There are no sexual or romantic intentions.
Mania or Obsessive Love, is an obsessive love towards a partner. It leads to jealousy or possessiveness.
Ludus or Playful Love, is a child-like and flirtatious love that is normally found in the beginning stages of a relationship. It consists of teasing, playfulness and laughter between couples.
Conjugal Love, is also called companionate love. It is intimacy and commitment without passion.
Agape or Selfless Love, is the highest level of love to offer. It is a love that is not concerned about self and is concerned with the greatest good of another. It is not born out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return.
In the Bible, Agape love is the love that comes from God. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7-11).
Agape love is loving unconditionally. It is the highest form of love, "charity" and "the love, of God for man and of man for God." It comes out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and genuine faith. Agape love perfectly describes the kind of love Jesus Christ has for His Father and for us. Jesus displayed His love for us by sacrificing Himself on the cross for the sins of the world. Agape love defines God's perfect, unconditional, immeasurable, incomparable love for us. Agape love is God's outgoing, ongoing, selfless, and self-sacrificing love and concerns for you and me. NOW THAT'S LOVE!