In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, Father James Grant reflects on his time living and working in communist East Germany and Hungary during the 1980s. He explores the illusion of state-provided security and the spiritual toll it took on society—highlighting how fear and dependency replaced freedom and personal responsibility. Drawing a striking parallel to modern Australia, particularly among disconnected and anxious youth, Father James warns of a creeping "psychological communism" marked by fear and comfort over courage and meaning. He offers a bold message from the Catholic faith: true security is not found in safety or control, but in a life of faith, freedom, and service to others.