What Is Life?
What is this life, really? A Millennial’s Wake-Up Call
Have we been lied to about what it means to live a meaningful life?
As a millennial raised in a religious household and pushed to pursue higher education, I’ve started to question everything. From promises that a degree equals success, to the moral compass handed to us by religion—what if it’s all been smoke and mirrors?
We were told that going to school, staying out of trouble, and believing in God would give us purpose, peace, and prosperity. But here I am, with multiple degrees, making the same salary as someone in an entry-level position. It’s hard not to feel betrayed by the system. And it’s not just me. Many millennials are waking up to the reality that the American Dream may have been a myth all along.
Religion and Morality: A Double-Edged Sword
Raised Southern Baptist, I was taught abstinence, honesty, and marriage as cornerstones of life. But in middle school, a teacher mentioned that all religions share one central rule: The Golden Rule. That was the moment I started to question everything. If kindness is universal, why is there so much conflict? Why does religion often excuse behavior rather than inspire change?
In many cases, religion acts as a moral scapegoat. People say, “It wasn’t me, it was the devil.” But what if we are the ones causing our own chaos? Instead of accountability, we’ve clung to comfort, and in doing so, we’ve lost our moral grounding.
Modern Society and the Loss of Accountability
Take modern relationships. Divorce is common, and infidelity is often at the root. Cheating isn’t new, but it’s become normalized. Why? Because we’ve stopped holding ourselves accountable. It’s easier to say “God forgives me” than to actually change. And this mindset extends to social justice, politics, and race. We’ve ignored the signs and repeated the same cycles, hoping for a savior—someone to come and fix it all.
But what if that savior never comes?
The Hard Truth: We Are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For
The harsh reality is: no one’s coming to save us. It’s on us to create the change we want to see. We must start holding ourselves—and each other—accountable. From how we treat strangers to how we raise our children, real healing begins with honest self-reflection and action.
By: Bria
