Is there any genre of music that would widely be considered "evil"

[bakura91]

I just watched some old Christian documentaries on the "evils of rock" and Im wondering if the mainstream majority of Christians still hold the view that rock no matter what the lyrical content is sinful?

[TopazRaven]

Personally I don't think it's sinful. I enjoy all kinds of different music. It all depends on who you talk to. Some consider all music to be of the devil no matter what it is.

[Cognitive Gear]

I don't think there are any real statistics, but I think that it is safe to say that the majority of Christians do not. There is definitely a vocal minority, though.

[bakura91]

I don't think there are any real statistics, but I think that it is safe to say that the majority of Christians do not. There is definitely a vocal minority, though.

Yeah thats what I thought aren't those guys also usually the King James "ONLY" crowd as well?

[ShiroiHikari]

I fail to see how notes on a scale played by an instrument can be "evil".

Lyrics can get kind of "lolwut" sometimes but music in and of itself? Not so much.

[mechana2015]

Yeah thats what I thought aren't those guys also usually the King James "ONLY" crowd as well?

Not necessarily, but they do tend to be the more rule heavy crowd (KJV only would probably provide significant overlap but I'm pretty sure there're some KJVO churches that don't mind rock music, and I'm positive that there are non KJVO churches that are against rock.)

[Fish and Chips]

You guys, I am pretty sure it's been scientifically established that crunkcore is and has been the only musical genre even close to approaching moral bankruptcy.

[armeck]

the genre that i hear people gripe the most about (for moral reasons) i metalcore/screamo

[rocklobster]

Well, there are some rappers who glorify killing, pimping, and other crimes. I'd certainly call that evil.

[mechana2015]

But at that point you're still only talking about the lyrics of specific songs. There's nothing inheritly evil about Rap as a genre, just issues with specific content. Same thing with rock, hip hop and pop. This is the same issue really that anime faces where people take specific content and use it to judge a whole genre or medium.

[bakura91]

Yeah thats what I'm thinking its the Lyrics that contain the message and the music is neutral it just depends on what you use it for.

[MrKrillz0r]

Yeah as mech said, the lyrics can be evil, but thats it. Oh, or wait a second.. in metal they sometimes scream right..? Thats evil!!! They may be praising God and leading people to Him, but its evil 'cuz they scream!! You all know that screaming is a sin. Same thing as with rap, they often wear big clothes. Big clothes is a sin.

[Nate]

So, honest question for people here. I've seen the sentiment "It's the message/lyrics, and the music itself is not evil." Okay, I agree with this.

However, what about New Age music? It has no lyrics at all, it's all instrumental, and I have heard it called evil before by Christians. Since there's no lyrics, you can't use the "The lyrics are what's wrong, not the music" explanation. So what is your response in this situation?

[ShiroiHikari]

So, honest question for people here. I've seen the sentiment "It's the message/lyrics, and the music itself is not evil." Okay, I agree with this.

However, what about New Age music? It has no lyrics at all, it's all instrumental, and I have heard it called evil before by Christians. Since there's no lyrics, you can't use the "The lyrics are what's wrong, not the music" explanation. So what is your response in this situation?

My response is the same as my first post in this thread. I fail to see how notes on a scale played by instruments can be "evil" in and of themselves.

New Age musicians might have some ideas that don't line up with Christianity, but the music itself is more or less neutral because it's just music. I mean, sure, it can relax you, but since when is being relaxed an evil or sinful thing?

[Edward]

Justin Bieber. The only way that kid could be so popular is if he had the devil's help.

Either that, or millions of people just have poor taste in music.

[mechana2015]

However, what about New Age music? It has no lyrics at all, it's all instrumental, and I have heard it called evil before by Christians. Since there's no lyrics, you can't use the "The lyrics are what's wrong, not the music" explanation. So what is your response in this situation?

Well it depends on their reason. In some cases ShiHi's response is appropriate.

If their response is any of these:

Born of eastern mysticism
Was born out of black arts’ music
Is used in black arts.
No melody.
It emphasizes emotions and experience
Causes a type of hypnotic state.
Repetition and no words discourages critical thinking and reasoning.
Discordant rhythms discourage organization and encourage chaos of mind.

