Wagner was considered the German ideal by the Nazi elite because he was Hitler’s favorite composer. The operas were cited as supporting the eugenic supposition of the superiority of the Gemanic Aryan peoples.
St Francis said to accept Catholicism and throw everything else away?
I have no issue with Christian rock and metal, provided an individual band’s theology is sound and their treatment of all Christian subjects is properly respectful. Many people have been led to the Lord via Christian rock or have had their faith sustained through it; I still enjoy some Christian rock bands today, as well as many secular bands, such as my beloved Iron Maiden
Putting “secular” and “mundane” in the same sentence is rather condescending. Just because something can be played in church does not make it something better. Classical music “aptly captures” human emotion? I beg to differ. Hearing Rossini’s ever so “classic” William Tell Overture makes me think of all the times I had to jump out of bed after waking up late.
Linkin Park’s Faint on the other hand… breathes deep Oh yeah… now that’s the kinda music I wanna hear while fighting… and owning. 
Actually, being fit for the liturgy does make a form of music objectively “better”, because it logically follows that whatever glorifies God the most is best.Putting “secular” and “mundane” in the same sentence is rather condescending. Just because something can be played in church does not make it something better. Classical music “aptly captures” human emotion? I beg to differ. Hearing Rossini’s ever so “classic” William Tell Overture makes me think of all the times I had to jump out of bed after waking up late.
No. It just means its for church. Anything can glorify God and they’re not necessarily limited to anything inside a chapel.
I wouldn’t be if I hadn’t already put up with the “spiritual” types looking down on what’s “worldly” for the umpteenth time. Furthermore, the Bible doesn’t seem to use the word in a flattering manner. The same is with the dictionary for its entry on “mundane”.
Have you read Musicae Sacrae by Pius XII? It’s an encyclical on music and art, and not just limited to music and art used in the liturgy.
*43. This chant, because of the close adaptation of the melody to the sacred text, is not only most intimately conformed to the words, but also in a way interprets their force and efficacy and brings delight to the minds of the hearers. It does this by the use of musical modes that are simple and plain, but which are still composed with such sublime and holy art that they move everyone to sincere admiration and constitute an almost inexhaustible source from which musicians and composers draw new melodies.* *57. These laws warn that great prudence and care should be used in this serious matter in order to keep out of churches polyphonic music which, because of its heavy and bombastic style, might obscure the sacred words of the liturgy by a kind of exaggeration, interfere with the conduct of the liturgical service or, finally, lower the skill and competence of the singers to the disadvantage of sacred worship.*That which is worldly is always described as inferior to that which is spiritual in Scripture and in Church tradition. Furthermore, interpretation of the Scriptures is not the business of the laity but of the Pope and the Magisterium in union with him.
“Growling” as a form of vocals is only used in some sub-genres of metal, and not even that many of them. Let us not rely on the stereotype to condemn a whole genre.
Even assuming what you are saying is true (Wikipedia is not reliable, a point well-made at youtube.com/watch?v=kFBDn5PiL00
), when things start from a “bad” place, fortunately Christianity can take it and turn it into a good thing (Christianity has a rich history of doing that). Many Christian bands exists in the metal sub-genres that use growling and they have brought many people to Christ. And most importantly, they are reaching people that would never, ever be reached by “establishment” Christianity. None of it is all bad, and none of it is all good. That’s true of almost all musical genres.Yes, but Christianity turned pagan (and not anti-Christian) things to good things.
It is?? I would never be able to tell since I am unable (perhaps thankfully) to understand a single thing that is being said here.
Well, here are the lyrics; decide for yourself. They weren’t all accurate so I corrected then where I could remember the right ones. Keep in mind that the band defines their name, Deicide, as the death of God and all that is holy, and the lead singer, Glen Benton, branded an upside down cross on his forehead.
Hopefully, everyone recognizes these guys aren’t the norm!
Yeah, it’s pretty much junk and with so much other incredible music out there to enjoy, not sure why someone would want this childish junk. Just my opinion though.
Someone said, that Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries have the same beat like rock music.
What strange logic. Wagner was indeed an antisemite and non-Christian, but that doesn’t mean any instrumental music he writes is evil. Perhaps the lyrics, but that’s a different story.
The only thing I read in the passages you cited are fanciful repeats of Euro-centric assertions already made that have yet to be proven in this thread.
Says the guy whose facts are nothing more than his opinion that Church music is “better” as a piece of music. When it comes to the arts, there are no “objective truths”. Standards for good music (regardless of era) are nothing more than popular opinions put on a pedestal and rationalized. Unlike you though, I’m not putting one over the other.
I was heavy into death metal in high school and no, Deicide wasn’t really the norm at all; they were on another level. This was the only thing I ever heard that actually scared me. They make Slayer look like Mormon boy scouts.Hopefully, everyone recognizes these guys aren’t the norm!
That said, I would say they aren’t entirely serious in the way most people initially think. Looking at some of the quotes from the band on Wikipedia, it seems that they don’t believe in God or Satan and thus they employ the shock of over-the-top blasphemy as their way of revealing the “silliness” of religion.
Not that such a reason is necessarily better nor is it a justifiable reason to employ such language (IMHO), but it would be inaccurate to put them forth as actual believing Satan-worshippers.
I agree it makes bands like Iron Maiden seem tame by comparison. This is the type of metal that I am not at all comfortable listening to. Even if they are simply saying such things for shock value, I just can’t listen to it.