Can Catholics listen to Bob Marley's music?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ag11
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

ag11

Guest
Is it ok for a Catholic to listen to Bob Marley? I don’t really listen to Reggae music, however I came across Bob Marley and heard a few songs and they sounded nice – the beats and instruments were nice to hear, and it brought back some memories of my honeymoon because my wife and I went to a resort in the Caribbean. Some questions:
  1. I heard that Bob Marley makes references to “Jah.” I feel it would be easier to listen to some of his songs if he said “God” instead of “Jah.” I don’t believe we Catholics can refer to God as “jah” is this correct?
  2. I understand he was a Rastafarian, however according to many sources online, he was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church around a year before he passed away (I posted a video link about this below). If he did convert to Christianity then that’s great, however all of his music was written/recorded prior to his conversion. So therefore are we listening to pro-Rasta / anti-Catholic music if we listen to Bob Marley?
  3. The song that I have most trouble with is “Get up, Stand Up” because I feel it is anti-Christian. Am I correct? Here is a link to the lyrics: azlyrics.com/lyrics/bobmarley/getupstandup.html
  4. Code: 
              Bob was according to many people all about peace and love, however I have read somewhere online that he didn't like the Pope. It was an interview I saw somewhere online, pretty much saying the Pope (and the Church from what I understand) is bad. This is very confusing :shrug:
Also, the following video speaks of Bob’s conversion, I thought it was VERY interesting, please check it out, especially if you forward it to the 7th minute and on it speaks of Bob’s conversion and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church:

youtube.com/watch?v=WXiPllReCBI

So is it ok for a Catholic to listen to Bob Marley songs? Yes, no…thoughts?
Thank You and God Bless
 
It’s fine. Even if he is singing to a false god, (which I don’t know for sure if he is or not. Most of his stuff is ambiguous.) just apply the lyrics to God. That’s what I do to Harrison’s “My sweet lord.” He’s singing to Krishna, but I just apply it to Jesus.

A lot of folks seem to have this idea that as Catholics we are not allowed to listen to or read anything that references or is rooted in paganism. That’s simply not true. We can appreciate what is good in pagan art while simultaneously recognizing and rejecting the bad. That’s what the Church has always done.
 
Jah Mon. So many great tunes, think I’ll crank up "Exodus"now…
 
If I had to remove all the morally questionable songs and artists from my CD collection, that would clear a lot of shelf space.
 
It seems most people here don’t have a problem with Bob Marley. Maybe I’m being scrupulous (if thats the right word for me to use) … I just want to make sure I don’t fall into sin by listening to some of his music.

I know some Rastas think we are “babylon” and that Catholics are no good…

I wonder if the Pope back then ever said anything about Bob or his music…
 
Bob Marley, poet and a prophet
Bob Marley taught me how to off it
Bob Marley walking like he talked it…
 
ag11 said:
It seems most people here don’t have a problem with Bob Marley. Maybe I’m being scrupulous (if thats the right word for me to use) … I just want to make sure I don’t fall into sin by listening to some of his music.

I know some Rastas think we are “babylon” and that Catholics are no good…

I wonder if the Pope back then ever said anything about Bob or his music…
Click to expand...
It sounds like this troubles you, so perhaps you should proceed with caution, and you may decide to avoid listening to Bob Marley’s songs or that sort of music (Rastafarian?).

I think it may be accurate to say that the songs are not inherently evil or immoral, but the sin or morality lies in our response to it. Some listeners may hear a positive message about God and love which strengthens their faith, and that is a good thing. Other listeners may have a different understanding of the lyrics, or may be reminded of the artist’s particular religious views. This does not necessarily lead them to sin but at the very least it make the songs less enjoyable, so for them it may be best not to listen.
 
Beryllos said:
It sounds like this troubles you, so perhaps you should proceed with caution, and you may decide to avoid listening to Bob Marley’s songs or that sort of music (Rastafarian?).

I think it may be accurate to say that the songs are not inherently evil or immoral, but the sin or morality lies in our response to it. Some listeners may hear a positive message about God and love which strengthens their faith, and that is a good thing. Other listeners may have a different understanding of the lyrics, or may be reminded of the artist’s particular religious views. This does not necessarily lead them to sin but at the very least it make the songs less enjoyable, so for them it may be best not to listen.
Click to expand...
I do like most of his songs such as "3 little birds," “could you be loved,” “jammin,’” and “redemption song” to name a few… It’s the song “get up stand up” that seems un-Christian to me, although maybe I’m just taking it wrong (which is possible too)

I think I will listen to Bob’s songs that I like, and like you said “with caution”

The video I posted earlier is interesting where the bishop speaks of his conversion and finally finding Jesus. I’m sure Bob’s “heart was in the right place” and that he meant well.

