Should we

@kellyjay said
We are linked together, and if I could meet a life-saving need should I? What is love if it isn't taking care of others as we can? I cannot do everything for everyone, but with what I have, am I doing what I can with my limited means? No greater love than this, is to lay down our lives for another, does that sound like 'limits' to you? Measuring up someone to see if they are ...[text shortened]... e and not care. A world full of kind doesn't mean it is a caring one, a world full of love would be.

The love we have for our families (or ourselves) is not the same love we have for neighbors or strangers. We both know that. Why pretend otherwise?

And again, you and I both would sell our house to pay for an operation for a family member, but wouldn't do the same for a neighbor or a stranger in need. We might like to think we would, but we wouldn't.

To love your neighbor as you love yourself (or family) is unachievable, and rightly so. We may care for our neighbors and show them kindness, but that isn't in the same ball park as the genuine love we have for family and friends.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
The love we have for our families (or ourselves) is not the same love we have for neighbors or strangers. We both know that. Why pretend otherwise?

And again, you and I both would sell our house to pay for an operation for a family member, but wouldn't do the same for a neighbor or a stranger in need. We might like to think we would, but we wouldn't.

To love you ...[text shortened]... m kindness, but that isn't in the same ball park as the genuine love we have for family and friends.

Its not unachievable, neither is it rightly so, do otherwise is simply making a choice for reasons that revolve around one's own self above the needs of others.

@kellyjay said
If we assume all are as good as any other, this places ideas in a place we just now acknowledged we shouldn’t do with people, since ideas have consequences as well.

Who "assumes we are all as good as any other"?

@kellyjay said
Its not unachievable, neither is it rightly so, do otherwise is simply making a choice for reasons that revolve around one's own self above the needs of others.

Welcome to America in 2019.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
I think Christianity waters down love so that it loses its potency.

I agree that we should do right by people. But that isn't love.

I think a love for other people whom we may not know is similar to the Golden Rule. Treat others how we would like to be treated ourselves. This is the embodiment of the idea that no one is above any other, that all deserve the same treatment. Our rights are their rights. I believe this is the basis of "Love one another as you love yourselves." While you may think that this is not "love", it is certainly not hate. It makes us all equal, and this is what it's all about. No one "deserves" more based solely on who we are. This is vanity.

@suzianne said
I think a love for other people whom we may not know is similar to the Golden Rule. Treat others how we would like to be treated ourselves. This is the embodiment of the idea that no one is above any other, that all deserve the same treatment. Our rights are their rights. I believe this is the basis of "Love one another as you love yourselves." While you may think that ...[text shortened]... nd this is what it's all about. No one "deserves" more based solely on who we are. This is vanity.

It is neither love or hate. It is human kindness and fraternity.

And I do not agree that 'no one is above any other.' I will always put family and friends first. Always.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
It is neither love or hate. It is human kindness and fraternity.

And I do not agree that 'no one is above any other.' I will always put family and friends first. Always.

We all will put family and friends first, but we don't do that to the point of harming anyone else. Loving others are merely meeting the needs of them as we can. If we cannot with what we have, that is something else. It is always going to be what can we do with what we have. If we dream about all the good we would do if we had more, that is daydreaming or an illusion and worthless. Reality is do we help when we can, or ignore those near us? Also if we do help and reach out, do we do it without fan fair to highlight we did something in front of others?

It is part of the greatest of all commandments, of course, it is doable it were not, why be commanded to do something entirely beyond us? I’m shocked you are arguing against this to tell you the truth.

@kellyjay said
We all will put family and friends first, but we don't do that to the point of harming anyone else. Loving others are merely meeting the needs of them as we can. If we cannot with what we have, that is something else. It is always going to be what can we do with what we have. If we dream about all the good we would do if we had more, that is daydreaming or an illusion and wo ...[text shortened]... to do something entirely beyond us? I’m shocked you are arguing against this to tell you the truth.

So you have different gradients of love and disagree with Suzianne when she says 'No one "deserves" more based solely on who we are'?

For you seem to be saying that a brother or mother 'deserve more' by sole virtue of them being your brother or mother. Further, you seem to be saying that in fact it is 'not' possible to love our neighbour with equality, in the way we love our family. Otherwise, on what grounds do you 'put your family first?'

The answer is that you show kindness to your neighbour. You don't love them. The bible has set you an impossible challenge and I neither believe or am commanded by such a notion. Treat everybody with kindness in the way that you yourself would want to be treated, fine. That notion is the basis for most human societies and the reason we have thrived as a species. But I don't love everybody equally and certainly not the stranger who has done nothing to warrant that love.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
So you have different gradients of love and disagree with Suzianne when she says 'No one "deserves" more based solely on who we are'?

For you seem to be saying that a brother or mother 'deserve more' by sole virtue of them being your brother or mother. Further, you seem to be saying that in fact it is 'not' possible to love our neighbour with equality, in the way w ...[text shortened]... n't love everybody equally and certainly not the stranger who has done nothing to warrant that love.

It is not that I am loving one more than another, I do have responsibilities for some over others.

@kellyjay said
It is not that I am loving one more than another, I do have responsibilities for some over others.

Yes, your loved ones.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Yes, your loved ones.

Correct responsibilities are always in play!

@kellyjay said
Correct responsibilities are always in play!

Sure, but your love for them doesn't emanate from responsibility and will never be the same kind of love you have for a stranger.

When we say 'family comes first' it is because the love we feel for them eclipses any goodwill or kindness we show to a neighbor.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
Sure, but your love for them doesn't emanate from responsibility and will never be the same kind of love you have for a stranger.

When we say 'family comes first' it is because the love we feel for them eclipses any goodwill or kindness we show to a neighbor.

I've been describing love as taking care of the needs of those around you, feelings not required. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, take care of our own families, do all of the above. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, that is a very high bar! Feelings are not part of this; we can fall into and out of emotions all the time; that shouldn't stop us from keeping a life-long commitment, or taking care of the needs of those within and out of our families as we can.

1 Timothy 5 KJV
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

@kellyjay said
I've been describing love as taking care of the needs of those around you, feelings not required. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, take care of our own families, do all of the above. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, that is a very high bar! Feelings are not part of this; we can fall into and out of emotions all the time; that shouldn't stop us from keeping a life- ...[text shortened]... n, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

I know sir, and it is your definition of love I disagree with. Strip away 'feelings' and it no longer qualifies as love. To equate love with 'taking care of the needs of those around you' does a disservice to the true nature of love. It really does.

A toaster acts without feeling and takes care of the needs of people who want to be fed. Does the toaster love the people it is feeding?!

@ghost-of-a-duke said
I know sir, and it is your definition of love I disagree with. Strip away 'feelings' and it no longer qualifies as love. To equate love with 'taking care of the needs of those around you' does a disservice to the true nature of love. It really does.

A toaster acts without feeling and takes care of the needs of people who want to be fed. Does the toaster love the people it is feeding?!

Of course, there are feelings in love, but you cannot trust feelings, you can be stricken over someone, then someone else, then someone else. If you are in love with someone you can be stricken with them, but if a commitment is made that is love. Chasing after a feeling isn't to love, its self-gratification nothing more than wanting that feeling someone at the moment gives you. True love is a commitment; it is a choice, an act of the will; it puts someone else first over you.

If it is 'feelings' only, look at what that produces in the lives that think that way, there are many people who follow that feeling definition of yours; they are in and out of relationships, marriages, the wake of that is the destruction of many families, many lives. Love does have feelings, but if it isn't an act of the will, it can be no different than a high that people get from drugs, before they have to move on to the next one to get it again, the pure selfishness of it is devastating.