Article Summary:
In this opinion piece, Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah, shares how President Calvin Coolidge’s 1926 speech highlighted the Declaration of Independence as a “great spiritual document” rooted in profound principles and religious values. Today, America faces a significant spiritual and moral crisis characterized by widespread societal challenges.
Young adults are experiencing unprecedented levels of loneliness, depression, anxiety, and a profound lack of purpose. A 2023 Harvard study revealed that 58% of young adults report feeling meaningless, indicating a deeper civilizational crisis of agency and identity.
This crisis is deeply interconnected with an addiction-driven culture. Modern economic and technological systems are deliberately designed to exploit human vulnerabilities, perpetuating cycles of consumption and dissatisfaction. As historian Christopher Lasch noted, advertising has evolved from promoting products to manufacturing perpetually unsatisfied consumers.
The online attention economy, particularly social media, has dramatically intensified these addictive patterns. Digital platforms are meticulously engineered to capture and maintain user engagement, often at the expense of personal well-being. This extends to various sectors, including mobile betting, online pornography, buy-now-pay-later financing, and vaping.
The consequences are evident in toxic political environments, rising mistrust, and destructive behaviors. Without shared values, meaningful community connections, and spiritual orientation, individuals struggle to find genuine purpose and belonging.
Addressing this crisis requires a fundamental reimagining of public life, reconnecting with core principles of community, purpose, and moral direction. The challenge is to rebuild societal frameworks that prioritize genuine human connection and meaningful engagement over addictive, short-term gratification.