Is ELP against christianity

I'm not a religious person (though I used to be when I was younger), but the way I live my life is based on respect towards my fellow people. That's way I really dislike when religious movements try to ram their beliefs down my throat or influence the laws of the State where I live. As I live in Italy, you can only imagine how difficult it can be to deal with the constant influence of the Catholic Church. However, I am not an advocate of atheism (I consider myself more of an agnostic) and I equally dislike those who have made of their atheism a form of "religion". Things are much more complicated than that.

Unfortunately, the majority of the religious people I have met in my life have not been a good advertisement for their beliefs, too often lacking that fundamental quality of empathy and understanding towards others. As my signature says, "quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand...". That said, I don't care what a musician believes (I draw the line at things like Mayhem, though), as long as he or she makes good music.

maani wrote: As most members know, I am a full-time Protestant minister.  I've been in Christ for over 20 years, and in the full-time ministry for three.  I love ice cream, action movies, and secular - and particularly progressive - music.  I don't like people who say "like" every third word, women who talk like truck drivers, and hypocrites who claim a mantle of Christianity with little understanding of the very person they claim to follow. In short, I agree with both prog1611 and alan.  But, at the risk of turning this thread into yet another "religious" discussion, I would like to add something. "True" Christians (an admittedly loaded term) know and understand that we are not here to judge or condemn.  In fact, we are strictly forbidden from doing either.  Judgment and condemnation are reserved solely and exclusively to Christ on Judgment Day.  We are here to live a "Christ-like" life - love, peace, forgiveness, humility, compassion, patience, charity, selflessness, service and truth.  We are here to preach the Gospel and proselytize - but not to "ram it down people's throats" or judge or condemn them if they choose not to listen. That the vast majority of mainstream, heirarchical, "organized" Christianity does not get this - that it is dangerously apostate, and often even comes across with narrow, unloving, unforgiving and ultimately un-Christian views and positions - is sad in the extreme, and is what makes "organized Christianity" its own worst enemy. Is ELP anti-Christian?  I couldn't care less.  Because if they are, it is between them and God, and is not for me to judge.  I can still enjoy their music, and admire and respect their talent. Peace.

Thank you

I'm not a big ELP fan but I am a christian and I'd much rather listen to ELP anyday than 99% of CCM (cheesy christian music.)

Maani can I use your argument next time my christian friends judge my atheistic music?

I love those lyrics. It's a shame Lake doesn't sing them a bit better , but the sentiment, the frustration strikes a chord with me.

I dont really care whether ELP, or any band for that matter are religous or not, as long as they dont try to preach at me on every track. I would find that offensive.

Intruder wrote: Blasphemy!  Man, they really should've focused on playing and deep-sixed the lyrics.....that shyte is less than drivel...."why did he lose 6 million Jews"....tasteless.

Why is that tasteless? You could say it's a valid question.

Are you one of those people who screams anti-semitism everytime the word 'Jew' is used in whatever context..??

Arteum:

Thank you for your kind words.  Once quibble, however.  Atheism is not based on "logic."  It is based on rationalism and empiricism.  But these are different than "logic."  The reason that atheism cannot be based on logic is that, using "pure" logic, one could provide a theorum for or against the existence of God.  (It has been done, so I know this.)  "Logic" in this regard becomes "circular," so it can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God.

Rationalism and empiricism, however, can make stronger, more "bindable" arguments against the existence of God.

Spectral:

Thank you. 

Video Vertigo:

Actually, there is some very good CCM (contemporary Christian music) out there.  Let me suggest four artists.  DC Talk, Richard Mullins, Keith Green, Carolyn Arends.  Try them first and let me know what you think.

Intruder:

It is a common fallacy that "everything that happens, whether good or bad" is something God "did" (or didn't do).  This negates the existence of Satan, who is the "ruler of this world." (Emphasis mine.)  God did not "lose" 6,000,000 Jews.  Satan caused their death.  No, this does not get God "off the hook" for everything that happens.  But it is important to understand the difference.

It reminds me of one question that was asked in the aftermath of 9/11: Where was God when 3,000 innocent people were killed?  One answer (though it may not satisfy the families of those people) is that God was saving the other 45,000 people in the buildings.

Bilek:

I think I need to "qualify" something here, before you get yourself in trouble.

There is a legitimate Christian argument against secular music, and particularly secular lyrics.  That argument is that, if one does not have true "spiritual fortitude," it is possible for the enemy to "wheedle himself" into a person's life via secular, and particularly "anti-Christian" or non-Christian lyrics.

Thus, it is one thing for those with strong faith and spiritual fortitude to listen to secular music and enjoy it for what it is, because it is unlikely that they will be "swayed" in any way.  However, for those who are not yet spiritually strong and "secure," secular music and lyrics do have the potential to be "harmful."

Peace to all.

Ricochet wrote: Only one song and ELP's anti-christian?I'm gonna need many more examples like that to believe...

Here you go.

Sidney grabbed a hatchet, buried it .... in Benny's head.
The people gasped as he bled:
The end of a Ted?

Well, they dragged him from the wreckage of the Palais in bits.
They tried to stick together all the bits that would fit.
But some of him was missing
and "part of him" arrived too late,
So now he works for Jesus
As the bouncer at St. Peter's Gate.

to completely change the topic....

I find it funny, but often frustrating, how many rock bands (particularly metal) are commonly percieved as anti-christian or even satanic in nature, when in reality the opposite is true.  The prime example for me is Black Sabbath, often seen as a dark satanic band, but when one looks at the lyrics of songs like "After Forever", "N.I.B." and "Into the Void", they are clearly anti-satanic, even pro-christ.

The point being, even in the case of ELP, just because a band uses religious imagery does not mean they are casting religion in a negative light, poking fun, or promoting anti-religious sentiments.