Thanks
 
Robyn_p said:
A lot of folks seem to have this idea that as Catholics we are not allowed to listen to or read anything that references or is rooted in paganism. That’s simply not true. We can appreciate what is good in pagan art while simultaneously recognizing and rejecting the bad. That’s what the Church has always done.
Click to expand...
Paganism maybe. But is Rastafarianism a form of paganism, or is it more an esotericesque modern religion created specifically to weaken Christianity?
 
There are definitely pros and cons here, reggae music has in a few cases been “anti-Catholic”, Bob Marley’s music I would say has NOT been ever.

Also, they may have some sort of distant tie to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church if just in more superficial aspects such as imagery.
Revelation 5:5
Click to expand...
And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Click to expand...
I think this is part of the Rastafarian religion too, that “Lion of Judah” is real big in their imagery, perhaps they see themselves as one of the lost tribes of Israel.

Still, I don’t buy into their theology, Bob Marley certainly has written a lot of songs that seem spiritual and uplifting if not Gospel.
 
ag11 said:
I do like most of his songs such as "3 little birds," “could you be loved,” “jammin,’” and “redemption song” to name a few… It’s the song “get up stand up” that seems un-Christian to me, although maybe I’m just taking it wrong (which is possible too)

I think I will listen to Bob’s songs that I like, and like you said “with caution”

The video I posted earlier is interesting where the bishop speaks of his conversion and finally finding Jesus. I’m sure Bob’s “heart was in the right place” and that he meant well.

Thanks
Click to expand...
And Get Up Stand Up is a Peter Tosh/Bob Marley song.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Up,_Stand_Up

And then, Marley wrote the “I shot the sherrif” but it sounds like around the same time, he wrote a song called “Hallelujah Time”, lots of Halleluias in Reggae Music. I saw a group called Israel Vibration, so at the least, it’s not an easy situation to analyze, stars of David and so on in Reggae/Rastafarian Imagery.
 
What are some really good songs are some of the pre-Bob Marley reggae songs, BM may have sung this one himself but one can’t help but see a song like “By the Rivers of Babylon” as gospel and spiritual.
By the rivers of Babylon
There we sat down
Ye-eah, we wept
When we remembered Zion
Click to expand...
By the rivers of Babylon
There we sat down
Ye-eah, we wept
When we remembered Zion
Click to expand...
When the wicked carried us away in captivity
Required from us a song
Now, how shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a strange land
Click to expand...
Read more: Boney M. - Rivers Of Babylon Lyrics | MetroLyrics
metrolyrics.com/rivers-of-babylon-lyrics-boney-m.html
Click to expand...
And of course, the song “The Israelites” was a bit hit in the USA.
 
“Don’t worry 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”

Any song with lyrics like that surely can’t be all bad. :D:D:D
 
Lost_Wanderer said:
“Don’t worry 'bout a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.”

Any song with lyrics like that surely can’t be all bad. :D:D:D
Click to expand...
Sounds a bit like a defence of indifference to me.

The Gospel doesn say everything’s gonna be all right. it says we need to make a big effort to make sure it’s gonna be all right.
 
Path_Finder said:
What are some really good songs are some of the pre-Bob Marley reggae songs, BM may have sung this one himself but one can’t help but see a song like “By the Rivers of Babylon” as gospel and spiritual.

And of course, the song “The Israelites” was a bit hit in the USA.
Click to expand...
I thought “By the Rivers of Babylon” was an old spiritual? I remember Don McLean did a version of the same song on his “American Pie” LP.
 
Arizona_Mike said:
I thought “By the Rivers of Babylon” was an old spiritual? I remember Don McLean did a version of the same song on his “American Pie” LP.
Click to expand...
I thought it was an old spiritual too, just because wikipedia says this does not mean there might not have been an earlier version but:
“Rivers of Babylon” is a rastafarian song written and recorded by Brent Dowe and Trevor McNaughton of the Jamaican reggae group The Melodians in 1970. The lyrics are adapted from the texts of Psalms 19 and 137 in the Bible. The Melodians’ original versions of the song appeared in the soundtrack album of the 1972 movie The Harder They Come, making it internationally known.
Click to expand...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Babylon

And it also reads:
A somewhat different, but still recognisable as the same song, version appeared on Don McLean’s 1972 LP American Pie, titled just ‘Babylon’.
Click to expand...
But the way it sounds, I would assume it was a “traditional” spiritual song. Great song.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top