I heard a little throw-away item on the News this morning, which intrigued me greatly. It was a survey of the most popular books to be borrowed from our public libraries. 10 years ago, the most popular non-fiction book was Stephen Hawkins' "A Brief History of Time". Now, it is "You are What You Eat".
As a snapshot of modern society (and little more than that, I agree) I find this a worrying report. No doubt we should all pay more attention to our diet (and perhaps our appearance). But I think there may be some deeper forces at work here.
At first glance, this rather dramatic change in our reading preferences indicates that we are replacing our human instinct for discovery (and for looking beyond ourselves) with a much more individual-centred way of thinking and being. We are, I suggest, in danger of becoming totally inward-looking. We place, it seems, increasing emphasis on our personal health and appearance - and have stopped looking outward. We are taking responsibility for our health and well being (which is a good thing no doubt) but at the same time ceasing to rely on God.
Belief in God, or even a non-theistic but still philosophical outlook, helps us to move beyond self, and into community.
Surely that is better than an inward focused, self-centred existence?
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