Fr. Toby Lees OP, a Dominican priest and expert in moral theology, discusses the hidden spiritual dangers of social media. He explores acedia, a modern-day restlessness fueled by the attention economy, leading to distraction and 'brain rot.' Fr. Toby shares strategies to reclaim attention and seek authentic connections, highlighting the adverse effects of doom scrolling on personal relationships and mental health. The conversation emphasizes mindful digital consumption, advocating for deeper ties with God and each other in our tech-driven world.
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Acedia's Origins
Acedia, meaning "lack of concern," originates from the Greek practice of neglecting to bury the dead.
It's a dehumanizing element incorporated into Christian tradition by Evagrius of Pontus, who called it the "noonday demon."
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The Noonday Demon
Evagrius describes the noonday demon as making time feel slow and causing the monk to seek distractions.
This resonates with modern experiences of procrastination and restlessness at work or school.
insights INSIGHT
Naming Acedia
Many recognize acedia in their lives once they can name it.
Giving it a name helps conceptualize the various symptoms and understand the underlying issue.
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The Summa Theologica is a comprehensive work divided into three parts. The first part deals with God, the creation of the world, angels, and the nature of man. The second part is subdivided into two sections: the first part of the second part discusses general principles of morality and law, while the second part of the second part addresses morality in particular, including individual virtues and vices. The third part, left unfinished by Aquinas, focuses on the person and work of Christ and the sacraments. The work also includes a posthumous supplement that concludes the third part and discusses Christian eschatology. Aquinas drew on Aristotelian and Augustinian influences and aimed to integrate faith and reason in his theological arguments[1][2][4].
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What are the hidden spiritual dangers lurking in our social media? In this thought-provoking episode of Into the Truth, Pierpaolo Finaldi and Fr Toby Lees OP dive into the ancient sin of acedia - restlessness - and how it’s resurfacing in today's digital landscape. Fr Toby exposes the ways the attention economy hijacks our focus, leading to distraction, "brain rot," and a loss of deeper meaning.
Discover powerful strategies to reclaim your attention, foster authentic connections, and find joy beyond the scroll. If you’ve ever felt spiritually drained by endless online content, this conversation is your guide to digital liberation.