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Would you guys be allowed to listen to bands that occasionally mock Christianity?

  • Thread starter Fatally Yours <3
  • Start date
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Fatally Yours <3

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I'm quite curious if you guys would be ok listening to bands/singers who criticised Christianity in some of their songs as long as you didn't listen to those particular songs?
I've just been listening to NOFX and Roy Zimmerman, and they're really good musically and actually really clever lyricists, so it seems a shame people would miss out on stuff like that if there were a few songs they didn't like.
 
Well, how would you know if those songs criticized Christianity if you didn't listen to them?

But your title asks about musicians that mock Christianity. To me there is a difference between criticism and mockery. Many Christians, in my opinion, deserve criticism. Looking back on my life, the worst things that have ever been done to me were all done by professing, church going Christians. Those despicable deeds are worthy of criticism! I guess I can't fault the secular world for criticizing us as a whole after some of what I have seen. While I might not like those particular songs, if the entire personality of the performers did not reflect this, I don't have a huge problem with it. We may not be "of the world" but we do live in it, and I don't expect Christian values from it.

But to mock God is a different thing. If a particular performer mocks God, it is much harder (more like impossible) for me to enjoy any of their music. I, as a Christian am far from perfect and I deserve a certain amount of criticism. But God does not deserve any criticism, and especially doesn't appreciate mockery. I certainly wouldn't enjoy this type of music, nor would I support the artist in any way buy purchasing CDs, concert tickets, t-shirts, or anything else they would make a profit from!
 
Fatally Yours <3 said:
I'm quite curious if you guys would be ok listening to bands/singers who criticised Christianity in some of their songs as long as you didn't listen to those particular songs?
I've just been listening to NOFX and Roy Zimmerman, and they're really good musically and actually really clever lyricists, so it seems a shame people would miss out on stuff like that if there were a few songs they didn't like.
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Who says anyone is missing out on anything?
 
There's a crushing amount fantastic contemporary Christian music that never gets play on secular stations (at least here in the U.S.) that you're likely missing out on. I don't know your style prefs, so I can't suggest any in particular, but they're out there for sure! :thumbsup
 
Why would I listen to music that mocks Christianity when I can find just as good of a band that worships God?
 
Mike said:
There's a crushing amount fantastic contemporary Christian music that never gets play on secular stations (at least here in the U.S.) that you're likely missing out on. I don't know your style prefs, so I can't suggest any in particular, but they're out there for sure! :thumbsup
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I'll listen to anything except classical, emo, jazz and scene kid music. The problem arises that I'm mainly a fan of rock/punk/indie. For me, rock is about a lifestyle of drug experimentation, drinking and having casual sex with many different partners. Christianity and rock seem really incompatible to me. (Drugs do produce the best music, I assure you. :P)
Also, I'm worried Christian bands might have subliminal messages in their songs. :bigfrown
 
Fatally Yours <3 said:
I'll listen to anything except classical, emo, jazz and scene kid music. The problem arises that I'm mainly a fan of rock/punk/indie. For me, rock is about a lifestyle of drug experimentation, drinking and having casual sex with many different partners. Christianity and rock seem really incompatible to me. (Drugs do produce the best music, I assure you. :P)
Also, I'm worried Christian bands might have subliminal messages in their songs. :bigfrown
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It seems like you have a double standard. :chin You are worried about if Christians can listen to music that mocks God (or they might be missing something) yet you are worried that Christian music will have a subliminal influence on you. You think others should be listening to music that stands in the face of their values, yet you won't listen to music that you believe may influence you.
 
PouringRain said:
It seems like you have a double standard. :chin You are worried about if Christians can listen to music that mocks God (or they might be missing something) yet you are worried that Christian music will have a subliminal influence on you. You think others should be listening to music that stands in the face of their values, yet you won't listen to music that you believe may influence you.
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I'm not saying you should be listening to it, I'm asking if you would because it's good music.
I have no problem with listening to bands who happen to be Christians. I just don't listen to obviously Christian music.
 
Fatally Yours <3 said:
I'm not saying you should be listening to it, I'm asking if you would because it's good music.
I have no problem with listening to bands who happen to be Christians. I just don't listen to obviously Christian music.
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Our definitions of good are different. :)

Rock is a name for a genre. If you want to associate drugs, sex, and rock'n'roll you can. But not everyone does.
 
Fatally Yours <3 said:
I'm not saying you should be listening to it, I'm asking if you would because it's good music.
I have no problem with listening to bands who happen to be Christians. I just don't listen to obviously Christian music.
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I do love Flyleaf. :yes

I also think that Christianity has been a very positive experience for Lacey Mosley, so I do not really have a problem with her faith. The only time I have a problem with belief is when it is used for bigoted/anti-humanist ends.
 
Gendou Ikari said:
I do love Flyleaf. :yes

I also think that Christianity has been a very positive experience for Lacey Mosley, so I do not really have a problem with her faith. The only time I have a problem with belief is when it is used for bigoted/anti-humanist ends.
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I just don't listen to Flyleaf because they aren't the sort of music I like. I know lots of non-Christians who do though, so I'm assuming they aren't preaching with their music. :yes
 
Would you listen to a band that mocks your father? I would I'd take it personally.
 
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Exactly my insinuation.

Error: I said I would'NT take it personally, but I meant to say I would.
 
If we do not allow ourselves to be affected by music then I do not think it matters whether the music is apparently anti-Christian or not; the only problems arise when we are influenced by this music that mocks Christianity.

We ought also to be careful what we class as "mocking Christianity"- if the lyrics are criticising the way in which some people follow God then this isn't necessarily bad: it could make us think about the way we follow God and whether to change our ways to better please God. Constructive criticism should almost always be welcomed. The only real problem I see is with lyrics that actually criticise God. It is simply unacceptable to agree with - or allow ourselves to be influenced by - anything that criticises or mocks God or His Word.

That said, if we know band that has one song or one line or one phrase that mocks God, it does not necessarily mean that we should not enjoy other songs from that band! In the same way that we should dislike an action rather than than the perpetrator of the action, we should dislike the blasphemy rather than the writer of the blasphemy.


If anyone disagrees with me, please tell me! I've been contemplating this idea for a long time myself and I'd be grateful for any feedback at all... I could be entirely wrong!
 
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