Running in Circles: How We Replace God with Surrogates

The more I ponder, the more I recognize how deeply religion is woven into the fabric of humanity. Even in our attempts to escape it, we find ourselves caught in a relentless loop. It’s as if the time-loop narratives in movies reflect humanity’s obsession with evading God—stories cleverly disguised as entertainment, yet mirroring our spiritual struggles.

These time-loop narratives often feature characters stuck in a cycle of repeated actions, unable to break free until they confront a deeper truth or resolve a fundamental issue. In many ways, they mirror humanity’s spiritual condition: our repeated attempts to find meaning, purpose, and satisfaction apart from God, and our inability to escape the consequences of sin without divine intervention.

Consider how politics has become an obsession for many, functioning as a substitute for religion. Therapists have taken on the role of modern-day priests, offering guidance and purpose. Personality tests, like ancient oracles, promise to reveal who we are and who we’re meant to be.

It seems we’re all running—from something, from someone. Yet no matter how hard we try, we cannot escape. Some of us blind ourselves; others actively resist the truth. If we’re honest, our defiance often stems from a deep reluctance to confront what is right in front of us.

One of the most striking examples today is therapy. People gravitate toward it as a resolution for life’s struggles, a source of meaning and purpose. Therapists have become modern clergy, their language forming a new moral vocabulary—words like “toxic,” “boundaries,” and “self-love” shape how we think about right and wrong.

Therapy is spread with the zeal of a missionary effort, with clients carrying its principles into the world. While therapy can provide valuable tools and insights, it cannot replace the ultimate healing and purpose that only God can provide. Instead of viewing therapy as an end in itself, it’s important to see it as a complement to faith, not a substitute.

When we step back and reflect, we see that religion permeates every aspect of our system. We deny this only because it appears unorganized, lacking the formal structures of traditional faith. Yet, as scripture says, “Those who are seeking the truth will find the Light.”

Many of us remain lost and unclear because we are not truly seeking the truth. Instead, we are intoxicated by our own perceptions and desires, chasing after what cannot satisfy, attempting to fill a void only God can fill. The things we find entertaining often reveal what we are running from—if only we would look deeper. For those just beginning their exploration, consider this: the search for truth is not in vain. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Seeking truth with a sincere heart will inevitably lead us to Him, for He is the source of all truth.

Religion isn’t something we can escape because it’s not just a structure—it’s woven into the essence of who we are as spiritual beings. The question is not whether we will worship, but what or whom we will worship. Only God can provide the satisfaction, rest, and meaning that our souls desperately seek.