*Romantic love might be the most pervasive myth of Western culture. Romance is a cultural invention, not a natural phenomenon. We have been so deeply indoctrinated into the romantic mythology that we have no awareness of the process of emotional programming that created our romantic responses. Popular culture provides the main ways we learn how to 'fall in love'. Movies, television, popular songs, novels, & magazines all train our feelings into the wonderful delusion of romance.

Our romantic games would be harmless if everyone knew 

that romantic love is a fantasy feeling. But while still under the influence of romantic illusions, some people make the life-altering mistake of getting married. Do we guard against every form of political or religious mythology? But what about the most potentially-harmful myth—romantic love?

Religious indoctrination demonstrates emotional programming.  

Is 'being saved' the religious equivalent of 'falling in love'? We are taught what emotions to expect—then we try to create them.

If romantic love is a hoax, what should we do?  

Real information about our partners can replace romantic illusions. We can love on the basis of who we choose to be rather than trying to reproduce romance as seen on television.*

Contrary to popular opinion, romantic love is not a natural phenomenon. Rather, the emotion of being romantically in love is created inside each person who experiences this feeling by the emotional programming of the popular culture.

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