Psychosis: a very serious mental illness that makes you behave strangely or believe things that are not true.
Is it weird to start an article with the definition of psychosis? Not if you’re interested in social psychology and the broad spectrum of human behavior. We are at the cusp of a great transition and factors of global proportion have come to a confluence.
The factors are two fold: one the convergence of a presentation by Pope Francis to a joint session of congress in September, and the second is the political positions of the presidential candidates of the most militarily powerful nation on earth.
The pope will speak concerning our common home being like a “sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” Pope Francis will demonstrate within the context of his speech the verdict as declared by Jesus Christ in John 3:19, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
The pope will tell the truth concerning our “common home,” and yet we see even now how “dark” money influences politicians who will knowingly align with evil. Does that sound harsh or overly judgmental? On the contrary, that is exactly why I started this article with the definition of psychosis. Dr. M. Scott Peck, in his book, “The People of the Lie,” points out that evil is a behavior like other behaviors studied in the field of social science. One customer wrote that people of the lie does not engage in self examination – they believe the lie and there is no common ground on which to stand, and therefore theirs is the only valid desire.
As Pope Francis reveals the dilemma we face as humanity the lovers of money and the minions thereof will scurry like roaches when the light of truth is turned on and will vehemently defend and deny what does not correlate to a preconceived notion based on the political support of an economic fallacy.
My point is the position a person takes, and particularly politicians, will reveal the extent that evil affects their behavior. I know I said money earlier, but note, money is simply a place holder for value, and value is based on things we love. If one loves money above all else, the money becomes the root of evil because with evil one can control the flow and supply of money to the point of mental disease and social collapse.
Think of a meth cook with unlimited customers. They the customers drive the business, and the cook provides the vehicle, drugs. This is also the case in the dark money game of political intrigue.
There is a psychotic voice that will attempt to shout down the message of our common home. It becomes us, the adult children of God who must, as heirs to the kingdom on earth, speak the truth that sets us free.
You are the light of the world, darkness flees from the light. As metaphorical as this may sound I implore you as a social scientist to ask this one question: do the proposed solutions offered by the pope or politicians bring light, inclusion, healing and the easing of suffering? If so, this message is of the light.
The struggle we face is more a conflict of spirituality and our reflection of it in daily affairs as compared to an economic policy based on a psychosis, the effect of which is in the six o’clock news. This is the insanity we face; it is not normal or natural except as an aberration, and as such needs treatment.
Stephen Covey, in his book “The 8th Habit,” states, “If you want to make minor changes work on practice, behavior and attitude but if you want to make significant quantum improvements work on paradigms.” As such, the paradigm we must address is the systemically disastrous behavior created by the gerbil wheel of short term profit. The social psychology and environmental degradation of this effect is evident beyond doubt for those studying cause and effect.
Let’s face it: the monetary and economic system currently in place is killing all life on earth in a slow speed train wreck while those who profit from it call for more steam. This in the plainest of terms is psychotic behavior on a global scale.
There are answers and solutions and that is why Christians are admonished to “Seek first the kingdom and the right way to do it and all else will be added unto you.” Now that sounds like a sustainable economic agenda and a significant paradigm shift.
In the mean time, if not psychosis then perhaps hypnosis. Either way, snap out of IT! This is it our common home.
