What is apathy, exactly? First, let’s examine spirituality. I like the “simpler” definition proposed by Rev. Dr. Case Vink: Spirituality is the affirmation of our essential humanness through our search to be alive and fruitful in meaningful ways. I propose that apathy is our disengagement from spirituality - deliberately or inadvertently brought about through an attempt to avoid feeling pain. It is an inability to feel connected, whole, alive, or meaningful, because in dulling the senses to avoid pain, we dull them to joy and passion as well. Apathy leads us to lapse into “same ol’, same ol’” mentality, when we doubt our meaningfulness or our relevance, because it sets us apart from all it is to be alive. Apathy is a good thing to stamp out, actually. Now, where’d I put those buttons?

How do we know what is real? Is what we perceive reality, or merely shadows of it? Plato’s Cave suggests that we can throw off the bonds of ignorance, but that we might be so accustomed to the status quo we wouldn’t appreciate or enjoy the resulting enlightenment.

“Plato’s Cave and The Matrix,” by John Partridge (http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/new_phil_partridge.html), discusses the film as a modern-day adaptation of Plato’s Cave.

As I am only a guest editor for this issue, I have no questions or feedback to address. But the editors always welcome your letters, and would be very pleased to hear from you! Please don’t be shy - write back.