Lovers of Self
Throughout history, patterns of consumer culture and gender dynamics repeat across different societies.
Japan's evolution through three distinct eras illustrates this phenomenon: the "Age of Female Adoration" during its 1980s economic boom, followed by the "Age of Mutual Disdain" during economic downturn, and now the emerging "Age of Male Adoration" where traditional gender roles have reversed.
Similar patterns appear in Western societies, though with different cultural expressions. Post-war America experienced its own version of female adoration, followed by tension during feminist movements, and now early signs of male adoration through the rise of "metrosexual" culture and male grooming markets.
Europe has followed a more moderate path, with less extreme swings between gender dynamics.
These societal shifts reflect deeper questions about human nature, self-love, and relationships. The Bible presents a tension between healthy self-love and dangerous self-absorption, showing that true fulfillment lies not in extremes but in balance. As societies oscillate between different configurations of gender and consumption, we're searching for meaning and identity in a material world.
The path forward requires finding what philosophers call "relational freedom", maintaining individual autonomy while choosing mutually enriching relationships. We need the wisdom to seek balance, the courage to challenge extremes, and the grace to build societies where all can flourish.
In the end, we're called to be neither lovers of self nor haters of self, but rather lovers of God and neighbor, finding in that love the perfect balance between independence and relationship that our souls deeply crave.
Crepi il lupo! 🐺