In this fast-paced life where each man tries to outplace another, it must be noteworthy to ponder on this question: Where is the time for family, the time to acquire wisdom, and the time for God? Apparently, industrialization has provided a fatal consequence that has created a spiritual lethargy in the hearts of many people. To illustrate this point, a man is more likely to wake up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning to drive to work but not to bring his family to a house of God and meet his fellow Christians for worship. This situation proves how the fast-paced, consumer-driven culture has groomed people who value material value over essential things like love, peace of mind, and security. It is a culture that has bred these ideas: money over wisdom, quantity over quality, and work over God.
People’s desire to acquire what they want by any means can be witnessed in different outlets of our kind. For example, microwaves instantly gratify one for being able to heat a meal in a few minutes. This meal will likely not taste as good as one that is skillfully prepared. Another example is slow internet connection which drives the public mad; therefore, it is common knowledge that many people pay top-dollar for the fastest internet connection to acquire more information at a greater pace. In the case of smartphones, they enable one to speak to a friend wherever the latter is, purchase an item desired only a moment ago, or Google something he or she is likely to forget tomorrow. All these situations show how instant gratification has become a marketing strategy for the industrialized world. In addition, the desire to acquire as much as possible in the shortest amount of time has made the modern generation into a people of constantly-growing impatience.
Another consequence of the industrialization of society is globalism. This result is not inherently evil in any sense since it having a basic understanding of other cultures, literatures, and religions is convenient and helpful. Globalism has connected the people through facets such as the internet, industry, and international politics. Considering these reasons, globalism has positive effects; however, how does it affect people in their everyday life?
Consider the famous fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit. The story begins with a hobbit who lives in a very closely-knit community of people. This community does not always agree with each other or necessarily appreciate another’s company at times, but the tale excludes the modern reality of globalism. The geography and understanding of other cultures the hobbits possessed was the feature of local legends and folklore, but the hobbits’ understanding of their own roots and ancestry ran deep. In this novel, Tolkien sets the stage of a community which revolves around the very opposite of globalism: localism. Neighbors acquired what was not rightfully theirs, the local alehouse was the go-to for every hobbit, and the gardener provided services for those in this closely-knit community.
This narrative is a far cry from the contemporary reality, which showcases men and women willing to drive miles upon miles to their respective jobs. The communal-style of living featured in the book is contrasted by globalism which encourages people to buy from large markets rather than locally or listen to globally-acclaimed music rather than local producers. The result of this practice is that people are incredibly likely to not know anything about the community where they belong. They are also likely to refuse to participate in local events. They would not be willing to understand the roots and ancestry of the places surrounding their homes. Needless to say, we have become a non-local people, with much of our lives taking place not in our local area, but in the cities which are miles away, and working with people who live maybe even farther. In a nutshell, globalization is a consequence of the industrialization of society; it has severed the historical affinity which men had with their local communities and the interconnectedness of neighbors and small business owners.
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What do you think must you protect in the face of modern times?