How can we transcend
our romantic delusions and fantasy feelings
and build our loving relationships on
reality?
Romantic love may be
the most pervasive myth of Western culture.
Romance is a cultural invention,
not a natural phenomenon.
We have been so deeply indoctrinated
into the romantic myth
that we have no awareness of the process
of emotional programming
that created our romantic responses.
Popular culture is the main way we learn
how to 'fall in love'.
Movies, television, popular songs, novels,
and magazines
all train our feelings into the
wonderful delusion of romance.
Our romantic games
would be harmless if everyone knew
that romantic love is a fantasy feeling.
But while still under the influence of
romantic illusions,
some people make the life-altering mistake
of getting married.
Perhaps we question every form of political
or religious mythology,
but what about the most potentially harmful
myth—romantic love?
Religious indoctrination
demonstrates emotional programming.
Is 'being saved' the religious equivalent
of 'falling in love'?
We are taught what emotions to expect—then
we try to create them.
If romantic love is
a hoax, what should we do?
Real information can replace romantic
illusions.
We can love on the basis of who we
choose to be
rather than trying to reproduce romance
as seen on television.
OUTLINE:
I. Romantic Love was Invented 800 Years Ago by the French Troubadours.
II. 'Falling in Love' as Temporary Insanity.
III. Love & Marriage: Fantasy & Facts.
IV. How Did We Learn the Romantic Response?
V. Emotional Programming: Romantic & Religious.
VI. Good-bye to Illusions, Hello to Reality.
James Park is an existential
philosopher
with a deep interest in the dynamics
of love.
The first chapter of his most popular
book
—New Ways of
Loving: How Authenticity Transforms Relationships—
is called "Romantic Love is a Hoax! Emotional
Programming to 'Fall in Love' "
.
This chapter forms the background for
this cyber-sermon.
More information about
James Park will be found on his home page:
An
Existential Philosopher's Museum
.
If you would like to
read a draft of this proposed cyber-sermon,
click this title:
"Romantic
Love is a Hoax! Romantic Programming to 'Fall in Love' ".
Full information about the 264-page book New
Ways of Loving will appear
if you click this title:
New
Ways of Loving: How Authenticity Transforms Relationships
If you would like to
measure your own level of romance,
you might want to take
The
Romantic Love Test: How Do We Know If We Are in Love?
This 180-question test divides the phenomenon
of romantic love
into 26 manifestations (the A-Z of romantic
love).
If you want to read
more books critical of romantic love,
see the Romantic
Love Bibliography
.
Return to the list of proposed cyber-sermons of the WWCC.
Return to the home page of the
World Wide Computer Church
.
Return to the LOVE PAGE .
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An Existential Philosopher's
Museum