For the not-so-religious: would you stop listening to an artist if you discovered they were not secular?

Question

And vice-versa - if you prefer music with religious themes, would you stop listening to an artist that you found out was secular?

This question is occasionally asked in the R&S section, and I was curious to get the perspective from over here.

lovnrckets - P.O.D. and Flyleaf are two bands I had in mind, though the question about Creed a little while ago lit the fire under me to post this.

bettie!!! I dig the photo! :)

LabGrrl! :)

the Neutral Christ - *giggle*

Hmmm...looks like there are people on both sides of this... :)

Answer 1

If it's good by musical standards, what does it matter?

Answer 2

Mu

It depends on a case by case. In most cases I am on a "don't ask, don't tell" relationship with the artist. Mostly I enjoy the sentiment/emotion and spirit of a song whether or not I directly sympathize with them.

Example: I listen to a lot of musicals and some light opera. I have never died of consumption but I have felt loss.

If they sing clear preachy or political lyrics right into my ears, I do not think I could enjoy the music no matter how good.

I, also, have music traditions that are more like games:
I do not eat meat while listening to Howard Jones.
I laugh out loud when a Doors song plays on a conservative "oldies" station (my god some of those themes!).
I thrash my hair to "Bohemian Rhapsody".
I love Chants and Chorals (especially by the Mediaevil Baebes!). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediaeval_Baebes

Answer 3

The only non-secular band I ever cared for was considered too secular for the Christian Right.

Hmm. I think Sixpence None the Richer's self titled album should be on any decent top 100 albums of all time by artistry list.... I can happily say their name in the same breath as Pink Floyd or The Beatles.

"And the battle will never end well.
You can't marry our heaven to your hell.
We, Prolific, and you, the Devourer, need to see
Some things are sacred, baby.
Why have you gone and trampled them lately?
I guess it's just all a part of your way.
You should be ashamed.
I'm getting tired of fighting.
I guess I should ask, "Do I go quietly down?
Do I kick, do I scream when I'm bound?
Are you coming to open the door? Are you near?
Are you near? Is it far?"
Here we are in the waiting room of the world.
We will wait until you call our name out loud,
In the waiting room of the world.
We will wait until you call our name out loud. "

But all the so-called Christian Rock bands seem to be neither.

Answer 4

Wow, that's a tough call. I know for a fact there are a couple of bands I like right now like P.O.D. and Flyleaf, although I wouldn't call either a top-50 favorite. It hard to tell exactly what these bands are because everyone automatically calls both "Christian rock." They don't seem overly religious in their music, but it is well known that both are devout. Still, as far as their music is concerned, they aren't clubbing me over the head with it, so I'm OK.

Also, I kind of liked that one hit wonder Jars of Clay, who had the song Flood. Of course the band was very holy, but the message in the song didn't necessarily have to be interpreted as one of faith but perhaps of human strength.

Bettie got a new avatar for the R & P, looking good. :-)

Creed would be horrible with or without religion, but the fact that Stapp is a giant throbbing hypocrite makes them all the more disgusting.

Answer 5

I Have Read most of the Stuff before I made my answer. And I agree with a lot of them. Me Myself. I am a Christian. In the Loosest sense of the word. I do listen to Flyleaf and Evanescence and POD. But I also Listen to stuff like (GASP) Godsmack and Disturbed. It really just depends on the Message of the Song to me. It is all in the Way you Interpret things. I just don't think Religion or Atheism or Anarchy should have anything to do with what I can or can't listen too.

Answer 6

Funny, one of my all time favorite albums (Vaughn - Sailors and Soldiers on Riverside) was classified as "new gospel" by amg.com.
That album is about as far from gospel as you can get, but on certain songs, if you don't know what they were written about, I can definitely see where an uneducated listener would think that they were written with a higher power in mind.
When I brought this up to Danny (Vaughn), he bursted out in laughter saying, "They shoulda seen how much I drank when I was writing that thing... I was praying all right... to the Jack Daniels bottle!"

Um........ okay, so I didn't answer your question.

I'd like to think that it doesn't bother me, but I was disappointed when listening to a Ken Tamplin album (had heard some samples and figured what the hell) to find that 99% of the songs on the album were of a religious nature. The album was okay, but the lyrical content really kept me from listening to it more than normal. I no longer own that disc.

Answer 7

Not necessarily, but I'd certainly lose a lot of respect for them (e.g Evanescence, Bat For Lashes, Lisa Gerrard).
In the past I've listened to music that everyone knows is religious - but gone off it when the artist turned out to be a Christian extremist (Current 93)

Answer 8

I listen to music that I can relate to (as well as for talent and an escape, but those are irrelevant) so if the music is intended for a religious audience I am turned off by it. But occasionally if a song can represent alternate things based on perception, like for example "All Around Me" by Flyleaf or "Miss Murder" by AFI, then I do not mind them. As long as I can relate to a message behind the words, then I don't care.

But then again, I really like the song "A'soalin'" by Peter Paul & Mary, and that is clearly about religion. "1 for Peter, 2 for Paul, 3 for him who made us all." I think I just like the way it sounds though, it's very hokey.

Answer 9

No, if the music is passionate and interesting, I'd listen anyway. I also sometimes listen to some music with completely asinine lyrics, but the band is awesome. Same difference.

Answer 10

First you have to ask yourself, why do you listen to music? Are you listening to the words as a form of inspiration or are you listening to appreciate the talent of the performer? If the words offend you in one type of music I would imagine one would stop listening to that type of music. Whereas if the words and music make you feel good then why not listen. Music is music to those who appreciate it. To those who look for faults in the world, it could be a great hindrance to the pursuit of happiness in one's life.

Answer 11

I hate to say it but I have been known to do that. For instance, with Flyleaf I bought their cd before I realized they were christian. I am not a devil worshiper or anything it just turned me off a little bit. I still listen to the CD I guess I just think of them differently.