An interesting verse in Deuteronomy 20 highlights an interesting phenomenon sometimes nowadays called emotional contagion. It comes in a section of laws for warfare and instead of commanding men to fight in spite of whatever fears they might have, it commands the opposite.
“And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’”
It would appear that fear is contagious. Modern scientific research has only confirmed what Moses and the Israelites understood a long time ago. I’m sure plenty of political leaders over the centuries have understood it and wielded it to suit their purposes as well.
One more reason to avoid doom scrolling, I suppose.
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