Real Entertainment

I felt the planet tip tonight. No, that earthquake they keep talking about did not occur. Instead I had a clear mental picture of a bygone era. There used to be, believe it or not, a time before TV. Radio has not always existed either. There was a time in America where people had to actually talk to one another for entertainment rather than just soak up the next episode of CSI.

I had the distinct pleasure tonight of watching a debate between intellectuals. The impetus of this debate (and I will use that term loosely since it resembled concurrent lectures more than a true debate) grew out of the misinformation placed into the public consciousness by the Dan Brown novel, The Da Vinci Code.

Bart Ehrman of UNC-CH’s religion department and Dr. Richard Hays of Duke Divinity School debated the historical Jesus, the evils of the Church, and selection of the cannon of the New Testament. Both men exhibited passion and knowledge of the subject matter. I was actually surprised at how similar their stances were considering Ehrman’s confessed agnosticism in contrast with Hays’ orthodox beliefs.

Even though I was uncomfortably situated on the floor of the dais, I did not want the evening to end. There was intellectual conversation, witty repartee, laughter, all pure entertainment.

I invite you to turn off you television and engage someone in a discussion. Read a book with a friend. Dissect that poem you have always liked. Take a stand. Have a conversation. Be witty! Be clever! Be intellectual! Turn off your TV and exercise you mind and your voice!

Peace out,
Mary