There's a new epidemic affecting our world today. And I'm not talking about a new variant of COVID-19. In fact, it's not a virus or a disease at all. It's not spread through coughing or sneezing, and lockdowns surely won't help. So, what is it? And how are you affected by it? It is the epidemic of loneliness. Now, you might think, "What are you talking about? That's not an epidemic. That's what all of us experience from time to time." But this is different.
I'm talking about a chronic sense of isolation and disconnection from others, from any sort of community, from anything meaningful in life. And why wouldn't millions feel empty and alone in our world today? After all, generations have been taught there's no purpose to life and we are the products of random chance.
Regarding Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the late science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke once wrote: "Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying." More recently, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins wrote, in River Out of Eden: "The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
Maybe there's a reason why so many today feel chronically alone. Maybe we as society have absorbed the fables of evolution. And they are profoundly affecting how we think about our place in the Universe, in society, and even in our own homes. You might be one of the millions today suffering from a sense of isolation and loneliness. If you are, take heart. You're not alone. And there is help; most importantly, from the pages of the Bible. So, let's discuss this issue on today's program.
But before we do, be sure to have a pen and paper on hand, so you can request the free literature we're offering today, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. Join me today on Tomorrow's World, as we discuss the problem and the ultimate solution to "Loneliness: The New Epidemic." I'll be right back. ♪ Welcome to Tomorrow's World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible. There is an epidemic ravaging our world, and it's called loneliness.
Now, are we overstating this? After all, an epidemic is an out-of-control health crisis where people get sick and die--and in large numbers. And of course, everybody feels lonely from time to time. Is the term "epidemic of loneliness" an exaggeration? This is the point of an article from January 24, 2025 in The Atlantic entitled "The Myth of a Loneliness Epidemic." The author says: "No one would blame you for thinking that we're in the midst of an unprecedented global loneliness emergency.
The United Kingdom and Japan have named "loneliness ministers" to tackle the problem. In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a pressing public-health concern, and then-President Joe Biden's surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory warning about an "epidemic of loneliness." American commentators have painted a bleak portrait of a nation collapsing into ever more distant and despairing silos.
And polls do suggest that a lot of people are lonely-- some of the time, at least." But is it an epidemic? The author explains that it's difficult to quantify something like loneliness, especially when trying to compare it to historical trends. People's expectations of relationships may be different today than they were a generation or two ago. That's all true. So, is this a fad? Is it a trendy new band wagon to jump on? Or is there really something to it?
Whatever it is, some governments are taking it very seriously. As the article mentions, the government of Great Britain commissioned one of its Ministers of Parliament with the task of tackling the growing problem of loneliness and social isolation in British society. And believe it or not, the British government has spent over 80 million pounds studying and combating this problem. When we think of loneliness as a social ill, it's not surprising that the elderly would come to mind.
After all, older people often have to face the challenge of losing a mate and living alone. They oftentimes struggle with challenging health issues. Isolation and loneliness only makes it worse. Family members may be hundreds of miles away. Or, they may have no contact with family members at all. Some may divorce, even later in life. The American Association of Retired Persons website reports that there has been a dramatic increase in so-called "gray divorces."
Notice: "A new analysis of divorce data from 1990 to 2021 released in July by Bowling Green State University's National Center for Family and Marriage Research found that divorce rates for those age 45 and over rose during that period... The most significant increase in divorce rates was among people 65 and older: "The rate tripled from 1990 to 2021. At these older ages, rates of divorce among women nearly quadrupled... older adults "now face record high divorce rates"...."
So, the rise in divorces is also a driving force in more feelings of isolation and disconnection among seniors today. But even under the best of circumstances, with regular contact from loving family and friends, aging is challenging. But it's not just the elderly who suffer from being isolated. In 2021, the Japanese government instituted a ministry of loneliness, like Great Britain.
Their specific aim was to address the growing suicide rate among the elderly, working women, part-time workers, and the unemployed. The COVID-19 pandemic had also made social isolation an even worse problem. Makoto Watanabe, is a communications professor at Hokkaido Bunkyo University.
In an article for Deutsche Welle, he explained the problem of men being marginalized because of the struggling economy: "There is a "lost generation" of thousands of 40-and 50-something men, primarily, who could not get a good job when they left school because the economy was bad and they have just stayed at home ever since. The number of single households and "hikikomori"--social recluses--has been increasing rapidly for many years...."
So, there are economic forces driving the loneliness trend. Unemployment, and the lingering effects of the COVID pandemic play a part. And it's not just in the Western world. But perhaps more alarming yet, is the number of young adults experiencing chronic loneliness at even higher rates than the elderly. An NBC News survey reported this: "Twenty-nine percent of U.S. adults under age 30 say they feel lonely or isolated from those around them all of the time or most of the time.
Similarly, 26% of the next oldest generation, or those ages 30-44, say they feel lonely or isolated all or most of the time. But only 15% of survey respondents who are members of Generation X, or those who are 45 to 64 years old, said they felt they were lonely or isolated most or all of the time, and only 8% of those ages 65 and older said the same." A similar article in The Telegraph told the same story in the United Kingdom.
