I think adults (including myself) often misunderstand and underestimate the negative and compulsive aspects of adolescent online life these days because we don't see or experience them.
I think that is we could see what's going on in some cases we would be horrified.
This is an excellent article. I am a boomer with a best friend who is a millennial. She has often expressed what this article is about. It has given me context to her story.
You write, " Traditional sources of meaning or belonging have weakened. Organized religion is one example"
For some people, near death experiences may offer an alternative to the ongoing collapse of the influence of traditional religions.
Near death experiences offer a meaning story that is very similar to the story that's long been told by Western religion. While the message is generally the same, the messengers are very different, and that may make it easier for many people to access the meaning offered in the message.
The clerical class with all their credibility crushing problems are cut out of the meaning story altogether. While the previous characters in the story were obscure figures in ancient holy books, the new characters in the story are a completely random collection of ordinary people you might run in to in the grocery store. They aren't long dead, but still very much alive and with us today.
Just as has long been true with traditional religions, there doesn't appear to be any way to absolutely prove the claims being made by those who have had near death experiences. But the near death experience story, whatever it's truth value may be, can be seen as an updated version of an ancient story which has long proven it's meaning appeal to very large numbers of people.
The same message, offered by new messengers, for a new audience.
I think adults (including myself) often misunderstand and underestimate the negative and compulsive aspects of adolescent online life these days because we don't see or experience them.
I think that is we could see what's going on in some cases we would be horrified.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/the-maelstrom
This is an excellent article. I am a boomer with a best friend who is a millennial. She has often expressed what this article is about. It has given me context to her story.
Thank you for reading Joan!
You write, " Traditional sources of meaning or belonging have weakened. Organized religion is one example"
For some people, near death experiences may offer an alternative to the ongoing collapse of the influence of traditional religions.
Near death experiences offer a meaning story that is very similar to the story that's long been told by Western religion. While the message is generally the same, the messengers are very different, and that may make it easier for many people to access the meaning offered in the message.
The clerical class with all their credibility crushing problems are cut out of the meaning story altogether. While the previous characters in the story were obscure figures in ancient holy books, the new characters in the story are a completely random collection of ordinary people you might run in to in the grocery store. They aren't long dead, but still very much alive and with us today.
Just as has long been true with traditional religions, there doesn't appear to be any way to absolutely prove the claims being made by those who have had near death experiences. But the near death experience story, whatever it's truth value may be, can be seen as an updated version of an ancient story which has long proven it's meaning appeal to very large numbers of people.
The same message, offered by new messengers, for a new audience.
Thanks for reading Phil! What is the near death experience story? I haven't come across this so you'll have to explain it