Are We Witnessing the Collapse of Empathy in Society?
Writing for the Atlantic, Adrienne LaFrance writes that “the line between a normal, functioning society and catastrophic decivilization can be crossed by a single act of mayhem.” For her, that act was the brazen murder of health insurance executive Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan and the cheering reaction to his execution.
She writes:
We already understand many of the conditions that make a society vulnerable to violence. And we know that those conditions are present today...: highly visible wealth disparity, declining trust in democratic institutions, a heightened sense of victimhood, intense partisan estrangement based on identity, rapid demographic change, flourishing conspiracy theories, violent and dehumanizing rhetoric against the “other,” a sharply divided electorate, and a belief among those who flirt with violence that they can get away with it. These conditions run counter to spurts of civilizing, in which people’s worldviews generally become more neutral, more empirical, and less fearful or emotional.
Which direction is our society going? Clearly, to her thinking, toward decivilization.
I would agree, though I would not limit the signs to violence and reactions to violence. Civilization, as a whole, is built on much more than that. Consider the word that Peter Wehner, also writing for the Atlantic, used for the reaction to Thompson’s murder: “dehumanization.”
Also, consider the recent OnlyFans model’s viral documentary. It started out as a shocking internet stunt but then became a massive cultural conversation.
Lily Phillips, a 23-year-old woman living in London, made headlines for having sex with 100 men in 24 hours and chronicling it online for her OnlyFans subscribers. Filmmaker Josh Pieters followed her as she prepared for the stunt, capturing her thoughts going into it, as well as the emotional aftermath. Shortly after having sex with the 100th man, she reflected on the experience with Pieters, and she burst into tears. She then said, “I don’t know if I’d recommend it.”
Many felt deep sorrow for the young woman and what could have possibly led to such an act. Others felt that she got what she had coming. I personally resonated with what one X user wrote in a post with more than three million views:
It is a damning indictment of our society that we see a young woman engaging in dangerous (behavior) and struggling mentally while putting herself in these harmful situations—and we merely scoff and declare that she deserves it.
Damning indeed. As Helen Lewis wrote, “As a pure artifact of internet culture and social mores in 2024, I Slept With 100 Men in One Day is hard to surpass.” Yet another sign of our decivilization and, inherent within that, our dehumanization. “Everything Lily Phillips did in this stunt was perfectly legal, yet it’s causing such a huge amount of outrage,” Pieters told Lewis. So how, in a more liberal, less religious world, “do we know where the lines are, and where to go and where to stop?” Yes, and sadly, Philipps now says she is going to attempt to have sex with 1,000 men in a single day.
But let’s be clear.
Brian Thompson was a human being, married with two young children.
Lily Phillips is a human being, precious in the sight of God—a God whose heart breaks for her.
Perhaps if we begin seeing people as humans and not as objects or foes – see them through the eyes of God, and help them see themselves through the eyes of God – we could become civilized and…
... even humane again.
James Emery White
Sources
Adrienne LaFrance, “Decivilization May Already Be Under Way,” The Atlantic, December 11, 2024, read online.
Peter Wehner, “An Astonishing Level of Dehumanization,” The Atlantic, December 31, 2024, read online.
Josh Pieters, “I Slept With 100 Men in One Day | Documentary,” YouTube, December 2024, read online.
Charles Trepany, “An OnlyFans Model’s Viral Documentary and Why It Sparked a Major Conversation About Sex,” USA Today, December 20, 2024, read online.
Helen Lewis, “The Outrage Over 100 Men Only Goes So Far,” The Atlantic, December 18, 2024, read online.
Photo Courtesy: ©Thinkstock
Published Date: January 16, 2025
James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook, and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.
Originally published January 16, 2025.
