Being ‘woke’ is spiritual experience of self-grandiosity

Polls show church attendance and religion have been on the decline for a number of years. In my opinion, it’s because of the emotional quick fix of being “woke.”

Young people, and more and more people in general, are enjoying the feeling of self-righteousness when they verbalize their support, sympathy, embarrassment, or regret over perceived injustices involving racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Yet they do not have to actively do anything, like attend church, give money, take mission trips, feed the hungry, and literally care for the needy. They only have to vote for liberal woke causes.

And, by not attending church, they do have an extra day in the week to travel hither and yonder, one-upping each other with stories of yet another exotic place they’ve been.

The woke are constantly moving, yet never getting anywhere spiritually. The Church of Woke is basically one of self-grandiosity.

BECKY SMITH, ROSWELL

Random acts of kindness make the world a better place

Thank you to the Marietta Starbucks drive-through customer ahead of me who purchased my coffee, then drove away without my chance to thank him or wave. It left me with a warm feeling long after the coffee was gone.

Especially today, we might consider performing random acts of kindness for others. Allowing someone to pull out in traffic, taking someone’s grocery cart back from her car, or just smiling at a stranger whose eyes meet ours renews our faith in each other. We never know how that affects someone.

While helping distribute food to needy folks through Rotary, I put the groceries in their cars and thanked them for coming, and they smiled.

One friend won $30 million in the lottery, then gave the money away. Gordon Moore, who authored the law about microchips doubling each year in capacity, gave away more than half of his $7 billion fortune.

Each of us can make the world a better place with simple random acts of kindness.

DANIEL F. KIRK, KENNESAW

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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