PART V - THE MAJOR ISSUES

Entertainment

Entertainment is one of the main influencers in modern society (see Part II). What you and your spouse choose, and how you both use entertainment, can have enormous repercussions in your marriage.

Finding good, wholesome entertainment that enhances one’s values can be uplifting and relaxing, and can add spice to life. When entertainment makes us feel good about ourselves and the human condition, we tend to have a more optimistic outlook and treat each other better.

However, much of what is called entertainment today is unhealthy for adults as well as children.  We are constantly bombarded with movies, TV programs, plays, and music that glorify premarital and extramarital sex, lying, violence, greed, vulgarity, crime, and materialism. Many also ridicule religion, family, and traditional values.

These “products” come from entertainment company executives, writers, actors, and musicians who are continually pushing the limits, looking to make more money, increase their own notoriety and fame, and, frequently, advance agendas for social change to justify their own decadent behavior.

A good analogy to the use of entertainment is what we select to put in our mouths. Even though it tastes good, most people know that a habit of eating junk food weakens the body and makes it less able to resist disease and deal with the physical demands of life.  Also, most people know that poison, even in small doses, can make you very sick and even kill you.  Much of the entertainment we get today is to the mind like junk food is to the body, and some of it, pornography for example, is like poison.

Not too long ago, divorce was rare.  Society had higher standards. Character was celebrated, and bad behavior caused shame.  Today, thanks in large part to entertainment, the virtuous look foolish.  But the consequences to individuals and society have been enormous with rampant pain, depression, and confusion.

Because there is so much of it, it may not be easy to avoid harmful entertainment. However, if you and your spouse try, you can avoid  the dissatisfaction with your marriage that may result from the unrealistic and improper expectations that harmful entertainment promotes.