From: noel@crs.cl.msu.edu (Noel Estabrook)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: TANGENT: Re: Is music amoral??
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:45:21 GMT
Reply-To: noel@crs.cl.msu.edu.UUCP (Noel Estabrook)
Organization: Michigan State University

In article <1992Sep1.210419.670@news.cs.brandeis.edu> aaron@binah.cc.brandeis.edu writes:
>The evil is in the action of burning the baby with cigarettes.  More
>specifically, it is in the action of the person burning the baby with
>cigarettes.  If the same sound can be created by clever programming of the
>synth, the sound is not evil.  Since I don't know where the sound came from
>(I would assume it was artificial if I actually heard it), I cannot say
>the sound itself is evil.  Once again, THINGS cannot be given the character-
>istics of people.
>
>>  Examples of the second kind would be an instrument of torture, such as a 
>>rack, or perhaps a statue of Moloch, complete with uplifted hands designed
>>for people to pan-fry their babies in...
>
>There is nothing evil in the rack itself; the evil is in the people who use
>the thing to torture others.  It is a subtle difference but quite significant.

Hmm. so tell what would a GOOD, non-evil use of a rack be?
>
>The passage I refer to (Romans 14:14) does not say all things are lawful; it
>says nothing (which I translate to no THING) is unclean in itself.  Which is
>why I say it is a "direct" quote which Mr. Estabrook has refuted but not
>supported Scripturally.  If you don't like that verse, consider that Jesus
>said it is not what comes in to a man that makes him unclean, but what is in
>his heart.  Music is simply periodic pressure variations in the air in our
>ears (which comes in to the body).  There is nothing inherently bad about
>such pressure variations.  And the author's initial intent in his/her lyrics
>is irrelevant to how I perceive the lyrics (the same is true of reading
>literature).  The only time the author's intent is important is when the
>writings have AUTHORITY over me, as in Biblical writings.  Since the Bible
>has authority, I must find out what Paul's intent was instead of simply
>deciding what it means to me and letting that suffice.  But since, Sammy
>Hagar's word has no authority over me, his intent in his lyrics are 
>irrelevant.

I think this is one of those times when perhaps one verse, when not balanced
against the whole of Scripture, may be taken out of context.  Consider: if
only what is unclean that which comes from his heart, then why can't a
composed musical piece be evil?  When I write a song, I certainly consider
it a product of my heart.  Why we insist on treating THINGS as meaningless
and sterile entities is beyond me.  If someone puts their heart into writing
a song (be it for good or evil), then can not that THING that has come out
of the heart be evil?  I think so.  If Satan were to right a song, could it
possibly not be evil?  Again, I don't think so.  We have to start looking at
some things (particularly art) as being a product of human heart, spirit and
will - not just sum notes or penstrokes spread across a page.
>
Noel Estabrook          |       Let us not merely do that which is our
noel@crs.cl.msu.edu   __|__	RIGHT, rather, let us desire to do that
Educational Technology  |	which IS right - Me
Michigan State Univ.    |				Romans 12:2
--
Noel Estabrook          |       Let us not merely do that which is our
noel@crs.cl.msu.edu   __|__	RIGHT, rather, let us desire to do that
Educational Technology  |	which IS right - Me
Michigan State Univ.    |				Romans 12:2
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian