Scientism, the belief that science, or reasoned investigation of nature, is the only valid source of truth, is a very prevailant line of thought in my immediate society and in larger society. People confront problems such as depression and hyperactivity with drugs, and if the drugs fail, they try to use a logical therapist to diagnose the problem and give a step by step solution. People refuse to admit that any truth admits regarding right and wrong, or matters beyond fact in the range of knowledge. People shy away from confronting issues of religion, talking instead about meaningless things like sports or the weather, because sports and weather deal with hard facts: the bulls did in fact win, and people can prove it--look at the statbox! However, religion involves belief, and people do not want to talk about something that they thus label as subjective. Because there is belief involved in religion, society labels it as meaningless and in the clouds, not based on solid, hard facts or logic and reason. However, they ignore that religion involves a great deal of reason, and to a point can be proven as true. Society fosuses on the questions of what and how, rather than the deeper question of Why, the questions about existance. These beliefs surrounding me, it is hard to avoid that thinking and keep searching for the answers to the deeper questions of existance found in religion.
Atheism, the belief that there is no God, also affects me. First, I clarify that belief cannot mean simply a profession in words, but rather a supported and firmly held opinion apparent in actions. Thus, to be Catholic, one must live by the standards and requirements of Catholicism. The cuulture around me values no God, has no concept of some being greater than humans--except, perhaps, richer humans--and makes no time or place for religion, especially for Catholicism. The only mentions of Catholicism in today's media, for instance, are stories of professed Catholics who are not following the teachings of the Church. People believe that the only things worth worshiping are material things such as money and technology, and power in the corporate world. Many do believe in the importance of the family, but only as a means for happiness here and now, not as a glorification and mirror of God as the Trinity. These values of self interest and materialism challenge my Faith and my call to be selfless and value the things not of this world.
Finally, dehuminization challenges my Faith. Dehuminazation means the objectification of people, especially women, thus making the people who see this objectification less sensitive to humans. Dehumanization can be advertizing's making of women into objects to be used, products that come with the products sold. Dehumanization can be making reports of war sheer data, numbers lost not people killed. Whatever the form, dehumanization makes me see people less as people, making it harder to love them deeply and truely as my Faith demands, instead encouraging shows of love that are false and insincere. Advertizing makes values things to be bought, not things to strive for through kind actions and self-cleansing. Dehumanization makes it harder for me to have Faith.