The underlying purpose of entertainment varies across societies, and at times the attitude a society takes towards its entertainment reveals its values just as much as the actual forms of entertainment do. This was certainly the case with the ancient Greeks and Romans but, as we will briefly discuss, this also holds true today.
As mentioned in the module, the Greeks aspired to represent their philosophical ideals in all aspects of life, including entertainment. However, when the Romans conquered the Greeks and began to assimilate aspects of Greek culture into Roman society, many of these ideals were cast aside. Although the Greeks were proud of their culture, they also contemplated questions about humanity as a whole. In contrast, the main focus in Roman society was pride in the emperor, the gods, and the identity of the empire itself. Deep philosophical questions were ignored by the lay public, and Greek forms of entertainment were transformed into …show more content…
Christians today find themselves in a similar position. Although real life-or-death sporting events are illegal, American society still glorifies violence through fictional television shows and gruesome images in newscasts. In addition, just as Roman theater elevated slapstick humor and coarse plotlines, most American entertainment lacks moral significance. Christian parents need to address these issues with their children. One way parents can do this is by helping children choose and evaluate entertainment in light of Biblical values. For example, the car ride home from a movie is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the morals promoted by the characters and to compare those values with Scripture. Parents should also explain the difference between entertainment that encourages godly behavior and amusement that is merely intended to relax the