Romantic Love Is a Complex and Unique

Romantic love is a complex and unique phenomenon. The concept has become so ubiquitous in modern society that most people take it for granted. Romantic love is considered to be one of the normal conquests in the course of one's life. Yet it was not always this way nor is romantic love a part of every culture. In fact, in many other cultures, romantic love is often a subsidiary consideration to such things as status and property considerations. By contrast, romantic relationships are founded on something of an adventurous impulse in which feelings and emotions are at something of a plateau. Although this plateau may offer some intense aspects that are positive in many ways, the same intensity can also create situations in which the intensity and the feelings fade and what is left is unpleasant at best. This paper will examine some of the concepts that are associated with romantic love.

Romantic Love in Society

Some have described romantic love as "other worldly." However, since emotions and passions are so heightened that rational consideration of some of the practicalities of the relationship are commonly overlooked, there are negative consequences that result from relationships founded on romanticism. Yet some have focused on the "other worldly" factor which is often inherent in romantic love and made parallels to God's presence. While the romantic period is at its highest point, the emotions felt by the participants can be equated to a relationship with God and it is argued that surely God must have bestowed this gift upon man for some reason.

There is something of a paradox inherent in romantic love that must be explained somehow. Some have argued that since romantic love fosters such intense emotions that these emotions are actually in competition with one's love for God. Thus, from this perspective, romantic love can be seen as a negative phenomenon that should be avoided at all costs. When a romantic relationship is initiated, then the intense focus on the other's partner can leave them to neglect their relationship with God altogether. It is in this way that romantic love can be viewed as a distraction that can displace someone's love for God.

Other opinions actually take this concept even further. If a female begins to focus on her romantic lover with such passion that she actually puts him on something of an irrational and impossible nature, then this type of relationship could actually mirror have many similarities with a relationship with God. That is a lover can sometimes actually create such unrealistic visions of their partner, that they worship their partner as if they were a god. Thus their can also be an idolatry dimension to romantic love. Not only can it serve as a distraction that can diminish one's relationship with God, but it can actually lead to someone creating a situation in which they are worshiping someone in which they have created a god-like image of in their own minds; one that does not match reality.

All humans have desires to pursue romantic love, or sometime erotic love, however in the end these pursuits are seldom fulfilling. The question then arises what is the purpose of these impulses and what to do with them. There is obviously a biological function that drives many to the urge to reproduce. Therefore romantic love is often sexually exciting and awakens the senses. Yet there are stark differences between true love and lust. People who are driven for lust only, focus on the sexual excitement only and generally have little concern for fulfilling obligations that are usually associated with a healthy marriage. The same intense pleasures can be found in couples who are happily married but these relationships are more dynamic in nature and are focused on several different dimensions all at the same time.