Entertainment
Late 15c., “to keep up, maintain, to keep (someone) in a certain frame of mind,” from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir “hold together, stick together, support” (12c.), from entre- “among” (from Latin inter; see inter-) + tenir “to hold.”
Most entertainment is a futile attempt to hold life together between interminable bouts of misery.
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints,for the courts of the Lord;my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.3 Even the sparrow has found a home,and the swallow a nest for herself,where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;they are ever praising you.
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,whose hearts are set on pilgrimage…
8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;listen to me, God of Jacob.9 Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one. 10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he with hold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 Lord Almighty,blessed is the one who trusts in you.
So true…to use a title of a famous book, we’re amusing ourselves to death and dulling ourselves from what matters
SJ
Yes, Neil Postman’s book. You can get a free PDF of the book here.
https://libcom.org/files/Neil%20Postman%20-%20Amusing%20Ourselves%20to%20Death.pdf
Wow that is the best copy online that I’ve seen; thanks!