Published on February 29, 2024, it was entitled, "Britain is in a loneliness epidemic--and young people are at the heart of it." So, there does seem to be something happening. Ironically, it's in a time with ever-increasing connection through the Internet and smartphones. Loneliness seems to be increasing across the board. But why is it happening? What's behind it? Is there anything we can discern from the Bible that can shed light on this growing scourge? We'll explore that in the next segment.
But before that, let me take a moment to offer you our free study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. You'll see that our lives are not just a product of random chance. And we don't live on an earth that's just hurtling recklessly through the Universe. There is a real God, and you can prove it. Creation demands a Creator; Life demands a Life-giver; Law demands a Law-giver; and Design demands a Designer. This study guide will explain this--and much more.
So, don't take it for granted-- prove these things for yourself. You need this booklet. So, order online, call or write to us. Order today. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to... This clear and straight- forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine.
Six inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective. Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... ♪ Welcome back. In the last segment, we discussed the growing epidemic of loneliness around the world. But why is it happening? Many experts give opinions about why the loneliness epidemic is growing.
They'll cite reasons such as, people spending more time online; less contact person-to-person; the fact that it's a more mobile society; the pandemic. And that's all true--those certainly have contributed to the loneliness epidemic. But one source most experts overlook is the Bible. And yet, the Bible is the foundation of understanding. It's the first place we should look when seeking to discern the answers to the big questions of life.
And it's where we should turn when we're grappling with why the world is the way it is. Notice an interesting statement Jesus made in Matthew 24:10 and 12, speaking of the conditions at the end of the age: "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another... And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Is that describing our world today? We're shocked to see the lack of empathy in some people today, in our news reports.
Well, Jesus predicted the world of the last days would be one in which "love would grow cold." Could we be witnessing the beginning stages of that breakdown of society now? Notice what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1... "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come..." This word "perilous" is also translated "times of stress." Hard times were predicted to come just before Christ's return.
And then Paul described some of the specifics of why those times would be hard. In 2 Timothy 3:2-3, we read... "For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving..." Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving? That sounds like a society where people are increasingly polarized and hateful to each other. That's describing our world today.
It's no coincidence that these conditions increase in a world where many have no respect for the Bible or God. Notice what the apostle Paul said in his letter to the Romans. In Romans 1:28... "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting..." When many in society cast aside a real understanding of God and respect for His word, bad things happen. And we're witnessing that in our world today.
In Romans 1:29-31, he explains they would be... "...full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful..." This is describing the breakdown of a well-connected, fully-functioning society.
It's describing a society where people don't trust their leaders, don't trust the media, don't even trust members of their own family. And why wouldn't our society be on this path? Since the 1800s, evolutionary theory-- which proposes a meaningless and purposeless existence-- has been pushed as a fact. Let me quote from Evangelist and Tomorrow's World writer Douglas Winnail, writing in today's offer, The Real God: Proofs and Promises.
He says on page 6: "Over the last two centuries, belief in God has come under attack by many intellectuals in the West.... Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche asserted that God is merely a thought. Neurologist Sigmund Freud termed belief in God a mental disorder.... H. L. Mencken asserted, "God is he immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable." In the 1960s, prominent theologians echoed Nietzsche's earlier sentiments and actually questioned whether God was dead.
Oxford zoologist Richard Dawkins asserted, in his 2006 book The God Delusion, that there is no evidence to support religion and that better educated people today admit this. He claims that "only the scientifically illiterate" believe in a Creator God." Again, isn't it a surprise that we as a society are drifting? That many of us are increasingly lonely and feel no connection to others and no purpose in life?
After all, for generations, our world has been absorbing the message that our lives are meaningless. On page 8, he observes: "Evolutionists' purposeless universe has proven to be a psychologically empty and depressing concept." It's no wonder that more and more of us today are depressed and discouraged. Our world preaches to us that we have no purpose of being here at all. But the Bible predicted this. In it, God prophesied a spiritually bankrupt society at the time of the end.
And that's what we're witnessing, day by day. It's not surprising, against this backdrop, that we also have an epidemic of loneliness and despair. So, what can you and I do about it? Is there a solution? We'll discuss that when we come back. But first, let me offer you our free study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. There's a reason why so many today sense no purpose and meaning in their lives. It comes from a lack of understanding of a real God, and the reason He put us on this earth.
We all need to become better acquainted with the real God who made us and gives every breath we take. You need this booklet. So order yours right away. Call, click, or write today. Order now... ♪ This clear and straight-forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. Call now! Or go to... ♪ Welcome back. In the last two segments of today's program we saw the growing problem of loneliness in our world today.
And we saw that the harsh conditions of the world of the end-times would be the result of a spiritual collapse and a rejection of God. But where does that leave us? What can we do about it? Earlier in the program we touched on divorce and the breakdown of the family as a factor in loneliness. Marriage and the family truly is a basic building block of a strong society. In Genesis chapter 2 we read of the first marriage. After God created Adam, notice what He said. Genesis 2:18...
"And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him... And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man." Think about that. When God made Adam, He also provided companionship. And that was through the institution of marriage.
