The Serpent's Lie in Genesis 3

FAKE NEWS

Fake news, digital noise, and constant connectivity promise to keep us informed and connected. But what if they are doing the opposite? This excerpt from Revolt Against Reality explores how misinformation, individualism, and virtual isolation have left many people more suspicious, fragmented, and lonely than ever—and why the Catholic answer begins with the God who entered the world in the flesh.

Fake news offers an alternative explanation for the world around us. Even after it is debunked, it still “leaves traces behind it”—perhaps there may be an element of truth there!

We encountered fake news throughout history, beginning with the serpent’s lie in Genesis 3:

In the account of the first sin, the tempter approaches the woman by pretending to be her friend, concerned only for her welfare, and begins by saying something only partly true. . . . After listening to the deceiver and letting herself be taken in by his version of fact, the woman was misled. . . . The tempter’s “deconstruction” then takes on an appearance of truth.

The result is a proliferation of conspiracy theories, inside knowledge, and unverifiable assertions, claiming to enlighten us as to what really is going on. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is found in Catholic outlets along with secular ones.

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR MAN TO BE ALONE—THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS

Radical individualism has reached a point where community is replaced by tribalism and each person lives within his own virtual bubble universe. During World War II, people flock to the movie theaters to escape the brutal reality of the war. During the 1950s, televisions become popular, and families can escape the crowds by staying at home to watch whatever they choose for free over public airwaves. Cable and satellites carve out their own niche market, providing first run movies, sporting events, and pornography for those willing to pay for it. Livestreaming makes it possible for people to escape their families and retreat into their own worlds via cell phones and other devices. All this for the price of the device, an internet provider, and intrusive commercials. Texting and social media replace unmediated face-to-face discussions. Individuals have become imprisoned within a virtual world, surrounded by a wall of social media. Unlike the Incarnation, the constant and ever-growing bombardment of communication hasn’t united humanity; it has instead caused an epidemic of loneliness.

ME, MY PET, AND I

Multi-generational homes, which were once the norm, become single-family homes. With the collapse of marriage, “over a quarter of the U.S. population—and 28 percent of older adults—now live by themselves,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A growing percentage of people don’t know anyone who truly knows them well. Despite all the connectivity, they feel isolated.

According to a recent poll, “forty-one percent of Britons say the TV or a pet is their main source of company, and the U.K. has created a cabinet level minister to deal with the problem of rampant loneliness.” Stephanie Coontz, a historian at Evergreen State College, spells it out with special clarity: “As we gain the freedom to become whatever we want to be, we’ve lost the sense of belonging.”

In the end, we have become alienated from God who became flesh, alienated from each other, and even alienated from our own bodies. Man is once again alone with the animals (Gen. 2:18-19).

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