Agape Love: A Tradition Found in Eight World Religions

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Summary: A Brief Overview of Religious Love
Review: Sir John Templeton argues that agape love is not exclusive to any one religion, but it is an underlying principle in all major world religions. By agape love, he means love that is unlimited, pure, and unconditional as well as altruistic.

Templeton argues that agape love expresses a unity of purpose that is common to all people. It holds within it the opportunity to transcend differences of religious beliefs and to live in joy and peace. Agape involves feeling and expressing pure, unlimited love for every human being, with no exception.

The author recognizes that all religions are not the same. And it is also not his goal to convert persons from one religion to another. "Rather, the purpose is to point toward the possibilities and responsibilities of love. It is to awaken people to the realization that despite the differences, all religions share some very important, fundamental principles and goals, the highest of which is the realization of agape love -- unconditional, unlimited, pure love" (5).

The eight religious traditions explored are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Native American Spirituality. The author concludes with these words: "The option to grow in agape is open to everyone on earth. It is an invitation to true happiness for you and others. May it become our aspiration, our expression of God's love radiating through us" (111).

Thomas Jay Oord