Have you noticed that as time passes, more and more events of life are the result of diseases? Now scientists have a disease which explains why geeks have to have all of the new gadgets.

Have you noticed that as time passes, more and more events of life are the result of diseases? Now scientists have a disease which explains why geeks have to have all of the new gadgets.

Of course, the disease does not apply just to geeks -- anyone with a passion for the new and latest things apparently has this disease. 

The disease is called neophilia.  If you assume this name is derived from the Greek, philio is one of the words for love, and neo means new.  Philia would be a noun use as in lover -- so neo [new] philia [of love or lover], that is lover of new [things].

What a wonderful way to avoid responsibility for spending all of that money and incurring debt.  Must be I have the disease since I love new geek things.

The article may be found a website called Media Life, Popcult.

Over the years I have noticed a lot of actions people undertake being redefined as diseases or illness.  Alcoholism, some sexual issues, even some drug addictions are labeled as a disease, especially in the court room where they become a defense to some crime.  It is a wonderful way to avoid acceptance of personal responsibility.

Society also uses the concepts of illnesses as a way to avoid discussing sin. Sin is not part of any modern discussion.  People do not sin, they just have bad things happen to them.  In fact, many people do not even believe the bad things are "evil" in a biblical sense.  That is, Satan does not exist and evil is just a situation when things do not go our way.

All of this is contrary to the teachings of God's Word.  Mankind is individually responsible for his actions.  Alcoholism is not a disease, it is the sin of drinking too much alcohol and becoming drunk.  Certainly there are medical treatments that may assist a person who drinks too much, but God does not view this affliction as a disease. Alcoholism is a sin since the person may accept responsibility for drinking too much and turn to God for help. 

The same is true of neophilia.  There is no disease here.  The need for new gadgets is similpy poor stewardship of assests or is a need to put Me first and fulfill my desires.  No gene makes me do this. It is all the result of sin.

Try reading your Bible. You will discover that the most of the things we do which are wrong or hurt us or are obsessive God calls sin. If one accepts this condition, then one recognizes he cannot overcome the condition without help.  This help comes from calling on God and asking for assistance.  This desire to change and the process of calling upon God is repentance.  Repentance leads to salvation. 

Salvation means we are back in relationship with God.  Now He will help us. That help does not always take the course we desire and sometimes the outward signs of the sin remain -- the alcoholic may not immediately stop getting drunk, for example.  But, over time, God helps us win.

Besides, even geeks do not need every new tool.  I still do not own a "palm," except for the ones on my right and left hands!  I do not own any PDA and I have the cheapest cell phone available. No camera, no mp3 player, no video, no web connection.

You can get along without all of this stuff.  In the end, you cannot get along without God.  Too bad the scientists can't find a disease that explains why people do not believe in God.  Then maybe they would send more people to the Bible.

Except of course, the scientists do not believe in either the Bible or in God.  See my next post.

Jim A