A perfect storm for widespread mental illness and demonic possession

Theologian Chad Ripperger in his book "Introduction to the Science of Mental Health" makes an excellent point. Technology is of course morally neutral; it can be used for either good or evil. Ripperger argues that in a technocratic society - when people tend to abuse and/or overuse technology - it subsequently becomes the prism through which reality is then perceived. In such cases, those individuals often lose the ability to navigate life according to reason.

This is precisely what is happening to so many today (particularly young people.) The recent spate of fatal accidents involving the technologically advanced Tesla car is an example. You have a number of foolish drivers who falsely believe the car can literally drive for them while they do something else (like pay attention to their phone instead of the road.) An increasing number of young people who engage social media too much, cultivate a warped understanding of human relationship. More than few people who interact too much with the virtual world, walk away with the false notion that they can bend reality to their whims. Such dangerous thinking is the seed for mental illness. I've written before on the contemporary explosion of mental illness (i.e., here.) In 2012, Psychology Today recognized the problem here, noting for example that "serious risks to health can also occur when texting goes unregulated day after day." The conjunction of a technocratic culture where technology abuse/overuse is commonplace and combined with exponentially increasing drug abuse - provide a perfect storm for widespread mental illness and demonic possession.

Only the light of the gospel shared by a Spirit-empowered church can drive back the darkness and restore sanity. Everything else is futile.