Worthwhile Reads: On “Loving” God

April 20, 2012 By 2 Comments

Some time ago there was some discussion here on my blog on what it means to “love” God, and what it means to love God more than anything or anyone else – which is what evangelicals are taught to do. Sarah of Enigma addresses that question today in her post Love. Really?

Along with the passion and excitement of romantic love, I also recognized a familiar feeling of attachment, not unlike what I feel for my brothers and sisters. Could it be that “love” is that aching sense of missing someone when they’re gone? … After falling in love, I knew that I felt nothing for God but awkward, frustrated, desperation.

For what it’s worth – and in answer to the question at the end of Sarah’s post – I think I really did “love” God, but in the way you love an imaginary friend that lives in your head, an imaginary friend you convince yourself loves you unconditionally and will never leave you.

Filed Under: Evangelicalism/Fundamentalism, Worthwhile reads 2 Comments
  • machintelligence

    This may be at least part of the reason that I am an atheist. Like about 4% of the population I am mind dark. When I close my eyelids and try to visualize something in my “mind’s eye” all that I see is darkness. The ability to visualize varies greatly, and some people, when asked to imagine a tiger, can count the stripes. Galton (1880) found that mind darkness was more prevalent among scientists.
    Copy the following into the Google search box to see the paper. psychclassics.yorku.ca/Galton/imagery.htm

  • machintelligence

    OOPS! The above comment belongs under The Psychology of God.
    .