“Our politics are sick,” Michael Ware writes in his new book. The spirit of our politicsIt’s an observation that seems hard to argue with.
Polls suggest that Americans are approaching the upcoming presidential election with a high degree of anxiety and a political fatigue that even has a name for it: election stress disorder. Is there anything we can do about our fatigue with the toxic elements of a political culture that seems to infiltrate every aspect of our lives?
Ware, a Christian who worked in the Office of Faith-Based Outreach under the Obama administration and now runs the Center for Christianity and Public Life, seeks to answer that question in her timely book. Ware is particularly concerned about the way that toxic elements of politics are negatively influencing the lives of religious people, especially Christians. Even more troubling, believers (and Ware gives examples from both the right and the left) are exacerbating toxicity in the name of their own gospel mission.
Ware does not advocate a complete withdrawal from politics, even serious partisan politics. He wants to restore a proper sense of the limits of politics, especially in terms of the space it occupies in our minds. He advises seeing political parties not as the primary source of identity, but as a means or tool for political activity.
For those looking for strategies to disengage from politics, here are a series of practical suggestions drawn primarily from Ware’s book.
Practice healthy news consumption
We know that online algorithms aren’t designed to help you encounter diverse opinions. Instead, they feed you more and more of the same opinions, guiding you towards stronger ideological views. In response, Ware suggests that you should read and watch broadly and selectively. In addition to media that leads you to conclusions you already agree with, regularly access media that exposes you to arguments that contradict your own positions. Mix in longer journalism between short, snappy opinions on issues.
Criticizing ideologically aligned teammates and praising opponents
On social media and in your interactions with friends, be willing to affirm those you disagree with and criticize those you support. One way to maintain the independence of your beliefs is to publicly state when you disagree with those on your side and praise them when they get it right. To partisans, praising the other side or criticizing your side is seen as submission or weakness, but in reality, it takes perseverance and courage to do this. Moreover, doing so creates room for others to feel comfortable doing the same.
Seeking silence and solitude
When we are caught up in the political struggle of the moment, we react mechanically to social cues. To counter that tendency, Ware suggests developing habits of silence and solitude, spending time in silence. For believers, this also includes quiet prayer and worship. This helps us regain a sense of self independent of the pressures of the political struggle of the moment.
Cultivate non-political friendships
Solitude is different from loneliness. The former is chosen, the latter is not. Moreover, loneliness is experienced as a lack and is often the cause of sadness and depression. Atlantic Ocean The article “Why Americans are suddenly staying indoors less” details the negative effects of reduced social interaction, one of which is that loneliness is exacerbating the problems we see around the world.
Virtual connections are no substitute for real-world time with others. So along with silence and solitude, we need to cultivate rich face-to-face relationships with others. Now more than ever, we need apolitical friendships. These don’t have to avoid politics entirely, but they need to be rooted in something deeper than politics.
Focus on How the Bible Confuses Politics
One piece of advice Ware gave to pastors seems to me to apply to all believers: rather than trying to use the Bible to support a particular political agenda, focus on the features of the Bible that transcend and confound political frameworks. Again, the point is not to get away from politics, but if we politicize everything, we may lose the resources we need to elevate politics and heal our souls from the toxicity that threatens to consume us.
Thomas S. Hibbs is Professor of Philosophy at Baylor University.
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