BY REV. H. STEPHEN SHOEMAKER
The National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as “a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.” The psychotic symptoms can be episodic, or one can suffer a psychotic break in which all connection with reality is lost.
Our nation is suffering a social psychosis where many Americans have lost healthy connection with reality. Tragically, religion and politics have been more a part of the illness than the cure.
Francis Collins wrote a piece in “The NY Times” recently that helps us traverse our national psychosis. A physician and scientist, Collins led the U.S component of the Human Genome Project and has served as the director of The National Institute of Health under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden. He is also an ardent evangelical Christian.
In his article, “Take It From A Scientist. Facts Don’t Care How You Feel” (Sept. 20, 2024), Collins addresses the need “ to re-anchor our troubled nation to truth, science, faith and trust.” He recalls in striking detail the triumphs and tragedy of our nation’s response to the Covid pandemic. On the one hand was one of the greatest medical achievements of our time: Operation Warp Speed. In a matter of months, by November 2020, two almost 100 percent effective vaccines for Covid-19 were developed, far beyond the best hopes of Collins and Dr. Tony Fauci. The Commonwealth Fund estimates that the vaccine saved more than 3 million lives between December 2020 and November 2022.
Yet, tragically, more than 50 million Americans declined to be vaccinated. The two greatest forces of resistance to the vaccine were political party and, to Collins’ dismay, white evangelical Christians. A barrage of medical misinformation and wild conspiracy theories doomed many Americans to their deaths. The most heartbreaking statistic for Collins was that 230,000 Americans died unnecessarily between June 2021 and March 2022.
“ We are in serious trouble when some believe that their faith requires them to distrust science or when others believe that political alliances are a better source of wisdom than truth, faith and science,” he wrote.
Collins makes the same case as it applies to global warming.
In the NY Times article, he draws a set of concentric circles around various levels of truth: from the inner most circle of “necessary truth,” as in mathematics and physics, to firmly established facts, such as the earth circling the sun, to well documented historical events, like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, or the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center Towers. Next, there is the realm of uncertainty where we don’t yet know the facts conclusively, and then finally there is the outer circle of subjective opinion. It is easy to see all the distortions that have come as people have blurred and misused the categories. Phrases like “alternate facts,” “truth is relative” and shouts of “fake news” undermine our confidence in the truth itself.
So what is Dr. Collins prescription for our national psychosis? The first step is to get our mental health in order; that is, to live by the principle, “there is such a thing as truth and truth really matters,” then to make sure that your category of established facts are really established facts.
The second step is to move from our current divisiveness to an era of empathy and understanding, which includes having conversations with people very different from ourselves.
The third step is to join with bridge-building organizations like Braver Angels, of which Collins is a member.
Finally, the fourth step is to work for changes in our political realm where persons and groups have
lost their commitment to truth, compromise and civility.
Faith comes in for Collins in the wisdom of our faith tradition, which teaches us about fundamental values and asks ultimate questions. I think it also comes in the hope and determinism that changes can be made to repair our social fabric. Will the church rise to the challenges of the day?
In his new book, “The Road To Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith and Trust,” Collins offers a Pledge for us to embrace. It can also be found on the Braver Angels website. Here it is.
I pledge that from this day forward I will seek to be a part of the solution to our society’s widespread divisiveness, which is hurting individuals, families, communities, our nation, and our world.
I will actively seek out opportunities to engage in dialogue with those who have different views from mine; by respectful listening, I will strive to understand their perspectives better, to identify our shared deeper values, and to build a bridge across the gap that has divided us.
When sifting incoming information, I will seek to be a wise consumer. Taking into account my own biases, I will carefully assess the plausibility of the claim as well as the integrity, competence, and humility of the source, in order to decide whether the information is likely to be trustworthy.
I will resist the temptation to speak about, write about, or share on social media information that claims to be true but is of uncertain validity.
I will bring a generous spirit to all my interpersonal interactions, refusing to ascribe evil intentions to others simply because of different political or societal beliefs. I will be slow to take offense. Loving my neighbor will be my goal.
The church can be a crucial part of the repair of our society and of the nation’s re-anchoring in its commitment to truth, science, faith and trust.
Last year I preached a sermon on science and our search for truth. It was the first time I had ever preached on science in my 50 years of preaching! The congregation was glad for the sermon. They had never heard a sermon on science either. Perhaps we need to take time in church to talk about such things. Dr. Collins would be a good guide.
Rev. H. Stephen Shoemaker is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Statesville.