Tweet
Chris Arnade is the author of "Dignity: Seeking Respect in Back Row." I watched him om C-Span last night. He had a PHD in Physics, who later worked on Wall St and made a ton of money. He is a liberal and was an atheist, who is moving towards religion because he saw the power of religion to help with addiction. It is a powerful story.
Alysse ElHage: I believe I’ve heard you say that many of the people you met who had overcome drug addiction had done so with the help of their faith or a church. Is that correct?
Chris Arnade: Yes, I think almost 95% [of those I met], if not everybody I’ve met who has managed to overcome addiction in this community in the back row (not the front row, not the wealthy people)—in almost in every case, it was somehow through a church or finding religion. And so, as a scientist, it’s like, well, this is happening, this is working. You know, regardless of what my prior thoughts on religion were and my deeper thoughts on religion, this is something that is helping many people.
Alysse ElHage: You said you were an atheist when you went into this project. Did this experience change you or your beliefs in any way?
Chris Arnade: Yes, I go to mass now and then. I’m not particularly good about it. I wouldn’t call myself religious because I haven’t gotten there yet. And I don’t want to sound pious or anything; I’ve got a lot to work on. But I certainly am much more open-minded about religion. I’m much more curious, and I’m much more at the point where I’m realizing that there’s a lot more there than I would have thought at all. You know, it’s a lot more central to our understanding. It has a much more central place in my life, and it should, perhaps, take a lot more central place in a lot of people’s lives.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/chris-arn...ck-row-america
Chris Arnade: Yes, I think almost 95% [of those I met], if not everybody I’ve met who has managed to overcome addiction in this community in the back row (not the front row, not the wealthy people)—in almost in every case, it was somehow through a church or finding religion. And so, as a scientist, it’s like, well, this is happening, this is working. You know, regardless of what my prior thoughts on religion were and my deeper thoughts on religion, this is something that is helping many people.
Alysse ElHage: You said you were an atheist when you went into this project. Did this experience change you or your beliefs in any way?
Chris Arnade: Yes, I go to mass now and then. I’m not particularly good about it. I wouldn’t call myself religious because I haven’t gotten there yet. And I don’t want to sound pious or anything; I’ve got a lot to work on. But I certainly am much more open-minded about religion. I’m much more curious, and I’m much more at the point where I’m realizing that there’s a lot more there than I would have thought at all. You know, it’s a lot more central to our understanding. It has a much more central place in my life, and it should, perhaps, take a lot more central place in a lot of people’s lives.
https://ifstudies.org/blog/chris-arn...ck-row-america
Comment