Martinus: Livets Bog, vol. 4, sect. 1127

1127. It must, however, be pointed out that the unselfish love mentioned above must not be confused with that which results in "adoption", for this constitutes merely a kind of artificial replacement for, or satisfaction of, a natural, innate desire to have children that has not yet been outgrown, but which could not be satisfied in the natural way. In such a situation it is still the unsatisfied, innate "maternal urge" or "paternal urge" that is in evidence in the "adoptive parents". And one will see in this case that the relationship between them and the "adopted child" is of the same "selfish" nature as it would have been if the child were of their own flesh and blood. Such parents will also in these situations in the main devote themselves to this child at the expense of other children who do not concern them, should it prove necessary. The "adopted child" has become a substitute for a part of themselves that they have not been able to acquire or possess in the natural way. But since their perfect happiness and wellbeing is in reality based on such a possession, they have had to create an "artificial" possession in the form of the "adopted" child. This child is thus a kind of "crutch" with which they replace the natural buttressing or foundation of the normal feeling of happiness or natural mental wellbeing of their step. That they protect this artificial foundation for their natural wellbeing, which is so necessary for them, is of course just as natural as it is natural that an invalid protects his artificial leg, his artificial hand or his artificial eye. "Maternal love", "parental love" and the other branches of "family love" radiating from these are thus not true "love" as long as this love is manifested only as sympathy for beings that are an essential link in one's normal drive for self-preservation or egoistic wellbeing. However divine "family" or "maternal love" may appear to be, it can never be the fulfilment of the law of existence, which commands that "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". "Maternal love" or "family love" in the best cases inspires one to love only one's "family members", one's children and one's spouse as oneself. A sympathy that inspires one to love strangers as oneself has nothing to do with "family love" or "maternal love".