Facing Death with Stephen Jenkinson: Wisdom Gym

In this episode of the Wisdom Gym, we're joined by Stephen Jenkinson, best known as one of the world's leading commentators on our cultural attitudes to death. The author of 'Die Wise' and 'The Case for Elderhood in Times of Trouble', Jenkinson is also a musician, cultural activist and co-founder of a training school called Orphan Wisdom.
With a live audience of Rebel Wisdom members, he explored what it means to live in a death-phobic culture, how the pandemic has affected our attitudes to dying, and just how fundamental these attitudes are to our perception.
Learn more about Stephen's work on orphanwisdom.com/
Attend Wisdom Gym events like this by becoming a Rebel Wisdom member. Check out what we have coming up on
www.rebelwisdom.co.uk/campfir...

[@vivianlinden3217]

Omg! Only 15 minutes in and I’ve screeched aloud in delighted shock at Stephen Jenkinson’s audacious wisdom! The “Plague has become a Lifestyle Choice”! Omg! More Jenkinson!

[@ashgary4847]

May the Bard be heard, May the Skold continue "to hold our feet to the collective fire when everything inside us is inclined to miss the opportunities for radicalized learning as inconvenient or poorly timed..." Thank you for these conversations.

[@Tohlemiach]

I don't know why, but this guy feels like Robin Williams playing a character, and that makes everything he says just that much more meaningful. That aside, genuinely the most captivating exposition of ideas I've absorbed all year.

[@jeanne553]

He reminds me of Robin Williams too.

[@nateTheNomad23]

Lmao yes

[@Micscience]

I thought the same thing when I first watched him but yea this guy goes deep and you really have to pay attention to understand him.

[@jesse3105]

If anyone could and would fake his death, it's him.

[@lauries608]

He looks eerily exactly like him.

[@ConorSantry]

Perfect timing. Just in the door and about to cook dinner. Will thoroughly enjoy a good chat about facing death while doing so 😄

[@fimanu]

Same!! Did all the food prep and cooking while listening to this lovely geezer

[@NickHewlettTHATCHIT]

"You shall die in the manner of your living" Brilliant Phrase🙏🙏💃🐬🤺

[@Kiwiwanderer]

He’s brilliant.

[@lcarthel]

This is fantastic

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

profound 👋🏼

[@jesse3105]

Very interesting man!

[@Rotek10000]

I understand his criticism, but i am not sure what are his solutions.

[@T-aka-T]

Such an interesting insight - dislocation as a source of the US focus on patriotism, which is seen as the great virtue of a nation of "free radicals".

[@Anilah]

❤️❤️❤️

[@richardjohnson9534]

Great conversation. You die as you live. I could not agree more. Personally I am aiming to die peacefully. So I do my best to live peacefully as well. By not taking myself too seriously. Instead focusing that energy on living life more systematically. Which for me means more deeply and logically. I always enjoy Alex’s interviews as he tends to laugh more frequently than his co-host. I think this “plague” is far from over. As they say. Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. I reread The Plague when we first learned of the virus. And saw many others were reading it as well. Camus has a great way of putting pandemics into perspective. The pain of separation is a term I believe he used to describe our separation from our loved ones. So apt for the times we live in. We may yet learn how to die well and the uncertainty life throws at you no matter what age you are.

[@Neuronerd314]

Thank you for the wonder bread 🍞❤️

[@TheDionysianFields]

This feels like a lot of semantic trickery. I recommend the movie The Fountain (Daron Aronofsky) as a resource for altering your perceptions about death. It's brilliant.

[@mrdavemo]

"There's no such thing as sort of wise, it's tantamount to sort of pregnant," he says. What nonsense. He prefers playing with words to speaking plainly about an important topic, in my view.

[@lauries608]

He looks exactly like Robin Williams...

[@Eyes_Unclouded]

I often thought he sounded a little like him 💕

[@BettinaAscaino]

Wow what a name! Lol not sure I want to but I must watch 🤓😊

[@nicholasmesa3588]

Haha. That's what I've been saying! We are about to See our own version of the Roaring 20's . . . I'm calling the "Rawring 20's" 🤣

[@Micscience]

Pardon me for my ignorance but by referring to the roaring 20's are saying that there will be a dramatic change in our society? One that is a picture of more people complying? If not I would like your take on what you mean if you don't mind.

[@nicholasmesa3588]

@@Micscience No need to feel Ignorant, you cannot know what thoughts I possess. I appreciate your curiosity. In my pondering, I have recognized quite a few similarities to around this time 100 years ago. In some ways very obvious, in others much more subtle. In a more obvious sense we have - Industrial/Technical Revolution - Flu/Covid Reflection - Increase in Economic Fluctuation - Increase in Stock Interest and Speculation - Increased Interest in Identity[becoming someone] This is an excerpt from the intro to a History Channel article about the Market Crash: "During the 1920s, the U.S. stock market underwent rapid expansion, reaching its peak in August 1929 after a period of wild speculation during the roaring twenties. By then, production had already declined and unemployment had risen, leaving stocks in great excess of their real value. Among the other causes of the stock market crash of 1929 were low wages, the proliferation of debt, a struggling agricultural sector and an excess of large bank loans that could not be liquidated." To me, this sounds eerily similar to what we are seeing today on many fronts. I do expect a Cultural Shift of sorts. Which I honestly Believe has been underway since the introduction of Computers into everyday Society. Perhaps we are Simply witnessing our Species surpassing itself through this Cultural Revolution.

[@Syntaxstic]

This was hard to follow

[@Louiseskybunker]

Oh, I thought it was unending mining industry and that last vile wave -of "boyscouts " - all violations on land, places of Learning and innocent children...

[@Neuronerd314]

Secret- Se crea (create self) .. building in and out. Making nothing everything, and nobody someone 🕳️ HALLOW Be ThYNaME.. ❤️🕳️ holE🐢💭🦌

[@mellonglass]

“I know how it feels” state propaganda in patriarchal empathy.

[@annebarr9314]

I am Irish. We did death well but this politicised plague has destroyed that.

[@sammavitae114]

The Irish certainly did. I am just finishing Kevin Toolis’ book My Father’s Wake (or How the Irish can teach us to live and die). Excellent book.

[@annal2740]

I can't decide whether this guy is talking completely bollocks or not.

[@keithmartin6815]

One thing that may not be understood. 26 And the last enemy, death, is to be brought to nothing. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The Bible dose not refer to death as something beneficial for mankind. But it was imposed on Adam and eve as punishment. A return to gods rule would see this enemy done away with.

[@davidj4662]

Keep dreaming.

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

LoL 😄😂🤣

[@timme5150]

Well the word “last” is the operative word. Indicating a beginning and end. Which end are we talking about? You might be extracting a meaning behind this particular verse that may be outside of its intent

[@keithmartin6815]

The promise made to one's who survive . Armageddon

[@vlnow]

Plague? This guy has done too much mushrooms

[@TheListener01]

With the mass hysteria seen on the news stations and they way people are reacting as if they will die by going outside in the sun when nobody is around. Kind of on point IMO.

[@mellonglass]

a plague is spread by people who are ambivalent and unconscious of behaviours in lifestyles.

[@Agent_KD6-3.7]

I smell weed.

[@Shortana]

😂