God and the Problems of Love

Religious believers are often commanded to love like God, but classical accounts suggest that God is an inadequate model for human love. This element examines God and divine love within the Abrahamic traditions, then turns to love and the problem of hell. It asks if such love is humanly possible given recent work in the cognitive and social sciences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 74 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Religious followers are frequently instructed to exhibit love akin to that of God. However, classical accounts portray God as an inadequate model for human beings, as an immutable and impassable entity incapable of experiencing the kind of episodic emotions (such as sympathy and empathy) necessary for fostering the most profound forms of human love. Models that are more conducive to human love are often rejected, as they may seem to diminish God's power and glory. This Element explores the nature of God and divine love within the Abrahamic traditions of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. It then turns to the issue of hell, which is primarily perceived as a concern for Christians. The author delves into the specific kind of love each tradition demands of its followers and raises the question, given recent advancements in the fields of cognitive and social sciences, whether such love is truly humanly achievable. Additionally, this title is also accessible as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

ISBN-13: 9781009462334