Is it wrong to base your personal spirituality on the works of Pink Floyd and the Beatles?

Question

I know I've asked this question before, but it's my favorite, and I like getting new views on it.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that my personal spirituality is more in line with songs such as "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Breathe" than any dogma of an organized religion.

And when you get right down to it, is there any difference between reading the words written by man in the Bible and applying them to your life, or listening to the words sung by man on Dark Side of the Moon or the White Album and doing the same?

I'm not suggesting that I have alters to these musical artists or that I pray to them for guidance, more like I listen to what they have to say and think "Yeah... I can dig that."

What do you think of this? Wrong? Right? Crazy?

In closing, I'll leave you with my favorite scene from the movie Michael.

"Remember what John and Paul said."
"The Apostles?"
"No, the Beatles. All you need is love."

Answer 1

I LOVED the movie Michael. I remember that line too.

I'm not sure I'd call being moved by lyrics "spirituality", but I know exactly what you mean. Much of my favorite music rings true for me, my life, my feelings, my perspectives, etc.

Answer 2

"All that you touch and all that you see is all your life will ever be"
I find nothing wrong with it. Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree (awsome prog band) give me more meaning then the Bible, the Quaran, the Three Baskets of Wisdom or any religious book ever gave me. I mean, I can't see or feel God, but I can hear and see Roger Waters and I can follow his words. Whenever I'm frustrated, I just put on Echoes and am completely okay again and if you can find meaning in anything, then that's great. Meaning and spiritual guidance should never be limited to what others see as appropriate.

Answer 3

Hi.
I am a devout Christian. But like you, I feel there is something quite special about the music you mentioned. Might I suggest that a nice blend of Christianity and Beatles along with a little Floyd is soothing to the (rubber) soul? Maybe I'm whacko, but when I was going through my darkest hours and on the brink of suicide during my divorce, God and the Beatles were there right by my side to keep my spirits up. The whimsical Octopus' Garden, Rocky Raccoon, Honey Pie, Bathroom Window, Mean Mr. Mustard, Maxwell's Silver Hammer along with the bluesy Yer Blues, and I Want You along with all the rest of the Beatle genius kept me going. But at the same time, I was praying and relying on my faith in God which provided a sense of self worth while everything around me pushed me emotionally to the brink of suicide. The Beatles' music helped me to "lighten up" when I lost the proper perspective.

Maybe it's like my late father always used to say:

"Everything in moderation, son. Everything in moderation."

Thanks Dad. I think you're right.

Answer 4

I think that you are crazy!!! You never mentioned shine on you crazy diamond. If you feel crazy then you are crazy.But if you feel Right your right.I personally find a connection. Remember That your spirituality is at the base of a unique individual that shares and likes to share .That is your connection.There is no difference between the two if you're speaking in terms of a path.But there could be a difference in what the pauls and johns understood at the time of writing.

Answer 5

It's great! I find this question as Shine on You crazy Diamond Part One comes on. Now: I find nothing wrong with it. All You Need is Love is a great motto for life. However, it's all in the interpretation of the song: Breathe in the Air always sounded like a drug song to me - "Breathe, breathe in the air; don't be afraid to care," sounds like someone inhaling something. While these are the philosophies of a handful of men - "Revolution" was purely Lennon, "Get Your Filthy Hands off My Desert," was Waters - so is most religion. Christianity is based around the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus, Buddhism st ems from Hinduism and the teaching of Buddha, and I could go on. However, using music as a guide to life can also be an extremely dangerous thing. I don't recommend trying to read to far into thi ngs, such as the word "Rise" being repeatedly used throughout the White Album, or anything else like that - remember Charles Manson? Yeah, precisely. Personally, though, the songs of Pink Floyd changed my life, radically. I went from being a teeny-bopper to blowing my mind on Dark Side of the Moon, and I would laugh and call myself insane because of the song "Brain Damage," I started to have socialistic thoughts because of "Money." Then I was introduced to John Lennon a few years later, the first song played for me being "Working Class Hero." Now that one hit me. It was deep lyrics, like Floyd, but unlike Pink Floyd, it was lyrics you could truly relate to. Since then, songs like "Give Peace a Chance," "All You Need is Love," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Wild Honey Pie," have become an integral part of me. Maybe not Wild Honey Pie, I enjoy that one, though. Before I go, I'll leave you with this - No one we think is in our tree, it must be high or low. Cheers!

Answer 6

Remember a day before today
A day when you were young.
Free to play alone with time
Evening never came.
Sing a song that can't be sung
Without the morning's kiss
Queen - you shall be it if you wish
Look for your king
Why can't we play today
Why can't we stay that way

Answer 7

Yeh, but I woundn't go making a religion based on what Pink Floyd or The Beatles have to say, because they are just human beings expressing their point of view, they are just as human as others.

Answer 8

Music can be very spiritual
my first spiritual path was with the music of Genesis with Peter Gabriel
wherever we find enlightenment ..... we find spirituality
it is hand in hand
and that can be found in music more than many other things

Answer 9

God's message (whatever you believe God is) is all around us. Images, words, music. Our spirits are capable of drinking it all in or deciding not to imbibe.

I have been moved to tears by many passages of verse and melody and have been thereby changed forever. I believe musical expression is man's crowning achievement to date.

Answer 10

Only if those beliefs are induced by breathing certain kinds of smoke. It's nice to see people who don't seem to have a worry in the world