Banned Books 382: Riley - Our False Gods and Addiction
Feb 28, 2025
Donavon Riley, author of 'The Impossible Prize: A Theology of Addiction,' explores the concept of addiction as a form of misplaced worship. He discusses how addiction affects not just individuals but entire families and communities, shaping lives in profound ways. Emphasizing the spiritual battle behind addiction, Riley delves into its parallels with false idolatry, the role of community in recovery, and the importance of genuine faith. He also highlights modern distractions, such as technology, and advocates for holistic healing through reflection and spiritual practices.
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Addiction Is Embodied Distress
- Addiction shows up as physical behaviors that signal inner distress, not just moral failure.
- Donavon Riley frames addiction as changes in brain reward, motivation, and memory circuits.
Remove Triggers Immediately
- Avoid triggers: remove access and situations that prompt the addictive behavior immediately.
- Replace environments that enable addiction with safer routines and accountability partners.
Addiction As False Worship
- Addiction can be interpreted theologically as worship of a false god that replaces God in one's life.
- Riley cites Romans 1:25 to show material pleasures can become objects of devotion.
