Growing in the Theological Virtues – Fully Understanding Human Love (Charity)
English speakers are at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to fully understanding human love. Our language only admits to one kind of love. When I teach young people about sexuality, love and chastity I illustrate this point by telling them:
- I love chocolate.
- I love my truck.
- I love my wife.
Then I ask, “Do I love my wife the same way I love my truck?” The illustration immediately drives the point home. I will very often get responses much more impassioned than the expected “no,” such as, “You better not!”
But then I ask, “What’s the difference?” And that’s when things get interesting. The young people instinctively know there has to be a difference, but they sometimes have a hard time spelling out what that difference would be. To me, this is telling. Is our culture -not just our language – losing the full meaning of human love? I think we are. I think we’re being trained that full human love is an impossible, or at least an inconvenient ideal. I think what is now becoming known as the “hook-up culture” is training us to see love as strictly a “what’s in it for me” experience. That’s how I love my truck. If I start loving my wife and my children that way, we’re in real trouble.
The Greek language has four words for love. That’s not surprising. Those ancient Greek guys were pretty smart. These four words for love described four different aspects of human love. Being aware of these four loves helps us recognize the difference between loving my truck and loving my wife. It also helps us to deepen our understanding of human love and – more importantly – Christian love.
Let’s take a look at each of these types of love, then we’ll come back and put them all together into the big picture of true human love.
Eros & Storge: Growing in the Theological Virtues – Emotion, Desire and Human Love (Charity)