A Sign, Not a Weathervane: Americans Face Epidemic of Loneliness

Headlines in 2025 worry about loneliness, but Americans also faced an epidemic of loneliness in 1978, with one in four people feeling isolated. This historical comparison suggests that the issue is a persistent societal challenge rather than a new phenomenon. The broader implication is a call for spiritual and communal solutions to address the deepening crisis of isolation in modern society.