"Addicted" to God?

[ltravis]

Hi all,
I was just listening to a recent recording of the show and someone called suggesting that with the current popular definition of “addiction”, that its possible for someone’s religious fervor to be called an addiction. From there she asked whether, since addiction can and usually is bad, whether someone could be addicted to God “in a bad way”. I just wanted to explore it because Mr. Blackburn gave a good explanation, but I don’t know if he dug down as deeply as the caller was wanting. He basically said that you could possibly call your faith an addiction given the definition, but that you would have to acknowledge that “addiction” can be good. In essence, if you are addicted to God, it has to be a good thing.

I am not quite so sure about all that and let me explain why. One aspect of addiction that wasn’t addressed is the fact that one who is addicted is not really “free” to turn away from the addiction, to state it simply. Now, applied to religion, what if someone is addicted such that they are no longer psychologically free to choose against it. I am talking clinical addiction here, not just having a love so great you would never want to turn back. Differently stated, perhaps one is clinically depressed and uses religion as some sort of a defense mechanism and end up involved in it in the same way one gets addicted to drugs and alcohol. In that case, I would suggest it isn’t so much a bad thing as more of a non-efficacious thing. If one is pathologically addicted to God, it doesn’t involve free will, which is where the value in morality lies.

Does this make sense? I guess I should also ask, is it even possible to become addicted to God “clinically”, or are we just using the term too loosely when in fact there is no real physiological element to it such as there is for drugs and alcohol? Also, even if we granted that one could truly be clinically addicted to God, should we assume God would grant graces to the addicted by the very nature of him being called and thus even such addiction would be efficacious?

LT

 

[Zahmir]

Hi all,
I was just listening to a recent recording of the show and someone called suggesting that with the current popular definition of “addiction”, that its possible for someone’s religious fervor to be called an addiction. From there she asked whether, since addiction can and usually is bad, whether someone could be addicted to God “in a bad way”. I just wanted to explore it because Mr. Blackburn gave a good explanation, but I don’t know if he dug down as deeply as the caller was wanting. He basically said that you could possibly call your faith an addiction given the definition, but that you would have to acknowledge that “addiction” can be good. In essence, if you are addicted to God, it has to be a good thing.

I am not quite so sure about all that and let me explain why. One aspect of addiction that wasn’t addressed is the fact that one who is addicted is not really “free” to turn away from the addiction, to state it simply. Now, applied to religion, what if someone is addicted such that they are no longer psychologically free to choose against it. I am talking clinical addiction here, not just having a love so great you would never want to turn back. Differently stated, perhaps one is clinically depressed and uses religion as some sort of a defense mechanism and end up involved in it in the same way one gets addicted to drugs and alcohol. In that case, I would suggest it isn’t so much a bad thing as more of a non-efficacious thing. If one is pathologically addicted to God, it doesn’t involve free will, which is where the value in morality lies.

Does this make sense? I guess I should also ask, is it even possible to become addicted to God “clinically”, or are we just using the term too loosely when in fact there is no real physiological element to it such as there is for drugs and alcohol? Also, even if we granted that one could truly be clinically addicted to God, should we assume God would grant graces to the addicted by the very nature of him being called and thus even such addiction would be efficacious?

LT

Wouldn’t I be so blessed as to be “addicted” to God? I would love to have such a rich faith that God could be a very real solution to a lot of problems in my life.

I don’t think anyone would become addicted to God without experincing continual signs that offer some sort of “release” from stress, pain, suffering, etc. or offer some sort of joy. I would love to experience such real things from an invisible reality. I’d probably become a priest.

God is not a drug. There is no way that God can directly affect chemical balances in your brain or make you feel one way over the other. Addiction to God, at least in the sense you speak of, seems to be a sort of way to devote your life to God. No one can take God away from another person, and if one truly desires to love God, that person will also search out others to help. Be “addicted” to God is a good thing.

Then again, I would imagine that some people do hide themselves behind the faith. They use God to protect themselves against harsh realities about their life and they use God as a crutch rather than the means to a more fulfilling life. They depend on God for every minute detail of their life to the point that their devotion to an invisible reality separates them from the people that love them most. Faith, in this sense, can be a dangerous substitute for actual psychological help. I wouldn’t call this an addiction to God. It’s more like, a barrier of faith and God.

And there is a lot of gray area in between. How does one know if another person is very faithful or just hiding behind the faith? A lot of this will take communication to figure out, but I hope this post helped make the issue clearer.

