Complacency in Religion
Tianru WangStaff Writer
Complacency – or, unassuming self-satisfaction – is an inconvenient by-product of conformity, created by the desire for social acceptance and the fear of ostracism. It’s universal, and we’ve all felt it at one time or another, whether it’s reconsidering raising a hand in class or nodding half-heartedly during a friend’s tirade on a subject about which we have already formed our own stubborn opinions. It casts a shadow over almost every aspect of our daily life. Many religions, however, consider complacency and conscious suffering to be a necessity. There is a line that defines the difference between healthy agreement and loss of individuality, but it’s blurry at best.
Sometimes, it is easier to contend with an opposing view, thereby avoiding conflict. An arguable approach, perhaps, but it does not ultimately help us in the long run. In many cases, complacency may cause problems that are fundamentally unnecessary – like the voluntary self-depression described by Dr. Robert L. Woolfolk, PHD, in his essay “The Power of Negative Thinking: Truth, Melancholia, and the Tragic Sense of Life.”
“From a Buddhist standpoint," Woolfolk writes, “it is not a cognitive distortion to see the world and human existence as dangerous, unsatisfying, painful, and meaningless; rather it is irrational not to see the world this way.”
To the individual Buddhist, a choice is offered: to give up optimism and happiness in the hopes of maturing the soul – “enlightenment” – or to live as an essential outcast with personal contentment.
The similar viewpoint for Muslims reinforces this point.
“Muslims, in general, see grief, sadness, and other dysphoric emotions as concomitants of religious piety,” Woolfolk continues. “The ability to experience sorrow is regarded as a mark of depth of personality and understanding.” Once again the conflict arises between individual beliefs and a greater philosophy.
However, complacency is a common theme of most religions. In the CNN article “Are there dangers in being 'spiritual but not religious’,” John Blake explores the personal approaches people have taken towards avoiding that complacency.
"‘Being spiritual but not religious can lead to complacency and self-centeredness,' says Martin, an editor at 'America,' a national Catholic magazine. ’If it's just you and God in your room, and a religious community makes no demands on you, why help the poor?’"
Complacency does not inspire – or in some cases, pressure – people into acting for the benefit of others, rather it represses the spark of individuality that ignites people to think “I will do this because I believe in it.”
Though the theme of self-sacrifice for a better reward is common, examples of people who live by different methods also exist. One of the most prominent is Holden Caulfield, the cynical protagonist of J.D. Salinger’s "The Catcher in the Rye," whose embitterment by the “phoniness” of society leads him to take unconventional approaches to re-establish the independence of his identity. However, he suffers no less than the others – the only difference is that he is suffering for a different purpose. Whereas others struggle internally with disobeying their morals, Holden struggles externally by living with social conflicts.twang@thesamohi.com