BiblicalInsights.net

      Patrick Carnes in his book Don’t Call it Love identifies our present culture as a culture of addiction.  He states, “We live in a culture in which there are many addicts. Start with gambling, sex, food, and chemicals, take into account that many addicts have more than one addiction, then include all those affected by addicts, such as the 28 million adult children of alcoholics.  A recent estimate of all the addicts in our culture places addicts and those affected by addiction at over 131 million people.  When over half the population is involved with addiction, addictive norms become central to the cultural experience” (p. 77).
     Carnes identifies ten key components of our society that allow addictions to thrive.  They are:
     -Ours is a convenience-oriented society dedicated to removing obstacles to satisfaction.  Driven by the convenience ethic, the addict simply extends quick-fix logic to reducing anxiety.
     -Our culture emphasizes sophisticated technology and assumes that technology can resolve all problems.  The addict is looking for easy solutions that will “fix” his problems.
     -Our culture seeks entertainment and escapism rather than searching for meaning. The result is lack of meaning and essential purpose for life.
     -Our culture is experiencing massive paradigm shifts, which means that our view of the world is constantly changing.  This results in values confusion.
     -Our culture reels from disrupted family life.  Marriages are failing at very high rates.  Homes are disintegrating. The result is feelings of abandonment.
     -Our culture is experiencing loss of community.  The average American family moves every three years. Social networks are not built resulting in isolation a precondition of child abuse, battering and addiction.
     -Our culture is high stress.People live overextended, over-committed lives. The result is chronic anxiety.
     -Our culture is exploitive of others. The result is distrust and distrust feeds addiction.
     -Our culture essentially denies limitations.   Mental health and addiction problems thrive when there are no limits.  
     –Our culture is comprised of many addicts.  The result is addictive norms become central to the culture.    (Carnes, pp. 75-77).
     When you read this list, cold chills should go up and down your spine!  Have we moved so far away from God and true religion that we are destroying ourselves through addictive behaviors?  Gambling, alcoholic beverages, sexual addictions, unlawful drug abuse –all of which are sinful behaviors– have become the norm in American culture!  
     We need a renewal of faith in and commitment to God!