And that's why God says He hates divorce. We read that in Malachi 2:16... "For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one's garment with violence." Divorce tears apart the bonds that give families--and communities--their strength. In a crisis of loneliness in our world today, why aren't more leaders advocating for stronger marriages and families? Why aren't more social commentators calling for abstinence before marriage and a lifelong marriage covenant?
That would be a good first step. But that's not all. Actually, the covenant between a man and wife is secondary to a spiritual marriage covenant God wants us to make with Him. When a lawyer questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment, He gave a very interesting answer. He said--yes, love others-- love your neighbor as yourself-- that includes our wife or our husband. But even more important, love God. It's found in Matthew 22:37-38...
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment." We are to have a close and intimate relationship with God. And yet, in our modern society, many have let God be pushed into a corner. Why are we surprised at the epidemic of loneliness, when we've pushed God out of our lives?
When Jesus was in the worst trial of His life, about to be arrested, tried and executed, He gave some final encouragement to His disciples. He knew that in their weakness they would desert Him in His hour of need. And yet, in His mercy and kindness, He didn't harangue them--instead, He explained where He placed His trust. Notice, in John 16:32... "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave me alone.
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." Who did Jesus look to, to sustain Him in His darkest hour? His Father in Heaven. You see, His God--and our God-- is not just a powerful Sovereign ruling over the Universe. Yes, He has power over the elements--the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the oceans, the great beasts of the earth and the waters, the powerful forces of nature, seen and unseen. But He also is a loving Being who wants to have a relationship with His children.
And we are His children. He created us. He wants to know us. Can we begin to see just how foolish and reckless the evolutionary fables are? When so-called experts try to convince us we are living in a world where no one really cares? As if we are alone in the cold, heartless Universe? Again, Richard Dawkins said this, in the book River Out of Eden: "[N]ature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn.
We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous--indifferent to all suffering, lacking all purpose." What a sad, hopeless philosophy. We at Tomorrow's World reject the notion that the Universe is indifferent and lacking purpose. Because we can have a personal relationship with the awesome, mighty God who rules that Universe. And that changes everything. And when we begin to have a close relationship with our Father, we're never alone.
He's always with us. In fact, Jesus also explained that in the same evening, to His disciples. He was speaking to them about sending the Holy Spirit after His death and resurrection. He said this, in John 14:15... "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper... I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." Are you struggling with loneliness? Do you feel hopeless and alone sometimes? Reach out to family members.
Call or write to a friend. You need that contact. Even if it's difficult at first, you need to reach out. But more importantly, talk to your Father in Heaven. He loves you, He cares for you, He gave His Son for you. Yes, for the other 8 billion people on this earth, too. But He also gave His Son for you. He loves you and He cares for you. As Peter wrote, in 1 Peter 5:7... "...[C]asting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." And thank your Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. He died for you.
Because He loves you as well. And He wants to have a personal relationship with you. He explains that in Matthew 7:21-23... "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,' have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you....'" Now, think about this for a moment.
What is Jesus saying? What does He want in us? Yes, we must obey Him. We must respond to Him. But because He loves us, He wants to get to know us. As we walk with Him every day of the rest of our lives. There's so much more that could be said. And that's why we're offering to send you, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. In it, Evangelist Douglas Winnail asks: "If you have sensed a void in your life, if you feel cut off and alone, why not talk to God about it in prayer?
If you can see the lack of meaning and purpose in our secular, materialistic world, why not get down on your knees in a private place and talk with your Father?" You see, this is not just an academic exercise we're talking about. It's about knowing our Father in Heaven, and our Savior Jesus Christ. So don't delay--order your free booklet today. Call, click or write to us. Order now. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to...
This clear and straight- forward resource will help you understand this vital truth-- straight from the pages of the Bible. If you're calling for the first time, you will also receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's World magazine. Six inspiring issues discussing news, science, and modern culture will help you make sense of your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. Call now! Or go to... ♪ In 2023, the United States Department of Health and Human Services published the pamphlet, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." In it, the then-U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, offered this advice for combatting loneliness.
Here is what he said: "Each of us can start now, in our own lives, by strengthening our connections and relationships. Our individual relationships are an untapped resource-- a source of healing hiding in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilled lives. Answer that phone call from a friend. Make time to share a meal. Listen without the distraction of your phone. Perform an act of service. Express yourself authentically.
The keys to human connection are simple, but extraordinarily powerful." That's great advice. The antidote for loneliness is to reach out and connect with others. But at the same time, there's something profoundly missing in his advice. An acknowledgement that overcoming loneliness starts with a personal relationship with God. We are His children. And if we put our faith and trust in Him, He will never let us down. As it says in Hebrews 13:5...
"... For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Thank you for watching. And don't forget to order your free copy of our study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises. And be sure to join us next time, as Gerald Weston, Wallace Smith, and I explain the Good news of Tomorrow's World, and the truth, comfort and hope it can bring to you and your family. So, see you next time. ♪ For today's free offer call... Or go to...
Call today and join millions around the world who are turning to Tomorrow's World for truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times. The preceding program is produced by the Living Church of God. ♪