Entertainment Industry and Spiritual Emptiness

"People who criticize the entertainment industry have TVs at home,

People who condemn the consumer society have «Visa» cards.”

(Frederic Beigbeder, "99 Francs").

A famous Christian philosopher and theologian of the IV century Gregory of Nyssa in response to the sad realities of his time said that human life loves body pleasures and through feelings subjugates soul to them. The holy man emphasized mass "disease" that struck his contemporaries: "And who is so gifted, so sublime, so witty, to be able to avoid all impurity of vice?" It has taken more than a thousand years since then, but these words are still topical today. The desire for pleasure, which determines the nature of the existence of a modern man, is aimed at how to make life "bright", "rich" and "beautiful".

And the entertainment industry contributes to that a lot. It promises to realize all our dreams, supporting promises with eloquent pictures of "happy" families and "healthy" young people – beautiful girls and successful boys - smiling at us from billboards. Novelty of the experience, a kaleidoscope of impressions and good mood are "guaranteed"! And it "works" because we strongly believe that pleasures are an essential component of "full" life as they create a feeling of life fullness and "reality." In their turn, entertainment makers ride successfully on the psychology of crowds: "Bread and circuses!" - it seems that this philosophy prevails in ancient Rome, one of the most depraved empires for the time of human existence.

The range of entertainment offered by the relevant industry impresses us with its creative diversity: amusement parks, rides, 4D cinemas, nightclubs, gambling houses, casinos, to name but a few of modern commercial entertainments. They are customized to meet public needs (emphasized by advertising) and make it possible for everyone to spend time in comfort: you may have fun with your family, or friends, or alone. Many of entertainments are complex - aimed at meeting various human needs simultaneously. In modern multiplexes and bowling clubs there is always some strong drinks and favorite food on the menu, and, perhaps, even a clown-animator, who organizes leisure activities for every taste.

It doesn’t matter what kind of entertainment it will be: the main thing is the regime of "non-stop", in which a person switches off his mind and simply draws pleasure from the outside world. The whole entertainment industry aims to replenish "energy reserves" of an individual, because it allows you to feel "happy." Not surprisingly, one tries hard to live “today” to the full, without thinking of tomorrow. A holiday state turns into a lifestyle: inwardly "relaxed", "positive" mindless ... But the worst thing is when entertainment becomes not just a way of life – it substitutes its meaning. This happens when the place, initially reserved for God, is empty. This spiritual void has to be filled somehow.

Since the man decided he could do WITHOUT God, he has begun to steadily slide into the abyss of Nietzsche's "Nothing", the world doomed to lose values - both divine and human, - said a non-Christian philosopher of the twentieth century Gilles Deleuze. He saw the consequences of nihilism (denial of any meaning and values) in this trend, which led to the emergence of such feelings in worldview philosophy as discontent, terrible sadness, anxiety, guilt, resulted in active self-destruction of a man. Having such a negative disposition while encountering “Nothing”, a man is forced to suppress it with his flight into the abyss of earthly entertainments, which began to fill life-without-God with some "meaning." But instead of neutralizing a spiritual vacuum, this “substitution” produces an abyss, which ultimately absorbs a person. Reverend Neil of Sora also pointed it out: "earthly entertainments only drown sorrow, not destroy it" - once they disappear, sorrow reappears more acute.

Of course, this does not feel right away, especially when life around is raging with all colours of summer. However, in case of a problem looming on the horizon, inner balance will certainly be disturbed. Entertainments that cultivate values ​​that have a "shelf life" and quietly make people indifferent (the concept of "love for a neighbour", "sacrifice", "charity" are simply "inappropriate"), fail to help. If a person lives a spiritual life, in times of trial, it works as a "safety cushion" - at least, one manages to maintain balance. Despite this, there are those who consider nothing wrong in entertainment. It’s really so provided you do not merge with the crowd and can always remain a human being with a SOUL.

Particularly urgent has become a problem with urban night entertainment- clubbing and parties, which increased in the summer. Loud music, which deafens thought, light effects, which "distort" reality, exacerbation of feelings, usually heated by alcohol or ecstasy, gender looseness and collective euphoria – all that enables you to feel "alive" and gives emotions, which the majority of today can no longer obtain from simple things. Such leisure develops fear of silence and causes discomfort at the slightest attempt to retreat. If a Christian gets in this environment, one such a "party" knocks one out of spiritual life for long.

Undoubtedly, leisure with friends at a nightclub and a family trip to the "Aqua Park" are completely different things. But it goes about something else: unwillingness to live life "seriously". Festivals, sessions, master classes, theme parties, "house parties" are growing in number, as well as unhappy bored people who visit them. Reflection or contemplative life emphasized by holy men, are now out of demand. Once a genius Blaise Pascal said that it was fun that prevented people to understand themselves and start looking for effective means to overcome boredom. But instead, we choose a lighter and seemingly more effective way – to "escape", to "relax", ignoring the fact that such a "therapy" has a temporary effect and causes addiction. A person cannot feel ok without entertainment: he/she is absorbed by dissatisfaction, depression, and despair. To get rid of them one requires an increasing "dose".

One should feel concerned with an increased desire for entertainment - it's the first sign that something is wrong with the spiritual life of a person. As a man who lives sensibly, seeks internal discipline and concentration, which are impossible to obtain when one is absorbed by the delights of the "big world". A prayer is also impossible in such a state. St. Macarius the Great, who all his life kept under control what could damage his spiritual disposition, taught that prayer is provided by "big silence" and peace of mind, and therefore insisted on the need to focus on thoughts. This is harder than it seems at first sight, but "Kingdom of Heaven is taken by force" (Matt. 11:12). You can arbitrarily treat it, but this fact is true: it’s impossible to be there, living in an easy, "fine" and joyful way.

Entertainment activity of the present day Ukraine brings additional sadness. Under conditions of blood shed, hatred and discord, we mindlessly keep burning our lives. When prayer should enhance or, at least, we should minimize everything connected with excessive joy, we prefer to live in the format, which we used to. Of course, entertainment cuts off the reality to which we do not want to insert ourselves, but it doesn’t become less terrible. Moreover, we are addicted to pleasures more than we think: even if not directly entertained we are attached to them through monitors, gossip in small talks or wrong judgments of the Other.

Entertainment is a "spiritual" state of the whole society, a virus that affected all of us. And the only "vaccine" that can neutralize its effect is Christ.

We are anticipating the reaction of those who blame Orthodoxy of excessive "asceticism", gloominess and social "backwardness": no one obliges you to give up all that fun and "fade" life. The point is that entertainment must not replace what makes life meaningful, must not push people to sin and disturb their mind about God. A disciple of St. Silvanus of Athonite, a founder of one of the monasteries of England (Essex), Archimandrite Sophronius believed that without Christ life lacks taste - it is sad and hopeless. Those who call themselves Christians should be guided by these words. Those who feel spiritual emptiness and unsuccessfully tries to fill it by products of modern entertainment industry should understand it.

As the "scriptures" of St. John Cassian Roman goes: not an escape but struggle can overcome sorrow. It includes prayer, abstinence from idle talk, ENTERTAINMENTS and understanding of the futility of earthly pleasures compared with heavenly blessings the Lord has prepared for us in His Kingdom. ... Not particularly attractive (especially when you are in your teens) and somehow not quite comforting (even if you twice as much), but certainly EFFECTIVE. It is proved by spiritual experience of not only referred saints, but also ordinary lay people who manage to sort out value priorities. What will your experience be like thoroughly depends on you.

Read also