[mysterio]

I'm beginning to suspect you are correct. I think love is basically a biochemical reaction designed to make us :

a. reproduce successfully

and

b. protect offspring from being killed.

The romantic love chemical reaction lasts long enough for us to successfully copulate, and the love of children is long term so that they have a chance to perpetuate the species.

We're no different than any other animal. We are designed to reproduce, protect our kids, and then eventually die.

Grim, huh? I'm a biochemist/biologist.

If you really want grim, check out the random reinforcement tests they did on mice clicking the lever for a reward of pleasurable brain stimulation. The mice clicked the lever endlessly for a chance at the brain stimulation. And then look around at everyone you see and tell me they aren't doing the exact same thing with every interaction, conversation, and interest.

[Lazamataz]

I told everyone.

They didn't believe me.

[dsc]

“We’re no different than any other animal.”

OOOoooo, wrong on so many levels.

Closing one’s eyes and mind to the spiritual doesn’t render it nonexistent.

It’s not that we have souls, you see. It’s more that we *are* souls that presently have bodies.

[TigersEye]

And then look around at everyone you see and tell me they aren't doing the exact same thing with every interaction, conversation, and interest.

The vast majority of people are, to one degree or another, that is true. But it is a choice. One difference between humans and animals is that they can never even conceive that there is a choice much less make one.