Laughing Man
Image courtesy of Jim Burklo
This past week, I read an inspiring article in – of all periodicals – Vanity Fair, highlighting the efforts of Senator Chris Murphy to address the epidemic of loneliness and isolation in America. He made a name for himself when he relentlessly and successfully pushed through a rare piece of gun control legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook mass shooting. But such a modest improvement through public policy was only treating the symptom, and not the root causes of the epidemic of gun violence.
“There are just real practical impacts to people feeling lonely and disconnected,” he said. “Political instability and polarization are driven by be people feeling upset and angry when they can’t find positive connection and they go find it in darker, more dangerous places.” He has gone on a quest to learn all he can about why people have gone to those dark places, and how they might be brought to better ones. His mission, in his words: “diagnose and treat the metaphysical state of America.” The epidemic of loneliness is not something that he believes can be fixed by “self-help”. It’s what he calls “structural unhappiness”, and it has to be addressed at a social-structural level.
From a recent Politico report: "Murphy’s first attempt at loneliness policy, the 'National Strategy for Social Connection Act,' was born out of those realizations. The bill calls for creating an office of social connection, with a director who would advise the president and create a national strategy combining public health, technology and social infrastructure to foster social connection. An advisory council with members from the departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Education, Commerce and other agencies would help assess and implement the plan." Murphy is working closely with Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, who is conducting a nationwide campaign to address loneliness and isolation.
As a consequence of his mission, Murphy finds himself attending church again – after leaving it as a teenager. “All our other temples [besides faith communities] – social media, consumerism, a ‘me first’ individualism – are just telling you to be you.”
Our progressive churches teach “you to be you”, too. But not just “you to be you”. We teach each other to be a “you” that includes “us”. And an “us” that includes “you”. We teach each other how to belong, how to be curious about each other, how to care for each other, and to care for others beyond our circle. The fruits of this teaching? Kindness, compassion - and positive civic engagement.
So simple! But for so many Americans, belonging is a lost art.
Chris Murphy does not believe that connection and community can be revived in America by federal legislation. But he does believe that legislation could help, alongside the efforts of citizen activists across the political spectrum.
Just by existing, our progressive churches are part of the movement that Murphy wants to build. We don't believe that folks who don't believe the way we believe are going to hell. We don't have the imperative to convert people and grow our churches that motivates fundamentalists. But we do have another, even more compelling reason to invite our friends and neighbors to join us at church. We are connectors, community-builders, friend-makers - a powerful cure for the public health crisis of isolation and loneliness. We are builders of structural happiness.
Let’s celebrate our vital role in diagnosing and treating the messy metaphysical state of America!