The Path to Cultural Repair
David Brooks is a journalist, cultural commentator, and author best known for his work as an opinion columnist for The New York Times. Raised in a Jewish family in New York City, Brooks has written widely about politics, culture, character, and moral formation. Over the past decade his work has increasingly focused on questions of meaning, relational life, and what helps people flourish. He often speaks openly about his own spiritual journey, failures, and growth. While not writing explicitly from a Christian perspective, his work resonates deeply with faith communities because of its emphasis on dignity, attentiveness, moral formation, and love of neighbor.
In his January Series talk on Monday, Jan. 26, Brooks named a quiet but pervasive ache in modern life: many people move through the world feeling fundamentally unseen. Even when surrounded by others, such as while they are at work, online, or in church, people often feel reduced to roles, opinions, or surface-level interactions rather than known as whole, complete, beloved persons, he said.
Brooks argued that this experience is not accidental. We live in a culture shaped by speed, distraction, and performance. As a result, many of us practice what he called “diminishing attention.” We listen quickly, categorize people unconsciously, and move on. Conversations become transactional rather than relational. Over time, this kind of attention shrinks people and erodes trust.
In contrast, Brooks encouraged listeners to use “illuminating attention.” To truly see another person is to slow down, to listen with curiosity, and to resist the urge to fix or judge. It means allowing others to reveal who they are on their own terms. Being seen in this way is not merely affirming, Brooks suggested; it is restorative. It reminds people of their dignity. It reminds people that we are all inherently built in the image of God.
For Christians, Brooks added, this vision resonates deeply with the heart of the gospel. Scripture repeatedly shows us a God who sees: a God who notices the overlooked, listens to the cry of the marginalized, and calls people by name. Jesus consistently practiced illuminating attention: stopping for people whom others ignored, asking questions instead of offering quick answers, and creating space for people to be fully themselves in the presence of God.
This practice also has important implications for church life, Brooks said. Faith communities can unintentionally mirror the broader culture’s habits of diminishing attention. We often focus on productivity, programming, or problem-solving rather than presence. Brooks’s talk invited churches to ask a deeper question: Are we becoming communities where people are not only welcomed but also truly known?
Seeing others well is not about charisma or personality. Brooks emphasized that this is a learned practice, shaped over time through humility, patience, and care. It can include listening without rushing to theological conclusions, valuing stories over sound bites, and noticing who is consistently heard and who quietly disappears into the background.
Brooks suggested that in a fractured and often lonely world, this kind of attention may be one of the most faithful gifts that we can offer each other.
