Democrats believe they can address American loneliness without church, but they are mistaken.
Loneliness Epidemic: Is Government the Solution?
Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and the Biden administration are raising an important concern – there is an epidemic of loneliness among Americans. But their proposed solution is rather unconventional - using the government to fix loneliness.
Murphy suggests legislation to establish a national strategy to combat loneliness and promote social connection. He argues that kids’ addiction to algorithms is a major factor, and that a decade ago, when teenagers had to put in more effort to find things they cared about and connect with peers, they were actually happier.
While there is some truth to this, blaming the decline of parental control over kids’ access to social media is not the real reason for their loneliness. The root cause lies in the decline of community.
The Decline of Community and Religious Affiliation
Where is this decline of community coming from? It’s closely tied to the decline in religious affiliation.
According to a recent Gallup poll, the percentage of Americans who believe in God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil has declined by three to five percentage points since 2016. Currently, only 74% believe in God, down from 90% in 2001.
Interestingly, there is a strong correlation between political affiliation and religious belief. The poll data reveals that between 78% to 87% of Republicans believe in these religious entities, while only 56% to 66% of Democrats do. Democrats are also less likely to believe in hell and the devil.
But the decline in religious affiliation is not just about belief in God. It’s about the decline of communal values and shared interests.
Living in a Religious World
Living in a religious world doesn’t necessarily mean constantly pondering the existence of God. It means living based on certain godly principles and enacting them in daily life.
Interestingly, even many agnostics and atheists operate from religious principles without acknowledging it. Believing in moral right and wrong or in the comprehensibility of the universe reflects religious principles that cannot be derived from evolutionary or deterministic biology.
These religious principles form the basis for communities of interest, such as churches. The decline of religious communities directly correlates with the rise in loneliness because churches used to be a place where people gathered and connected.
Personally, my family is not lonely because we have kinship connections, close relatives, and a religious community with like-minded families. This provides a social safety net and a sense of involvement.
The Strings Attached to Community
Every community comes with strings attached. Even friendships have a set of values and judgments. Every group requires a buy-in and skin in the game.
However, the Democratic Party and many on the Left reject the idea of requiring skin in the game to be part of a group. They view it as an imposition on individual identity. This leads to atomistic individualism, which ultimately results in loneliness.
The Irreplaceable Role of Religious Communities
While attempts have been made to create ersatz communities of interest, such as college groups or country clubs, they cannot replace the role of religious communities.
Religious observance is more than just a personal relationship with God. It involves the relationship between individuals and their fellow human beings. When the third player, God, is removed from the equation, the relations between individuals tend to disintegrate.
It’s no surprise that the decline of religious communities has contributed to the loneliness epidemic. Church, synagogue, or mosque attendance is irreplaceable.
It’s time to acknowledge that the best way to combat loneliness is through religious community involvement. It’s astonishing that this idea even needs to be said.
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