Okay, more time now.
Technosoul - hey ol' buddy ol' pal! Like my new avatar?! All about balance, (surprise!) but this time includes the understanding that balance itself must also be balanced, hence the center circle also.
Sonart. You prepared a very lucid argument there and have my applause. I especially liked your finishing point, that your worldview is your religion just as many as any other. I would suggest, however, that 'faith' is a word reserved for beliefs that are not readily observable and/or verifiable as yours are. Perhaps 'trust' is more fitting?
I'm really not sure I can argue against the biological explanation of love. This is where it comes down to a choice, and the real reason that faith is called faith. For me, your explanation is a valid, observation-based analysis of the subject of love. But for me, mine is an equally valid faith-based analysis of the same. And the difference is a matter of choice, with neither choice being better or more accurate than the other. Truth is personal.
Having said, I'm going to try and argue my corner any way!
My own understanding is that romantic love is not necessary from an evolutionary standpoint when you already have a range of emotions that could achieve the same preference for single partners.
For example there is jealousy. Jealousy is one of our most powerful emotions, and really has nothing to do with love. I don't know if you have experienced this, but it is possible to be jealous of a partner even when you are not presently in love with them. The extent to which you are in love with them is irrelevant. With this obviously comes greed, selfishness, the need to 'posess', the advantage of having a ready sexual partner to maximise chances of offspring.
Certainly love can play a role, and I absolutely recognise as a father myself that there are powerful instincts involved in caring for our children. But again, there are other things aside from love that could explain this. For example, protecting our children or any loved ones is simply self-preservation extended to our genetic similars.
What I'm saying is that if love didn't exist, all these traits still would. We would still fight furiously to protect our offspring and siblings, we would still defend our exclusive rights to our partners, etc.
Also, there is some inconsistency between the idea of 'evolved love' and the fact that we (men) generally have sex drives high enough to send us from bed to bed, disregarding love completely. And I have to say that, although society believes it's only men that are unfaithful, women are at it just as much as men are.
Love fits the shape of the jigsaw, but if the picture doesn't join up there's no point fitting the piece there.
I'm sticking with my existing idea that love comes from the soul. But hey, I've enjoyed the challenge!
~ Org.