You may be dealing with someone who cannot be reasoned with. They're working with an alternate reality that you probably don't live in, and you'll have to deconstruct that alternate understanding before you can persuade them otherwise.

[Sheenar]

Yeah, one of my old Sunday School teachers was one of those people who think Christian rock/rap/whatever is wrong because they are trying to be "too much like the world." We had some debates about this several times before I gave up b/c I found that he wasn't going to change his mind.

My thoughts are that each person has different musical tastes --and we should enjoy the diversity available in different genres (whatever one/ones we enjoy.)

See the "Houseplant Song" by Audio Adrenaline:

[Hiryu]

I do believe that the lyrics can have a brainwashing effect on people. But that requires for the song to be listened to many, many times. And even so, I think it helps amplify a desire that is already there.

[armeck]

what about that binaural beat music that messes with your brain and can be made to mimic the effects of drugs, i do believe some people would/do call that evil

[Ante Bellum]

I've tried some of that but it didn't work. Still, it probably wouldn't have anywhere near the effect drugs would have. I've heard it's best used for putting the brain into different states like relaxation or alertness. (Edit: If it even works to begin with...)

[ShiroiHikari]

what about that binaural beat music that messes with your brain and can be made to mimic the effects of drugs

[[color="MediumTurquoise"]citation needed[/color]]

[rocklobster]

I just watched some old Christian documentaries on the "evils of rock" and Im wondering if the mainstream majority of Christians still hold the view that rock no matter what the lyrical content is sinful?

Just a silly question: It wasn't called "Rock: It's Your Decision" was it? That's a propaganda film that Brad Jones of thatguywiththeglasses.com reviewed. It's about a teenager who gets an intervention from a preacher and basically loses all his free will and starts spouting anti-rock rhetoric that isn't defended even once in the video. So they fail.

[armeck]

I've tried some of that but it didn't work. Still, it probably wouldn't have anywhere near the effect drugs would have. I've heard it's best used for putting the brain into different states like relaxation or alertness. (Edit: If it even works to begin with...)

[[color="MediumTurquoise"]citation needed[/color]]

okay guys okay. i should've started that it is SUPPOSED to mimic the effects of drugs however there is much debate on weather or not it does. some people insist it does where as other people claim it doesn't work

[seaglass27]

My family is extremely conservative and my parents hate all rock music (I see no problem with it if it's clean) and in the circles we run in their view is pretty much shared by all the adults and mine is shared by all the other teens. Also, if you listen to the VCY radio network it seems like they're constantly bashing rock music. They even dropped a really solid pastor's radio program for having the Doxology played softly and slowly on an acoustic guitar for his show's opening theme. So, yes, many people still believe all rock is evil.

[Kaligraphic]

I think that it your music is made from the screams of people being tortured and killed, that would be pretty evil.

[seaglass27]

I think that it your music is made from the screams of people being tortured and killed, that would be pretty evil.

Well that was disturbing...

[TopazRaven]

I think that it your music is made from the screams of people being tortured and killed, that would be pretty evil.

Well that was disturbing...

Well, Kaligraphic is pretty disturbing... I'm just kidding. xD I'd only consider music evil if like Kali said it was made from human suffering (is there any such music?) or it's just generally about mass murder or something. I heard a really freakish song about some dude killing a group of people in a bar once. It was creepy as all heck and gave me nightmares for a week.

[armeck]

there is some death metal that i consider evil (note. i said SOME i don't want to start a debate here)

[bakura91]

Just a silly question: It wasn't called "Rock: It's Your Decision" was it? That's a propaganda film that Brad Jones of thatguywiththeglasses.com reviewed. It's about a teenager who gets an intervention from a preacher and basically loses all his free will and starts spouting anti-rock rhetoric that isn't defended even once in the video. So they fail.

Lol that was hilarious I Love that guy with glasses! I saw the review but I haven't seen RIYD.

[Atria35]

there is some death metal that i consider evil (note. i said SOME i don't want to start a debate here)

But is it because of the lyrics or the tune itself?

Words can be evil. I think a lot of things said by Hitler can qualify as evil.

Music being... music, I don't think that it in and of itself can be evil.