Buying Non-Christian Music?

[Chesapeake]

I happen to find the sound of a cappella religious music very beautiful. So, along with the expected Gregorian Chant, I am looking into purchasing copies of various chants from other religious groups, things like the Islamic Adhan or Buddhist chants.

Since these songs espouse an incorrect theology, is it moral to support these organization by purchasing their music if I like it’s beauty? Would it be harmful to listen to such music?

Is this a completely ridiculous question?

 

[Bennie_P]

I happen to find the sound of a cappella religious music very beautiful. So, along with the expected Gregorian Chant, I am looking into purchasing copies of various chants from other religious groups, things like the Islamic Adhan or Buddhist chants.

Since these songs espouse an incorrect theology, is it moral to support these organization by purchasing their music if I like it’s beauty? Would it be harmful to listen to such music?

Is this a completely ridiculous question?

Religious chanting is prayer, so if one is chanting/ praying to another god, Shouldn’t one be worried for their soul? And supporting the spread of another Gospel, then is not one helping others to lead a false path? It is Christian charity to feed, clothe etc. others of different faith, but to help spread or support a different faith messages is not in good faith or a Christian example. IMHO

 

[Holly3278]

Personally, I would never buy non-Christian religious music. Non-Christian secular music, on the other hand, is ok I suppose if the lyrics do not go against Catholicism or Christianity in general. I personally stick only with Christian music though. That said, I think this would be a good question to ask your confessor.

 

[Feste_1242]

An interesting question. It’s definitely not immoral to enjoy the sound. However, by purchasing the cd you are financially supporting it… It’s a tough call. Also, if you sing along to the words of praise to a different God, that’s a problem. To be honest, I’m not really sure what the answer is here; it requires a lot of deep analysis. I recommend asking a Church authority. Sorry I couldn’t be more help…

 

[KennethD]

While I don’t know about the morality of listening to Buddhist or Muslim musics, I advise you look into the Byzantine Christian chant of places like Russia, Greece, and the middle east. Chant in Arabic and Greek can be extremely moving and you do not have to worry about it praising the wrong deity.

 

[sanctamaria17]

If you’re appreciating beauty, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

I’m not a Muslim, nor do I espouse Muslim beliefs but I love hearing the Muslim call to prayer (our Catholic chaplaincy areas are next to the Muslim prayer room at my school). It’s beautiful. I’ve come to miss it this summer while I was home…

As for financial support, I think my tax dollars support worse things than I do when I purchase music.

 

[Starchild]

personally, I do not own any Christian CD’s, but in all fairness, if you aren’t praying to the Gods (to which any religion in my opinion is alright save those who believe in condemning innocent or in war/ect…) then there can’t be anything wrong with listening to it. After all Bhuddists meditate, but are we not also meditating when we say the rosary? There are many similarities between the religions so really, it’s all up to you. But as far as I know there’s not law stating “Thou shall not listen to music from other religions” There’s the line about no other Gods, but you aren’t worshipping the other Gods now are you? So there’s no rule against it. If God’s teaching is to accept everyone, love one another, yadda-yadda, where’s the clause then that says “all except those not in our religions or who are different, or prefer this type of clothing, or music…” there is none! What mankind has insisted God’s wrath will condemn them to hell is getting ridicualous. Not meaning to offend, but God doesn’t seem to be the type that’s gonna banish you to Hell for every little thing. I doubt he would have sent his son down to die for us had he planned to sending us all to hell anyways. Honestly, point the passage that says we can’t listen to music that doesn’t talk about God, point the passage that says jeans are a sin, point the passage that states make-up/ect is a sin, that guitars and other instruments outside the organ to play church music are sins… mankind is making rules up as they go to keep us all living in fear and viewing things the way they want us to. God gave you free will to make your own decisions, use it. You know the TEN commandment (not the added milion after it) Follow them, God would have imposed more had he wanted more.

 

[grace_singh]

i wouldn’t buy it or listen to it… much of world religious music is truly beautiful, but we should remember that these songs glorify gods, demons, spirits, and values which are in no way Christian, or Godly.

Paul writes :

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16-17)

the spiritual music we listen to and remember ought to glorify God, and Christ. many of these chants and songs are meant to help the listener focus on or visualize the gods invoked or praised, and to eventually initiate “contact” with these gods, or “union” with them, something no believer should want or seek out.

**No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20)

They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered Him with their detestable idols. They sacrificed to demons, which are not God- gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear. You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. (Deuteronomy 32:16-18)
**

Islamic music, Buddhist chants, they are often really beautiful and stirring, but that does not mean they are good for us as a believers. beauty comes in many forms, but if that beauty does not honor God we should avoid it.

 

[Tyuiop411]

I happen to find the sound of a cappella religious music very beautiful. So, along with the expected Gregorian Chant, I am looking into purchasing copies of various chants from other religious groups, things like the Islamic Adhan or Buddhist chants.

Since these songs espouse an incorrect theology, is it moral to support these organization by purchasing their music if I like it’s beauty? Would it be harmful to listen to such music?

Is this a completely ridiculous question?

I personally would not support other religious groups by purchasing their religious music. Secular music on the other hand is different, the majority of my music is secular in origin, except of course for Gregorian Chant. But to cut to the chase no i do not think it is prudent to purchase music from non-Christian religious groups.