 

[ltravis]

Zahmir, I agree with you 100%. The only thing I wish to clarify is that I think the “good addiction” you are talking about is what I described in my post as “a love so great you would never want to turn back”. I wanted to draw a distinction from that valid, good kind of “addiction” and an actual, clinical illness, if such exists. Now, to be clear, I am NOT saying seeking and following God will lead to or is an illness. It certainly isn’t in any way bad. Rather, I just wondered if someone could engage in religion not by any virtuous free will, but instead as a result of a pre-existing clinical mental problem they can’t control. If such phenomena exists, logic would say its not efficacious, but I would like to believe that God will respond to anyone who calls on Him, regardless of the intent or free will involved.

Thanks!
LT

 

[DBT]

The Saints - St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avilia in particular - speak quite a bit the hindrance all sorts attachments cause in our spiritual growth. And yes, there is such a thing disordered spiritual attachments.

Spiritual attachments occur when we seek God for His gifts and consolations rather than seeking Him for Himself . . . hence the disordered aspect. It should be noted, though, that this type of attachment is primarily a concern for contemplatives. And from how I’ve seen this described, I can see how it can take on a certain “addictive” nature.

Dave.

 

[Della]

The Saints - St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avilia in particular - speak quite a bit the hindrance all sorts attachments cause in our spiritual growth. And yes, there is such a thing disordered spiritual attachments.

Spiritual attachments occur when we seek God for His gifts and consolations rather than seeking Him for Himself . . . hence the disordered aspect. It should be noted, though, that this type of attachment is primarily a concern for contemplatives. And from how I’ve seen this described, I can see how it can take on a certain “addictive” nature.

Dave.

This problem also exists within Evangelical circles. It’s encouraged, though, rather than discouraged. It is called “getting something from God” and is particularly present in Pentecostal sects. People roam from one church to another looking for their next spiritual high, which becomes an end in itself. They do this because they equate how they feel with God working in their hearts and souls.

It is highly addictive, psychologically speaking, but it can be easily broken once a person comes to understand that they don’t have to feel any particular way in order to know they are loving and serving God and that he loves them no matter how they feel.

So, it’s not being addicted to God anyone has to fear, as you cited St. Teresa on this issue, but being addicted to spiritual, psychological, and emotional consolations. God only draws one more deeply into love for him and for our neighbor, not into hiding ourselves away from our problems or the needs of others.

 

[Zahmir]

Also, I just wanted to point out that God DID offer Himself for us.

I think we all come to the faith with some kind of desire to “get something” from God. We want to be forgiven, we want to feel one with God, we want to feel accepted. This is okay to a certain extent. However, my hope is that people, by constantly relying on God in such a way, can rise above such a “use” for God and find Him for who and what He really is. (This is starting to sound like Plato’s allegory of the cave, if y’all are familiar with it.)

At adoration the other day, I realized my complete dependence on God so really. As I was meditating on Christ’s Body present in the monstrance, I felt the strongest desire to receive Him. I wanted to be a part of Him and I wanted to be one with Him.

This is the sort of addiction I am talking about. The addiction that is Good! That you “can’t get enough of Christ” and that you’re continually desiring to seek Christ out. Granted, I am far from perfect, but I hope that through prayer and meditation I can come to see Christ as really in other people as well. So you see, there can be good that can arise even out of what previous posters have called a “disordered spiritual addiction.”

 

[DBT]

At adoration the other day, I realized my complete dependence on God so really. As I was meditating on Christ’s Body present in the monstrance, I felt the strongest desire to receive Him. I wanted to be a part of Him and I wanted to be one with Him.

This is the sort of addiction I am talking about. The addiction that is Good!

I think the problem I’m having here is about terminology. “Addiction” just doesn’t seem like the right word. What you’re speaking of is a strong, intense experience of love. Obviously a good thing.

So you see, there can be good that can arise even out of what previous posters have called a “disordered spiritual addiction.”

Well . . . . . . no. What Della and I were talking about was seeking God for the way he makes us FEEL. This is never good . . . and can potentially lead to some really big problems.

I mentioned St. Teresa of Avilia in my first post so let me use her as an example. St. Teresa liked to tell the story of a certain nun (herself of course ) who so delighted in the gifts and consolations she received from our Lord during prayer (much like how you describe above about the monstrance) that she naturally thought it would be good to have that feeling all the time.

