The Search for Elian

"Elian had always grown up in a small village surrounded by mountains, where religious traditions were strong, and people lived their lives guided by dogmatic rules. From a young age, Elian had heard of God as a distant figure, a ruler and punisher. Every prayer, every ritual, seemed more like an obligation than an expression of genuine love. Although he respected the beliefs of his community, he felt a disconnection within himself that he could not fully understand.

One day, while walking through the nearby forest, Elian came across an old man sitting under a tree, seemingly meditating in silence. Intrigued, he approached and, without saying a word, sat next to him. The old man looked at him with deep eyes and, in a gentle voice, said:

"You seek God, but you do not yet know how to see Him."

Elian looked at him in confusion, silently questioning what the phrase meant. Wasn’t God supposed to be sought through prayers and rituals? Wasn’t that what he had been taught his entire life?

The old man continued, as if he could read his thoughts:

"The love of God is neither a burden nor an obligation. It is not about surrendering to a higher being out of fear or guilt. True love for the divine is a relationship of profound respect, an openness to what transcends, beyond your selfish interests. God is not a being who demands submission; He is the space where you and everything around you find unity."

Elian felt those words touch something deep within him. The love he had known until then was a conditional love, a love where one had to fear God’s wrath and obey strict rules. However, the old man’s words resonated like a deep echo, awakening in him a new way of seeing the world.

In the days that followed, Elian began to explore this new concept. He started to look around with a new perspective, not seeking perfection in things but a deep connection with them. He felt love in every sunrise, in the whisper of the wind through the trees, in the laughter of the village children, and in the embrace of the earth that sustained him. He no longer saw God as a distant figure but as a presence inhabiting everything that existed, inviting connection, understanding, and love."

One afternoon, while walking alone through an open field, Elian felt a peace he had never experienced before. Suddenly, the elder's words resonated once more in his heart: *God is the space where you find unity.* And it was then that he understood he didn’t need to seek a love that was imposed but a love that arose from the freedom of his being—a love that allowed him to transcend fear and guilt and connect with the divine in an authentic way.

Elian realized that loving God was not an act of submission but a dance between the mind, the soul, and the universe—a flow toward a deeper understanding of life itself. In that moment, he no longer felt disconnected. He no longer felt the need to earn God’s love through his merits but carried it within him, like a fire that never goes out.

With this new understanding, Elian returned to his village. His way of praying had changed. He no longer sought external answers but began to hear the heartbeat of life in every moment. And although his external life remained the same, his inner world had completely transformed. He had found true love—a love that depended on nothing and no one, a love that emerged from a deep connection with the divine, free from dogmas and full of respect and understanding.

Elian had discovered that through love for God, a path toward transcendence opened—a relationship of unity with all, where true peace and love could flourish, not as an obligation but as a genuine expression of being. And so, he lived the rest of his days, carrying that love with him in every step, knowing that true love does not need to be imposed; it is simply lived.

In Elian’s story, the concept developed by Erich Fromm about the love of God is reflected—a love that is not based on a dogmatic or submissive relationship, but on a deep and respectful connection with the divine. From the beginning, Elian experiences a love for God conditioned by fear and obligation, as taught by his community. However, upon meeting the elder and hearing his words, he begins to question that perspective.

The elder teaches him that loving God is not an act of surrender driven by fear or guilt, but an open and sincere relationship founded on respect and the pursuit of a higher purpose. This shift in perspective leads Elian to experience a love for the divine that arises from the freedom of his being—a love that does not depend on imposed rules or selfish expectations.

As Elian delves deeper into this understanding, he begins to see God not as a distant and punitive figure, but as a universal presence that dwells in all things, inviting unity and transcendence. This type of love for God, according to Fromm, is liberating because it is free from dogmas and not centered on submission, but rather on a genuine quest for understanding and connection. By discovering this authentic love, Elian feels more connected to life and the universe, reflecting Fromm's idea that the love of God is a path to transcendence and a profound understanding of life.

Elian’s story exemplifies how love for God can be a relationship free from fear, dogmas, and guilt—a relationship based on respect, unity, and understanding, aligning with Erich Fromm’s vision in The Art of Loving.