Demons at the Feast of Love: Concupiscence, Benevolence, and Transcendence | Dr. R.J. Snell
Jun 5, 2024
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Dr. R.J. Snell discusses the complexities of love and happiness, exploring concupiscence, benevolence, and the intertwining of natural love and love for God. The podcast contemplates humanitarian sentimentalism, challenges of self-love, and the demand to love all neighbors. It also delves into the theological virtue of caritas, distinguishing between natural and infused love, and highlighting the importance of justice and charity in politics and the common good.
Love is a multifaceted virtue celebrated with grandiosity and complexity.
Commercialization of love on Valentine's Day challenges the true essence of love.
Idolatrous love can distort true worship, leading to superficial understandings of love.
Deep dives
The Nature of Love
Love is described as complex and multifaceted, embodying a theological virtue that is revered and celebrated. The supreme importance of love is underscored, with references to God being love and the commandment to love one another as God loves us. The podcast delves into the various dimensions of love, emphasizing its significance and the grandiose claims often associated with it.
Challenges of Valentine's Day
The speaker's diminishing patience for Valentine's Day with age is highlighted, reflecting a nuanced view on the commercialized celebration of love. The clichés and sayings surrounding love are dissected, pointing out the complexities and misunderstandings that sometimes accompany societal notions of love.
Idolatry of Love
The discussion shifts towards the concept of idolatrous love, where love can become a false idol competing with the true worship of God. The podcast explores how love can be misconstrued as a projection of personal aspirations, leading to a superficial understanding of love and its true essence.
Dangers and Realities of Love
The darker aspects of love are brought to light, revealing its potential for madness, possessiveness, and unrequited feelings. The podcast delves into the complexities of love stories, contrasting romanticized narratives with the harsh realities of love's capacity to wound and scar. The discussion encompasses the intricacies of love's pathologies and disorders.
Nature vs. Infused Love
The distinction between natural love and infused love is explored, with a focus on how love, whether natural or infused, is interconnected with the divine and reflective of God's goodness. The discussion delves into the nuances of human love, highlighting the inclinations towards the good and the complexities of love in relation to the divine.