An echo chamber is “an environment where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own.”
Recently, Seth Godin wrote an article about echo chambers.
“It can happen to sports and music fans, to investors, to companies that have confidence in their view of the world, or to social or political gatherings.”
Or, to religious institutions.
Check out his explanation of “why” we support these.
“We support an echo chamber when we can gain status or find tribal affiliation by adhering to its rules.”
That sounds like churches, right?
We support them when we can gain status or find tribal affiliation (other words for community).
“The resilience of the cultural norm happens as a result of insulation from reasoned discourse and is amplified by threats to status or affiliation.
The tooth fairy myth is a fairly benign myth, but, like Santa, it’s mostly reserved for kids. When leaders seek to gain power and profit by organizing and maintaining an echo chamber, it begins to have negative side effects.
You’ll know you’re in one when:
- It’s considered unpopular, weak or even immoral to change your mind
- Isolation from contrary facts or opinions is celebrated as an admirable trait
- The rationale for the core beliefs of the echo chamber changes when insurmountable reality can’t be avoided
- Calm conversations that touch a nerve often become heated debates
The reason Santa is a problem is that sooner or later, reality arrives.”
So, my question for you is, is your version of religion an echo chamber?
What reality about your beliefs and theological tenets are you living in?
God is reality.
And such a beautiful one, we frankly don’t need an echo chamber.
What if together we explore coming out of the one we are in (If we are indeed in one) and experience the always beautiful, grounding, transformational love and power of God?
Grace and Peace,
Andrea