S2E14 Entertainment Everywhere but Not A Thing To Watch

Maybe you’ve experienced something that frustrated Jeff recently: there’s a lot available on streaming services, but much of it no longer seems relevant. Some of it is too naive or frivolous. Other stuff is too depressing. This resonates with a question asked by one of Jeff’s history students: she had a hard time finding any motivation to read primary sources from early modern history since it seems, according to her, that we’ve not really learned from history and keep making the same sort of mistakes. Treating both of these emotional responses as related, we discuss how to curate our own entertainment and enrichment activities, especially during times when we’re restricted to home.

We discuss 4 lessons from history, when Christians responded in unhealthy ways to epidemics. We discuss 4 positive lessons from history, when Christians responded in healthy ways to epidemics. We relate 4 contemporary stories related to religious responses to the coronavirus. We end with eight suggestions about how to fill your time with healthy things.

We mention this post, where Jeff transcribes a relevant story about Native American spirituality and the Sermon on the Mount.

Jeff recommends documentaries and books about Native American history, including this documentary.

He also recommends this book about the history of capitalism and religion in the West.

Stacie shares some insights from Elizabeth Kubler Ross, from her famous book On Death and Dying.

Here’s the story about the megachurch who didn’t disclose the infection of an associate pastor, by Julie Roys.