Only one problem, though. She didn’t realize at the time the gifts she sought in prayer weren’t hers for the taking . . . they were God’s for the giving.

So instead of gratefully accepting these gifts (contemplation) when they were given by God . . . and for the duration he typically gives them (15 minutes to 30 minutes on the norm), she stopped eating, wore herself down and started practicing certain mind-emptying techniques. Next thing you know, she found herself in a pseudo-contemplative stupor lasting 8 or more hours. God was not in this at all and she ended up quite a wreck.

The lesson she learned from this was about the disordered nature of her original intent. While she might have thought she was so in love with God that she wanted to be with Him all the time, she was actually being very selfish . . . as she readily admits. The “good” that came of this was the last thing she expected . . . a heavy dose of humility.

We are to seek God for Himself . . . not for the delights, gifts, highs, warm fuzzies or any other type of feeling that might come our way when He gives us the sense of His presence in prayer. In fact, if we really want to show and experience love in it’s true sense . . . then perservere in adoration (like you mention in your first quote) when He gives you absolutely nothing at all. Even if it lasts that way for the rest of your life.

Make sense???

Dave

 

[DBT]

As a sidenote . . .

God will often use delights and consolations to draw us close to Him . . . especially when we’re first starting out. He approaches us this way, to be quite honest, because we are weak and often need a reason to come to Him.

Later, as we mature, He will often take these delights and feelings away . . . leaving us in a sense of abandonment – at least for a time. He does this not to be mean or cruel, but because He loves us. He is teaching us to seek Him as He is . . . and not for what He gives. He is teaching us how our seeking should be “ordered” rather than “disordered.” In fact, the way it often works is the more we don’t chase after delights and consolations . . . the more He ends up giving

So congratulations on the great gift you were given at adoration . . . you were blessed Just try and keep the virtues always before you to make sure you continue walking the right path: love, humility and perserverence.

Dave

 

[ltravis]

Great discussion so far. I agree that we shouldn’t rely on what we feel as being the true ends of our devotion. Any expectation of emotional rewards is actually selfish. That said, what about our desire to see him face to face at the end of time? Is is alright to crave the joy we have been promised then? Do the same “rules” apply or are we permitted to revel in emotional reward once our time on earth is up?

LT

 

[Della]

Great discussion so far. I agree that we shouldn’t rely on what we feel as being the true ends of our devotion. Any expectation of emotional rewards is actually selfish. That said, what about our desire to see him face to face at the end of time? Is is alright to crave the joy we have been promised then? Do the same “rules” apply or are we permitted to revel in emotional reward once our time on earth is up?

LT

Joy is not just an emotion–indeed, it is not an emtion. Rather, joy brings about happiness, which is an emotion.

Joy goes deeper than passing feelings–it is a state of being not a result of how we feel. The Joy that God is and gives to us is this state of being. It is what we will be, not just what we will feel.

 

[LilyM]

Joy is not just an emotion–indeed, it is not an emtion. Rather, joy brings about happiness, which is an emotion.

Joy goes deeper than passing feelings–it is a state of being not a result of how we feel. The Joy that God is and gives to us is this state of being. It is what we will be, not just what we will feel.

I suppose it is possible technically to be addicted to religious PRACTICES - for example if you spend so much time in the church or in prayer that you don’t actually get your necessary practical tasks done each day, or if it takes you two hours of prayerful consultation with God to make even the simplest of decisions.

But I’d say this is a manifestation of some pre-existing disorder such as depression or OCD or anxiety disorders rather than a disorder in itself.

 

[blessedstar]

Did you ever watch a moth around a light bulb? That moth is so attracted to the bulb it is compelled to the bulb. The moth is not addicted, rather compelled. That is what a deep faith does, when a soul finds such Love it feels it cannot turn back, but flutters constantly towards God like that little moth, compelled to seek and keep His constant company and the soul can only do that because God draws the soul to Himself. If someone switched off the light bulb the moth would flutter away from it. If God withdrew grace or we wilfully fell from grace the soul would slide away from God just like the little moth who can no longer see the light. It takes someone to switch the bulb back on for the moth, once again, to be compelled to the bulb and this is what God repeatedly does, never giving up on His children, but keeps ‘switching on the bulb’ by way of grace and fanning that little flame of faith into a fire. And grace is Love.

Faith is not addiction, faith is a free gift of grace and some embrace that gift more deeply than others and some reject it.

God always gives according to the needs of the soul and if a soul loves a great deal then all the greater their faith will be by God’s grace.