The Devil's in the Grammys

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It seems that as Catholics we should listen only to classical music and sacred music.

Listening to contemporary music (e.g., Rock, Alternative, Country, ESPECIALLY Pop) appears to be sinful because it is mainly focused on stirring up one’s emotions. It makes no attempt to appeal to a person’s higher faculties. It’s a purely passionate endeavor.

Well, stimulating one’s emotions just for the sake of stimulation is a sinful thing to do. So, I’m tempted to say listening to modern music is a sin.

But I’m interested to see what other’s have to say about this argument. Thoughts, anyone?
 
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Not necessarily… while I hate most mainstream Evangelical Christian pop music, I have a few artists i really like… Chris Tomlin, the Rend Collective, Matt Redman, Matt Maher, to name a few
 
I think a.lot of classical and sacred music is more focused on stirring emotion than amything else. That is what music does uniquely well, and why we listen to it as opposed to, say, reading the lyrics as pure text.

Handell’s “Hallelujah Chorus” evokes strong emotions of joy and triumph. Mozart’s “Lachrymosa dies illa” evokes the terror and dread of death and judgement, and his “Ave Verun Corpus” a sense of awe and mystery in contemplation of the Eucharist.

One can rightly say that these sacred works are more successful than others on the same or similar themes not because they make.one think deeper, but because they make one feel more.
 
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The number of popular, rock, and country music that appeals to the higher motivations of man is a long, long, list. My thought, the OP is a great post for someone who lives in a cave, eats wild honey and locusts, and has nothing to do with the rest of mankind.

(you know, there actually was a 60’s English group called ‘Herman’s Hermits’😉😉)

OP’s quote - “Well, stimulating one’s emotions just for the sake of stimulation is a sinful thing to do. So, I’m tempted to say listening to modern music is a sin.”

“Love one another as I have loved you.” Who said that, and was He stimulating the emotions of others in a sinful manner??
 
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Where is the idea that stimulating emotion is sinful?

But if you listen to most music nowadays (admittedly mostly country for me), then you can see there usually is a story of some sort you can follow. Sometimes it is not so good of a story, but still
 
I must say that’s a very depressing view to have.
Well, stimulating one’s emotions just for the sake of stimulation is a sinful thing to do.
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Source? Catechism and/or Scripture work.
 
Most contemporary music, particularly here in America, contain many sesual themes in the lyrics.
 
I really prefer orchestral music. Far more uplifting and doesn’t have a propaganda spin to it.
 
LilyM said:
I think a.lot of classical and sacred music is more focused on stirring emotion than amything else. That
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Yes, but these songs are beautifully composed. So, (1) the influence they have on the emotions is beneficial, and (2) they appeal to the reason.

Does that sound reasonable to you? I’m interested to hear your reply:)
 
I like Four Seasons by Vivaldi. I think it is kind of orchestral. He was an Italian priest.
 
Oh boy - as someone who loves classical music, some modern music is also beautifully composed and appealing to reason. And plenty of classical music was poorly composed and did not appeal to reason. In 100 years no-one will remember the poorer examples of music that you have to endure today just like now we don’t listen to the dregs of what was around 100 or 200 years ago.
 
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Nothing wrong with the nature of modern music. It’s only wrong when it glorifies sin (eg sex, drugs). Art stirs emotions anyway. Imagine how dull life would be without it!

You’re perfectly fine to listen to your own music but honestly, not everything about faith has to be so so complicated. I notice some catholics desire a lifestyle that sets them apart from anyone else (can be from music, TV, even clothes) and they are totally free to do so if it’s not done out of pride of course. But there’s a reason why the church has never freaked out and told us to stop listening to Taylor Swift. Because it’s not inherently wrong. Just avoid sinful lyrics and you should be fine.
 
It’s baloney. I listen to some of everything, unless it is outright blasphemous (example: some of the more extreme black metal out there) or hateful (example: some of the more extreme neo-Nazi skinhead punk).

I have listened to a huge variety of music from classical to liturgical to metal to punk to rap to rock to Christian to country to a little jazz (I have to confess I do not really like jazz other than big band jazz, but I try to be open to listening to some of it) since I was a teenager and music in and of itself never influenced me to go commit bad acts. Perhaps someone else might be more influenced. I just wasn’t. I can listen to something like Burzum and appreciate the artistry of the music or criticize the music as music, without going, “OK, I’m off to burn a Christian church down now.”

Now that I am old, I do not have as much time or inclination to listen to lots of music; however, to the extent I do have time or feel like doing it, I feel free to do so.
 
Lea101 said:
But there’s a reason why the church has never freaked out and told us to stop listening to Taylor Swift.
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It’s because the church leaves a LOT up to our individual consciences, because everyone is different.

One person might be able to listen to Taylor Swift as just a momentary amusement for 15 minutes and then turn the record off and go about their day.
The next person might find a Taylor Swift record is inspiring them to all sorts of sins - maybe they have some unholy attraction to Taylor Swift or her fans. This person needs to stop listening.
 
Precisely, because listening to that isn’t grave matter in itself. As with Harry Potter, as with pants etc
 
The Grammys are just one big commercial advertisement to sell records. As a musician, I can tell you that even people who make and like modern music hate the Grammys. That event doesn’t even come close to representing all that is out there. I never watch it.

As shown on another thread about secular tunes with spiritual content, there is some modern music with great, appropriate intent. As for classical music, Wager’s music inspired Nietzsche and Hitler, no friends of the Catholic faith.
 
the Grammy’s are a pitiful excuse for entertainment. ha ha. I have never watched them and I never will.

There have always been crappy music and there always will be. We just have to use our judgement. I don’t agree with blanket statements about music or art.

I don’t think that Keith Urban is perfect in anyway shape or form - but he is very open with his struggles and journey. Some of his songs have truly helped me quite a bit. “You’re Not Alone” Tonight was a Godsend for me after my divorce. “You Win” is exactly how I have felt many times - - - I interpret the “You” in that song as God… and almost word for word that song fit my life. I have not been on drugs, but I find myself thinking “You’re Not My God” to alot of different things in my life.

Nicole ruined his song writing tho 🙂 🙂 Actually I don’t think he records much of his own songs anymore - which leaves me cold sometimes
 
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