Social Contagion

Ron Writes

The first definition that popped up on Google said that “Social contagion is an ubiquitous process by which information, such as attitudes, emotions, or behaviors, are rapidly spread throughout a group from one member to others without rational thought and reason” (ScienceDirect.com).

 While terms such as “social contagion” or “social hysteria” might be new, what they describe has been universally observed. Ancient parents must have observed the powerful influence we exert on one another to do what we wouldn’t normally do in order to conform.  “Going along with the crowd.” “Peer Pressure.” “Fads.” “Trends.” Call it what you will. “Contagion” sounds like the infectious social disease it describes. This must have been what Booker T Washington observed when he said, “A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong, doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”

The irrational nature of the social contagion of idolatry was addressed by the prophets. How can they cut down a tree and burn part of it to stay warm, use another part of it to bake bread, and still another part they decorate and say “deliver me, for you are my god” (Isa. 44). The prophets are amazed that no one stops to think or acknowledge “I fall down before a block of wood.”

Luke does a wonderful job in Acts pointing out how rapidly public opinion changes. One moment, they’re hysterically bowing down to the apostles calling them Zeus and Hermes and the next moment they’re stoning Paul. One moment the crowds are turning to God and the next they’re being stirred up to rebel. One result of such strong opposition and persecution is that it would eliminate any “social Christians.” To remain faithful amidst such threats requires a strong faith. It demands rational conviction.

Drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, and the recent explosion in gender confusion and so many other irrational behaviors today can best be explained as social contagion. It’s not new, but it’s still dangerous. We must be people protected by the conviction of faith. The old saying is true, “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”