as a child, says Ernest Becker in the book "The Denial of Death" he continues, it is the condition for his life so much so, that every person is desperately seeking what Becker calls "cosmic significance."
Becker uses romantic love as an illustration:
"The self-glorification that 'modern man' needed in his inner-most nature he now looked for in the love partner. The love partner becomes the divine ideal within which to fulfill one's life. Spiritual and moral needs now become focused on one individual."
Becker continues:
"No human relationship can bear this burden of godhood...If your partner is your 'ALL', then any shortcoming in him becomes a major threat to you...What is it that we want when we elevate the love partner to this position? We want to be rid of...our feeling of nothingness...to know our existence has not been in vain. We want redemption - nothing less. Needless to say, humans cannot give this."
From the book "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller
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