Me-centrism

Warning! I went to 'A Conversation with Hugh Mackay' this afternoon and scribbled notes through it all. I usually do that to keep me awake but this time it was because I wanted to remember so much of what he saiyd. And now I want to talk about it. So be warned. And there is more to come.

One of Hugh's first assertions was that we have been talked into believing that people are inherently selfish. He reckons that deep in our DNA is the desire to be part of community and that scientists have now discovered a cooperative centre in the brain. That it is our community that defines, nurtures and protects us. Competitiveness is a learned thing. [Just look at year 1 kids at Sports Day as they wait for each other and stop to run together and so on.] (My comment.)
Hugh says there are two things at work in the propaganda leading to 'Me-centrism'
1. The consumer market that tells us we deserve to have all that stuff and if it doesn't make us happy then we probably just need to go out and get more stuff. It's all about me and my personal satisfaction.
2. The 'happiness' industry that promotes happiness as the natural state. This denies the full spectrum of emotions that are part of life and growing. Again it's all about me.

Reminds me of our previous minister, Carol. Many of us still remember her saying, 'It's not about me; it's all about Jesus.' Hugh wasn't coming from an overtly Christian position even though his audience were mostly Uniting Church people, but still commented quite clearly on our current 'me-centrism' which would struggle with the call of Jesus to deny oneself, take up the cross and follow him.

Disclaimer: This is my take on what Hugh Mackay said so apologies if I've got it wrong. His new book is 'Beyond Belief' and you can check our his work there.