Excellent article.
I think Part of it is the revival we are seeing, especially with young people. Credit Charly Kirk, the shift away from wokeness, or simply God Himself. While at first glance, “not drinking” and “religious faith” seem like entirely different categories. One is a physical habit and the other a spiritual conviction. They actually share some deep psychological and sociological DNA.
If we look at sobriety through the lens of a “secular faith,” the comparison holds up in a few striking ways:
Historically, people used alcohol to “escape” or reach an altered state. Today, the trend toward sobriety is often about finding a different kind of “high.” The transcendence of extreme presence.
Just as a believer might seek “clarity of soul” to connect with the divine, the modern sober person seeks “clarity of mind” to connect more deeply with themselves and others. Both involve a rejection of “numbing” in favor of “feeling.”
Religions provide a built-in community with shared values. Sobriety is doing the same. Just as a faith community keeps you on a moral path, the “sober curious” community provides the social pressure and support to stick to the path of health.
In many religions, the body is treated as a “temple.” We are seeing a secular version of this.
For many, optimizing the body through sleep, diet, and sobriety has become a form of devotion. When you treat your longevity and mental health as “sacred,” drinking alcohol starts to feel like a “sin” against your potential.
However, there is a key difference. Traditional faith is usually externally focused on a higher power or a set of ancient laws, whereas the sobriety trend is largely internally focused on the “Self”.
Faith: “I do this to honor God.”
Modern Sobriety: “I do this to honor my future self.”
Peter