Introductory Note: This was originally written in the fall of 2016. However, I think that the current situation in which we find ourselves warrants a return to this discussion.

It is beyond question that 2016 has caused quite a stir on social media as it claims more and more celebrities. Every time I log into social media I’m confronted with another headline announcing the death of another famous figure. And I’m not alone. If you have been on social media lately, you’ve probably seen statuses such as: “2016 STOP” or “When will 2016 end?!” referring to these deaths. As a matter of fact, it seems that this type of statement has reached meme status as we crawl towards the new year. Internet trends are often trivial and shallow, but every once in a while one shows up as a result of a deep cultural dissonance. What does this public outcry say about our culture? I think the celebrity deaths of 2016 have struck a nerve, and many are ill equipped to face it.

A Culture of Death-Denial?

Do we deny death? Of course not. At least not explicitly. Most rationally minded people will acknowledge that we all reach a point where we cease to exist; to deny that would be illogical and foolish. Even still, the idea of death makes us uncomfortable or even fearful. This reluctance to acknowledge our inescapable conclusion places humanity in a very complicated position. We simply cannot argue with it. Instead, humans have had to find more clever ways to elude it.

So what does it look like to elude death? Of course, you could take the bubble boy approach or never leave your house, but that’s not very practical. Here I’m referring to the more subtle approaches such as the thoughts and attitudes pushed by the larger culture. Specifically, those pushed by the secular left. It seems that humans have two primary coping mechanisms when dealing with death. The first, and most difficult, is to bury our heads in the sand and live as if it does not exist. This approach, albeit optimistic, is quite futile. Therefore, most people opt for the second method; desensitization. With every death we see depicted on film or other forms of media we inch one step closer to apathy. Layer after layer is applied until our hearts and minds are numb to the idea of death. Why? Because deep down we know that these aren’t real people dying. It’s all a fabrication! As soon as the director yells “cut” the actor picks himself up and begins looking for his next role. What then do we do when the actor himself dies? Why does it unsettle us so much? A portion of this can no doubt be genuine grief, but I think it’s the result of something much deeper. When an actor/singer/performer dies it shakes us because there are no more layers to peel back. There are no more scenes to film, no next stage, no more concert stops. The reality of death drills straight through to the bedrock and finds us totally unprepared to handle it.

As a person’s coping mechanisms are tried and found wanting, they go to the place they’re hard-wired to go.. Social Media. That is where we have been programmed to go when we need to vent, grieve, or seek help. It is there that so many have found a common enemy; the personified “2016”. Of course deep down we know that 2016 is not self-aware nor has it personally killed anyone. It has, however, provided a convenient scapegoat on whom to cast our blame and derision. The elephant in the room, simply put, is what will we do when we lose our common enemy on Saturday at midnight?

A Fresh Perspective

My hope is that the tragedies of this year will have a lasting impact on the way we perceive death.The looming truth is that we are all rapidly approaching the abyss. We all know it. Deep down we feel it in our very beings (dare I say souls). Many see “2016” as a curse, but there is a thick silver lining revealing itself to all who will take notice. It has briefly shaken our desensitized minds and forced us to stare death in the face. If you feel shaken by the deaths of this year, my hope is that this brief moment of clarity will give you a short window of time in which to better equip yourself. A desensitized mind is a stronghold made of straw. Theoretical defenses only protect from attacks of the same nature, and a fundamental element of existence such as death is far from theoretical. You can (and many will) slip right back into a comfortable state of apathy, but I can assure you of this: death will not retire in 2017.