Quote from: saundthorp on August 03, 2011, 22:15:02

Of course it isn't. From a Christian's point of view it is a reasonable position to say that since God created us He is the source of the goodness that is in us. It is said mankind was created in the image of God therefore we will share some of the characteristics of God.

It would really only be a reasonable position if humans were created by God as they are now, rather than having evolved to be as we are. Chimpanzees, for example, show the ability to do caring things, admittedly in much more rudimentary form - but that's what you'd expect.  Humans exhibit a more developed form of this, having greater ability to put themselves in another's place and imagine how it must feel to be them, but they are not completely unique in this, just more highly developed.  The idea, therefore, that humanity was somehow chosen above the animals, by an external entity, God, to bear 'his' divine imprint, is brought into question. As a proposal, it doesn't really fit many of the facts, and it is certainly superfluous as an explanation for the existence of Love. It's rather like saying we have legs because God has legs. We can show why we have evolved legs, and we have no evidence to show that there is an external God with legs.

I take it from your post you don't attach any importance to the human race. As I see it you think we are just another creature who happen to inhabit this planet.
I look at it in a completely different way. I don't buy into the theory that man evolved from another creature like the ape or the monkey. Personally I think man was a completely different species brought into being by God. Yes, evolution has taken place but all within the confines of that unique species.
I think man is the summit of God's creation. Mankind is clearly distinguished from other living creatures. The most profound difference being, man possesses an immortal soul. Another important difference, man is a person, which means that because of his understanding and will he can decide for or against love, whether to commit right or wrong.
You say "Chimpanzees, for example, show the ability to do caring things, admittedly in much more rudimentary form".
That could be explained as purely instinctive behaviour. Man has the ability to decide whether or not to do caring things, which I don't think animals can.
There is another theory about man's origins. He did evolve from another creature such as an ape, but at some point in the evolutionary process God endowed him with an immortal soul, which had a profound change on his character and behaviour. I prefere the unique species approach.