Feeling Depressed and Discombobulated? Social Acceleration May Be to Blame

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 8 January 2024

⏱️ 54 minutes

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Summary

The social theorist Charles Taylor says that part of what characterizes a secular age is that there are multiple competing options for what constitutes the good life. The sociologist Hartmut Rosa argues that modern citizens most often locate that good in optionality, speed, and reach, which creates a phenomenon he calls “social acceleration.” Professor of theology Andrew Root explores the ideas of Taylor, Rosa, and social acceleration in his work, including in his book The Congregation in a Secular Age. While Andy largely looks at social acceleration through the lens of its effect on churches, it has implications for every aspect of our lives, from work to family. We explore those implications today on the show, unpacking the way that seeking stability through growth leads to feelings of depression, exhaustion, and discombobulation, how we collect possibilities while not knowing what we’re aiming for, and how we’ve traded the burden of shoulds for the burden of coulds. We discuss how social acceleration has shifted the horizons and significance of time, how time has to be hollowed out to be sped up, and how the solution to the ill effects of social acceleration isn’t just slowing down, but finding more resonance.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Brett McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness
0:10.3	podcast the social theorist Charles Taylor says that part of what
0:13.9	characterizes a secular age is that there are multiple competing options for
0:17.8	what constitutes the good life. The sociologist Hartmont Rosa argues that
0:21.7	modern citizens most often locate that good in
0:24.2	optionality, speed, and reach, which creates a phenomenon he calls social acceleration.
0:30.6	Professor theology Andrew Root explores the ideas of Taylor, Rosa, and social acceleration in his work, including in his book the congregation in a secular age.
0:39.0	While Andy largely looks at social acceleration through the lens of its effect on churches, it has
0:43.8	implications for every aspect of our lives, from work to family. We explore those
0:48.7	implications today on the show. Unpacking the way that seeking stability
0:52.3	through growth leads to feelings of depression,
0:54.4	exhaustion, and discombobulation, how we collect possibilities while not knowing what we're
0:59.0	aiming for, and how we've traded the burden of shoulds for the burden of coulds.
1:03.6	We discuss how social acceleration has shifted the horizons and significance of time,
1:07.9	how time has to be hollowed out to be sped up, and how the solution to the ill effects of
1:11.8	social acceleration isn't just slowing down, but finding more resonance.
1:17.0	After the show is over, check at our show notes at Awim.IS slash social acceleration. All right,
1:24.0	Andy, All right, Andy Root, welcome to the show.
1:35.0	Hey, it's great to be here.
1:38.0	Thanks for having me.
1:39.0	So you are a theologian who has written books about ministering in a secular age.
1:43.6	And I wanted to bring you on the show because your approach to your work is guided by the lenses
	...

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