Michigan Daily, Sept. 21 1993
DRUGS, RELIGION OFFER AN ESCAPE
By Ian Lester

Religion  continues  along its precarious spiral  downwards  in  the
United States as more and more of our educated colleagues strive  to
find something tangible to place their faith in. While most students
can   say   with  confidence  that  their  grandparents   considered
themselves  to be religious, precious few can attest that  they  too
believe  in the existence of an omnipotent entity. There has  to  be
something  to  fill  this great void because human  beings  need  an
escape from reality. Drugs serve this purpose.

Many   people  blame  drugs  and  the  introduction  of  a  somewhat
mainstream  drug culture as one of the main reasons for the  decline
in   religious  faith,  saying  that  with  the  influx  of  illicit
substances came a disturbing lack of responsibility. But science and
time  have worn the words of the scriptures thin. The Bible can  now
be  interpreted  to  mean  nearly anything,  from  defending  racist
viewpoints  to  denouncing homosexuality. It has, in effect,  become
outdated.

Having  faith initially appealed to such a broad expanse  of  people
for many reasons. One of the main ones was, and still is, is that it
is  easier  to  place blame on the broad shoulders of  a  ubiquitous
being  than  to focus it inwards. Human beings do not like  to  take
responsibility for their mistakes.

The  similarity  between drugs and religion gets more  evident  with
each  passing day. The promise of an afterlife as a reward for pious
behavior and the idea of forgiveness for ones sins leave people with
the  hope that there is something to look forward to that is  better
than reality. Prayer, holy water, and the gentle soothing words of a
priest in confession all serve to help people feel better about what
the  future holds. Religion provides a different mindset,  something
to believe in that is separate from reality. Drugs, in effect do the
same thing. Caffeine relieves the tired feeling we have after a long
night.  Pills and other types of medication relieve painful maladies
and  nicotine  serves  as  a relaxant after  a  big  meal  or  tense
situation. We no longer look to the heavens for a cure, we  look  in
the bathroom cabinet behind the mirror.

Although  illegal  drugs have to be placed in a  different  category
than the over the counter types, they still warrant consideration in
this  argument. Pot, coke, acid, whatever, when it comes down to  it
they  all serve as an escape from reality. Whether drunk or  stoned,
we  all  act in a manner that we would not and could not if we  were
sober.  As with religion, drugs give us a scapegoat for our actions.
It  is  easy  to blame the alcohol if we do something  dangerous  or
stupid.  Just as easy, in fact, as saying that it was  the  will  of
God.

I  am  not condoning the use of drugs, nor am I saying that religion
is  wrong.  I  am  simply  pointing  out  that  there  is  a  strong
correlation  between the two. It is ironic that most people  with  a
strong  religious  base are anti-drugs and [many] people  who  enjoy
using drugs are atheists. Understand that everyone has their own way
of  dealing  with reality. Religion and drugs are two  of  the  most
popular  choices, but reading, writing, and a host of other  hobbies
can  also  serve the same purpose. Next time you reach for a  little
white pill, remember that reality is a headache.

(Lester  is  an  RC junior and a member of the Daily Editorial  Page
Staff.)

The  Daily is probably going to be deluged with letters from theists
from  all  over the country (alumni read this paper). If  you  think
this editorial was a good thing, I think the right thing to do would
be to write a supportive letter...

THE MICHIGAN DAILY
420 Maynard St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1327
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