What is love? It’s not all Valentines and chocolates. Love is indescribable, yet many philosophers and theologians have attempted to capture its essence. In his book Works of Love, Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher and father of existentialism, explores Agape, the Christian concept of unconditional love, Eros, preferential love, and phileo, love given to friends and family. Kierkegaard (1813-1855) is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher, but he was also a theologian, poet, social critic and religious author. His theological work often deals with Christian love. He compares and contrasts the infinite differences in the quality of mankind vs. that of God and the individual’s subjective relationship to Jesus through faith. Several biblical aspects of spiritual love are examined in relation to erotic love and friendship and moves from primal erotism to spiritual ecstasy. This study contemplates the unfathomable qualities of love, since “God is love.” The writing is also concerned with how love manifests itself in Christian life. Though he agrees with Luther that works do not earn us salvation, he proposes that works, grounded in love, are a necessary part of Christianity. A study of these three types of love will be led by Aliyah Kennedy on LPC’s YouTube channel for three weeks in February. Opportunity for discussion will take place in the chapel after worship on February 13, 20 and 27.