Keeping Focused in a Culture of Distraction
Faith in the Public Square
Lompoc Record
June 14, 2007
Critics of religion like to point to religion’s potential to distract us from the realities of life. Karl Marx called religion the “opiate of the masses.” By promising “pie in the sky in the bye and bye,” Marx claimed that religion placated people and allowed those in power to control them. Unfortunately, there’s some truth to this charge, which is why authority figures have sought to ally themselves with the leading religious forces of the day.
Consider Constantine: he understood quite well the value of an alignment with the growing Christian community that had prospered in spite of persecution and proscription by the imperial government. If you can’t stop it, then why not join it and try to control it?
It’s possible that Constantine was a true convert – I’m in no position to judge – but it’s clear that he understood the political benefits of such an alliance. It’s also clear that after generations of persecution, many Christian leaders were only too eager to comply. Bought off with promises of state support and protection, they in turn kept the masses focused on the heavenlies. It could be argued that the tax benefits that religious organizations (like all nonprofits) receive in America suppress our criticism of the reigning authorities. The result is that we contribute to a culture of distraction.
But complacent religion isn’t the only distraction around. Although the Romans sought to control the masses through an alliance with religion, they also knew that the crowds could be easily distracted by spectacle – such as the well attended gladiatorial battles -- and occasional distributions of free bread. If you keep people entertained, you can keep their minds off the business of state.
Lompoc Record
June 14, 2007
Critics of religion like to point to religion’s potential to distract us from the realities of life. Karl Marx called religion the “opiate of the masses.” By promising “pie in the sky in the bye and bye,” Marx claimed that religion placated people and allowed those in power to control them. Unfortunately, there’s some truth to this charge, which is why authority figures have sought to ally themselves with the leading religious forces of the day.
Consider Constantine: he understood quite well the value of an alignment with the growing Christian community that had prospered in spite of persecution and proscription by the imperial government. If you can’t stop it, then why not join it and try to control it?
It’s possible that Constantine was a true convert – I’m in no position to judge – but it’s clear that he understood the political benefits of such an alliance. It’s also clear that after generations of persecution, many Christian leaders were only too eager to comply. Bought off with promises of state support and protection, they in turn kept the masses focused on the heavenlies. It could be argued that the tax benefits that religious organizations (like all nonprofits) receive in America suppress our criticism of the reigning authorities. The result is that we contribute to a culture of distraction.
But complacent religion isn’t the only distraction around. Although the Romans sought to control the masses through an alliance with religion, they also knew that the crowds could be easily distracted by spectacle – such as the well attended gladiatorial battles -- and occasional distributions of free bread. If you keep people entertained, you can keep their minds off the business of state.
While I don’t believe the American government controls the media, the attention given to the continuing sagas of Anna Nichole Smith (even in death), Britney Spears, and most recently the “unfairly imprisoned” Paris Hilton, should give us pause. We may be involved in a divisive war abroad, face concerns about such issues as poverty, exploding health care costs, immigration, and energy consumption at home, but we let ourselves be distracted by these tales that fill the airwaves. And then there’s American Idol, which draws more voters than our presidential elections.
Then there’s consumerism – if things get you down, then go shopping! Consider that in the days following the tragedy that was 9-11 the President encouraged us to get on with our lives by going shopping. Yes, what better way to say no to Osama Bin Laden than to fill the coffers of America’s corporate giants? That’ll show them!
Whether it’s religion, sports, entertainment, or consumerism, we seem easily distracted. There may even be some value in this, as constant bad news can be destructive to the psyche. But still, we seem too easily distracted for our own good.
So what’s the answer? How do we keep our focus in times of trial and not become overwhelmed by those trials? Buddhists talk about “mindfulness.” This is a sense of calmness that allows a person to see things as they really are. It’s an awareness of what’s going on inside and around us. This sense of “mindfulness” can lead us to engage in acts of compassion and healing. Buddhist writer Thich Nhat Hanh writes that “when we are mindful, touching deeply the present moment, we can see and listen deeply, and the fruits are always understanding, acceptance, love and the desire to relieve suffering and bring joy” (Living Buddha, Living Christ, p. 14). Jesus said it differently, but no less clearly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats. On the Day of Judgment the people will gather before God’s throne and to their dismay they find that they’re living outside the kingdom of God. Why? Because they didn’t see Jesus in the least of society’s citizens. In other words, they hadn’t been paying attention (Matthew 25:31-46).
Yes, religion can be an opiate and a distraction from the realities of life. It can, however, also challenge our complacency and call us to action. What faith provides, I believe, is a sense of hope. If religion is to be something other than a distraction, then we must be mindful of the voice of God calling us to action on behalf of the voiceless, the hungry, the hurting, and the imprisoned, both here at home and around the world.
So what’s the answer? How do we keep our focus in times of trial and not become overwhelmed by those trials? Buddhists talk about “mindfulness.” This is a sense of calmness that allows a person to see things as they really are. It’s an awareness of what’s going on inside and around us. This sense of “mindfulness” can lead us to engage in acts of compassion and healing. Buddhist writer Thich Nhat Hanh writes that “when we are mindful, touching deeply the present moment, we can see and listen deeply, and the fruits are always understanding, acceptance, love and the desire to relieve suffering and bring joy” (Living Buddha, Living Christ, p. 14). Jesus said it differently, but no less clearly, in the parable of the sheep and the goats. On the Day of Judgment the people will gather before God’s throne and to their dismay they find that they’re living outside the kingdom of God. Why? Because they didn’t see Jesus in the least of society’s citizens. In other words, they hadn’t been paying attention (Matthew 25:31-46).
Yes, religion can be an opiate and a distraction from the realities of life. It can, however, also challenge our complacency and call us to action. What faith provides, I believe, is a sense of hope. If religion is to be something other than a distraction, then we must be mindful of the voice of God calling us to action on behalf of the voiceless, the hungry, the hurting, and the imprisoned, both here at home and around the world.
Dr. Bob Cornwall is pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Lompoc (www.lompocdisciples.org). His blog can be found at http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com and he maybe contacted at lompocdisciples@impulse.net or First Christian Church, P.O. Box 1056, Lompoc, CA 93438.
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