Reply #5: I believe that was about the time of Bard influence,

[Uncle Joe]

too bad the church shut them down.

I believe erotic love ruled in the beginning, this was just basically physical lust.

Then the church came out with Agape, this was selfless love on behalf of some mystical deity and everyone's marriage had to blessed by the church as they gained control over the people's lives.

Then the bards arrived with what I believe is referred to as Amour, this is true love between two people not based on lust or some mystical deity, just natural love for love's sake.

I looked in Webster's Dictionary and they've reduced Amour to "secret or illicit" love, I believe they're selling the word short by not describing it in full context. I see Amour as natural true love, if you ever watch the movie "The Princess Bride"; a romantic comedy, his reply of "as you wish" to her every request exemplified it well.

I may have mentioned this before to you, I can't recall for sure, but if you get the chance check out "The Power of Myth" a book covering several interviews between Bill Moyers and the late Professor Joseph Campbell.

Thanks for the thread, Bill