Secular music, where does one draw the line when it comes to kids?

Question

I'm a convinced Atheist from Amsterdam, and the whole concept is alien to me. Objectionable lyrics I obviously understand , downright bad music also. That the lifestyles and actions of some
publicity hungry talentless 'stars' pre - occupy your children at the cost of valuable topics I'd still understand.
But where does censuring start ?, does it directly pertain to
religion and it's values, how about innocent songs about nature, or instrumental music. Where does the evil start ?.
And if applied very strictly isn't there the danger of sheltering your children from mainstream youth culture, can they ever adapt once they mingle in the world out there.
Won't they be socially handicapped if they eventually leave, and have to enter a secular society, can they relate to others.
Don't they rebel ?!, I was a kid once and certainly did !!.
And I wasn't nearly under these sort of restrictions.

Answer 1

I am an Atheist too. I also work with children and have become convinced that they do copy what they see and hear in the mass media, generally not for the best. How to teach them to be "in the world, but not of the world," as the Christians say, is a thorny proposition.

Answer 2

This reminds me of something I read the other day. It was a work of 3 well known people. Sartre and Nietzsche being 2 can't remember the other guys name at the moment, but they were talking about Atheists. They jest of it was that a true atheist who tries to live by his beliefs totally, often times ends up committing suicide [ no doubt because of the uselessness and hopelessness of life} and those who live on the shadows of Atheism live in a state of ethical or aesthetic shadows all the while denying what is casting the shadow. How can you be considering a value of right and wrong, where do you think that comes from, certainly not man, because at heart we are all evil and self serving. None of us would be capable of setting that kind of standard.

Answer 3

It's a tough question. I certainly don't feel that censorship works. It only magnifies what you're trying to censor. The oldest lesson in the "Bible" (I'm an atheist as well) is that when you place something off-limits, even if it's perfectly commonplace and uninteresting in itself, it becomes an obsessional fixation.

But it's also true that kids are easily influenced. I suppose, ultimately, I think that if you've been there as a parent, and you've shown your kids how to behave by example, and you've been honest and forthright with them, neither sugar-coating the world nor trying to terrify them into submission, they'll probably be alright.

Answer 4

Music is a sequence of sound an silence. Within this sequence, there are three identifiable elements; melody, or the mind of the music, harmony, or the heart, and rhythm, the carnal aspect. As long as these three are in order--with the mind regulating heart, and the mind and heart together regulating the rhythm--then the music is healthy to listen to for long periods of time. If any of these elements is disordered, then one must take care how long one listens to the music, and how much one allows oneself to become absorbed into it. Music affects the emotions, and it affects the mind. It should be composed to nourish these things, and not to rip them apart. Thus, the despair of death metal becomes healthy only if used in juxtaposition to the ultimate triumph of intellectual melody, and well tempered heart.

Answer 5

Generally, songs that promote violence, oppression of women and minorities, and/or include "bad" words are not considered acceptable for children. You seem to agree with that. In addition, we often discourage listening to any song from an individual who does not act as a good role model. It also seems you understand that idea. As for any more strict censorship, I'd have to say those people are fundies and that is not the norm in the US. They do seem to try to keep exposure to all "bad" to a minimum for their kids, which I agree serves only to make them ill prepared to deal with it in adulthood.

Answer 6

I think education is a better alternative to censoring.

You have to realize that a child will make their own choices, no matter how much censoring you do. Every time you point out something that they are not allowed to see, they'll take note to make sure to see it later.

However, if you communicate with your child and teach it why you like or don't like various things, they'll develop an appreciation for your point of view. Then when they come across something you don't like, they probably won't like it either. They won't feel drawn to it because they were kept from it earlier.

Answer 7

when I was a kid...if music was deemed inappropriate for kids..it just made me wanna go out and buy it

kids naturally have their own tastes and probably wouldnt buy the controversial music if it wasnt so controversial

I mean i can talk like sailor..but even I was turned off by eminem(enima) when I heard his cd..this one song had the f word like 30 times..in a 3 minute period..absolutely ridiculous and boring

Answer 8

If you can't say it or play it in front of kids you should not say or play it period.