In 1954, two neuroscience researchers at McGill University, James Olds and Peter Milner, discovered in rats (by accident) the brain’s “pleasure center”.
The experimenters were administering an electrical current whenever the rats entered part of its cage.
Instead of fleeing from that part of the cage, the rats enjoyed the electrical stimulation.
Once a lever was installed to offer a self stimulation, the rats effectively pleasured themselves to death.
They ignored foot and water, and pressed the lever as many as 2,000 times an hour.
Later research would reveal that the brain’s pleasure center, nucleus accumbens, leads specifically to a constant “wanting” to obtain the stimulation.
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Almost 60 years later, it seems millions of people (with personal access to online and media activity) are seeking that same level of stimulation every day.
For males, it appears to be a dangerous mix of spectator/fantasy sports, video gaming, and pornography.
For females, it is the insatiable stimulation of digital conversations, perhaps through Texting, Facebook, and Pinterest.
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As a recovering Crackberry (and now iPhone) addict and avid sports fan, I can relate.
How about you?
How long can you without checking your email or text messages? How about Facebook or Twitter? Or Sports Center highlights?
A week?
How about an entire day?
Just an hour?
If these modern examples don’t apply to you, I’m sure there are many people within your close network that you would describe as pleasure addicted to television or the internet.
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Why We Pleasure Ourselves to Death
I’m no scientist or theologian, so take my opinion for what’s it worth.
But my theory is simply this…
Millions of people (and yes, Christians) are seeking constant stimulation because they have stopped seeking God.
As for why they have stopped seeking God…
Maybe it is due to a perceived lack of response.
Or they have been led by false teachings on how to experience God.
Or simply they are so easily distracted.
I know I’ve experienced all of the above.
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Whatever your situation is, I pray you do not fall victim to the same fate as the rats.
The Apostle Paul knew the only escape:
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Romans 13:14)
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What are your thoughts about seeking constant pleasure or stimulation?
What advice you have for seeking God instead?
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Another great blog! I’m part of a church in Canada called The Meeting House. Our pastor, Bruxy Cavey, did a series on this very thing and entitled it Rage Against the Machine. It made me think twice about my tendancies, but it is a difficult think to change. Here’s the link: http://www.themeetinghouse.com/pageid/1687/. I should probably watch it again!
Lori-Anne Cunningham
Thank you Lori-Anne for the comment. That’s a great resource you shared. Small world! I’m glad other people are talking about this. It is a serious issue indeed. A first step of course for anyone is to recognize that they are no longer in control of their digital addiction.
Brent I try to stay off my computer on Sundays but alas I got smart phone recently and have not regulatee that yet. I think it is agood idea to stay off computers one day a week. I am acyber teacher and it could take over my life. Pat
Good advice Pat. I think I’d like to go weekends without computers or smart phones. That would likely be a very rewarding experience. Just like the way it used to be
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God has been unresponsive and the pain and heart wrenching agony that all have witnessed or felt first hand is undeniable, the intent of feeling pleasure is not a sin in its self and nothing that is pleasurable is a sin. God is not a sadist who’s intent is to witness the destruction of his children through enticement, and deceit, to seduce only to destroy is not the God we have read about.
Pleasure to death is a falsehood without the announcement that it is the separation from God that leads to destruction which begs the question why God would put before a seduction that leads to separation.
So one would have to conclude that pleasure in it’s self can not be a path to separation from God.
Are we to believe God would prefer us to seek pain and discomfort and become addicted to pain?
We can not become addicted to pain unless it is the slow and burdensome pain that does not bring us to unconciousness. Even than we do not become addicted and seek out pain instead we become tolerant.
Does the numbing ever present pain bring us closer to God? One could argue it does.
God has been unresponsive in a way that we can now appreciate as comforting, but he has given us response long ago and it is that response that we no longer witness nor have ever.
But the faith that, that one response and it’s magnitude of message is true and promising of a better future one that is eternal in its pleasure.
So it is ironic that by denying pleasure to the extent one would find ideal now in this realm is with the hope and intent it will lead to a greater pleasure one that is everlasting.
We will wait as long as it takes, that is Gods plan.