Has the Internet Stolen our Soul’s Ability to Experience Jesus?

By: Laura Bennett

The neurological effects of our digital life are well documented: attention deficits, heightened addictive tendencies and greater dopamine sensitivity.

The implications for our soul are less considered, but Christian counsellor John Eldredge thinks they’re having a profound impact on our wellbeing.

Becoming what John calls “disciples of the internet” we’re trained to expect instant answers, immediate need fulfilment and rapid gratification that’s made “our souls very impatient”.

“Our spiritual forebearers would’ve been appalled at this,” John said.

“Because learning to wait upon the Lord, learning to sit with Him is absolutely essential.

“It’s good for your soul not be in a hurry [but] this internet life has trained us to be distracted and impatient [and] it’s getting in the way of people’s ability to enjoy a deeper life with Jesus.”

In his book Experience Jesus, Really, John draws on the traditions of Christians mystics, using his experience as a counsellor to weigh the balance of our hyper-analytical society with our souls need to lean into the mysteries of what can’t be explained by reason alone.

“There’s a place for critical reason,” John said.

“But we need to put it back in its place and allow the rest of our humanity to participate in our life.”

John’s observed in our doomscrolling and rabbit-trailing online that we’re constantly being told what we believed yesterday isn’t true today.

“Curiosity is really good – the curious soul is an alive soul,” John said.

“The problem is, internet life constantly overturns what you thought was reliable.”

Be it advice on exercise, education, spirituality or politics, we grab on to an idea of truth that the next expert tells us is inaccurate.

“We become really suspicious,” John said.

“We become really cynical, [and] it hurts our capacity to believe.”

The remedy John prescribes to his clients includes creating “a bit of sacred space” where Jesus addresses our anxieties and restores our souls against an uncrowded backdrop.

“Instead of studying, instead of listening to a podcast, or having your music on,” John said.

“You’re going to learn to linger with the presence of God – the old art of union and communion.”

One of the reasons John prioritises this is because “God doesn’t hurry and He doesn’t shout”.

“Out of the connection He’s able to address your fears,” John said.

“Out of the intimacy He’s able to give you guidance – He’ll answer your questions, just not in a hurry – [and] out of this intimacy He literally heals your soul.”

Post-enlightenment we’re living in a society “burned out” by an over-reliance on information, and the realisation it hasn’t offered the control we expected.

“The big offer was that information will help you secure your life,” John said.

“The big disappointment is that it doesn’t really deliver.

“We are underutilising what’s available to us through our Maker and through Jesus.”