It seems to me that consistent unconditional would only be possible by a perfect God.  Humans are wired with too much selfishness to unconditionally love all the time.

I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption.  Protecting your childrens' lives doesn't necessarily equivocate losing love for your wife because you had to harm her.

I agree with SF that there are some unspoken assumptions here that need to be worked through.  I'd like to make my own point, though.

In negating the 'unconditional love' for your wife, didn't you affirm it in this scenario for your children?  Didn't you establish the possibility of the very thing your exampe was supposed to demonstrate?

That's true, to a certain extent. You can have unconditional love for your children up to a certain age, I think. I think when they start thinking for themselves conditions might arise. Under extreme conditions, I think it would not be good to love your grown children unconditionally. Of course it is possible that people love unconditionally, but to answer your second question, I don't think it is good.

That's actually an interesting spin on the topic. Do you love yourself unconditionally? I definitely don't. There are goals I want to meet and standards that I try to hold myself to, based on my chosen philosophy. Without meaning to make Johnny hurl again  :)   I love myself only as long as I do everything I can to contribute to my own happiness.

But if you are doing everything you can to contribute to your happiness---isn't that unconditional love in itself?

Hmm, perhaps. But that would only hold if I actually do everything I can that is in my own best interests. I admittedly don't, and I would say that at those times I do not love myself. Conditions always exist in one way or another.

Okay. Yes, of course it exists, because people are capable of it. I said I do not think it is good. This is because once you grant someone unconditional love then you might be willing to do things for that person that you otherwise wouldn't do. This can include "bad" things, or perhaps more precisely, irrational things. When you grant unconditional love, if someone changes, it may be hard to see them for what they really are.

I unconditionally love myself.


Yeah me too. 3 or 4 times daily.
(HEY!! I just saw the name of that smiley! I'm insulted!! )

Ok ok ok ok ok..... how about this:  

One of your children has become a suicide bomber at the age of 3. He/she is running into a crowd of other small children, you could stop the massacre but you would have to kill your child.

Would you do it? If yes could you still claim unconditional love for your child as in the idea AH/Anti seems to be promoting?

I still say no, it does not exist.  In the child examples given, the condition is still "Because they're your child".  


 

"I met a prominant, well respected psychologist, many years ago, that had the very same feelings on this subject as you do. This man had several children, and because, he had much training in the therapeutical craft, he along with his collegues, had convinced themselves, that they were, the cream of the crop, when it came to love, discipline, relationships, and parenting. One of the stories, that he so proudly related to me, is this: On one occasion, this man, chose to take his children, on a nature walk. Before he took his chargees, out of the house, he had a bit of a dilemna, with his five year old daughter. His wife, had just purchased a new pair of shoes, for the little girl, and she wanted to wear them on the walk. This man, explained to his childe, that she needed to put on her older, worn in shoes, before they went walking, because these new shoes, would end up hurting her feet, and she would then want to be carried, and he was not going to carry her. The little girl, who did not have the understanding that her father had in this area, could not comprehend, that these new shoes, that at present were not hurting her feet, could cause her such discomfort, when used on a long walk. She stubbornly rejected her fathers advice, and chose to wear her new shoes anyway. Soon the family made it to the trail, where they were going for their hike, and just as the father had predicted, the little girl, became very, very uncomfortable in her new shoes. Every step, began producing sores, and blisters, to her little feet, and her father, staying very steadfast, in his disciplinary proceedures, ignored her pleas and cries for help, refusing, to carry the child. He was the man. He was in charge. And she knew, the master. What did this man actually teach his little girl, and what has he taught the many, many families, who have passed under his thresh hold? This is just one example of this man and his inhueman agenda. How many generations, of individuals, have been adversely effected, by the dangerous instructions of this one man? And how many fragile spirits, will continue to be adversely desecrated, and destroyed by this very subtle, yet very popular form of toxicity, and poison? What do you think?"

Moste Sincerely,
Wholly Polterguiste