In conversations about Christian Science, one sometimes encounters the expressions "spiritual love" and "human love," which unless understood would lead one to believe that there are actually various kinds and degrees of love. In reality there is only one kind of love; this is the love of Love, or God's love.
Human love is usually considered to be the affection of one person for another, and it may be sometimes accompanied by domination, possessiveness, or selfishness. On the other hand, spiritual love is expressed when, through the study of Christian Science, one gains the understanding of God as Love and of man as His image and likeness, reflecting divine Love. With this understanding, one will reject an erroneous trait, such as criticism, dislike, hatred, or jealousy of his fellow men, and express pure love in practical human acts of kindness and helpfulness. Thus are fulfilled these words in Science and Health (p. 17), "And Love is reflected in love."
If one feels that immortal love is something sacredly set apart to be guarded and defended from human expression, he is depriving himself not only of the joy but also of the blessing which comes from its expression. In "Miscellaneous Writings," Mrs. Eddy gives this practical and forceful statement of the proper display of love in our daily lives (p. 250): "Love is not something put upon a shelf, to be taken down on rare occasions with sugar-tongs and laid on a rose.-leaf. I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results."
