Agape Love: Tradition in Eight World Religions

By John Marks Templeton

Book Overview

The tradition of agape, or unconditional love, is not exclusive to any religion. It is a primary underlying principle found in religions worldwide. The concept of altruistic love challenges the spiritual person to "love your enemies" or to "love without thought of return." It is a love that flows out to others through compassion, kindness, tenderness, and charitable giving.

Buddhists have a path of compassion, where caring for others becomes the motivating force behind existence. Hindus have a branch of yoga, the heart-centered path, that leads to enlightenment through an overwhelming love for God that takes the form of loving all humanity. Eastern religions, such as Taoism and Confucianism, see transcendent love as essential to true wisdom.

Love is a universal theme of love found in all religious traditions, Buddhist, Christian, Islam, or others. As we realize that all religions have this spiritual principle of love at their core, we can develop a sense of shared humanity. The religious tradition of agape love examined in this book will inspire those who are learning to grow in compassion and love for all people.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1599473445
• ISBN13: 9781599473444
• Release Date: April 2019
• Publisher: Templeton Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

thru the smoke and cinders to the gold

Long a master at looking thru the smoke and seeing the gold, Sir John Templeton does that here, tying together what various religions agree upon. Taken from their various scriptures. there are no wasted words.

A Brief Overview of Religious Love

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