There's the old saying, 'It's love that makes the world go round' and in a way, it's true! You see animals behaving altruistically towards each other and indeed, being loyal to humans. I'm not sure you can call that 'love' though. Maybe it's love that sets us apart from the animal kingdom? Or, who knows, maybe doggy love and the love between other animals is what maintains the species? Great philosophers have mused about the subject for hundreds of years. One thing is for sure; falling in love and being loved in return is the most fantastic feeling on earth! We can't make it happen; it just does! And when it does, you live, breathe, eat, sleep, dream that love. It's all consuming. Sadly, that initial intensity fades and relationships only survive if there is a deep-seated mutual interest as their foundation. If you are a Christian, the most important message of all is 'God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son ...' Love is the very essence of Christianity. Don't know much about other religions but I'd hazzard a guess that the same isn't true of many ...?