Does religion have a place in Prog music?

The Doctor wrote: I have a more pressing question...does Dungeons & Dragons belong in prog?

Edited by Battlepriest - August 05 2014 at 22:08

I just noticed this thread and it's already on page 4. 

Epignosis wrote: There's no such thing as Christian music.  To say that there is would be like saying Christian math exists.

Edited by someone_else - August 05 2014 at 23:55

JD wrote: Any subject matter has a place in Prog so why not religion. ELP's "The Only Way" is a perfect example. But here's the crux, those lyrics are about holding religion accountable, sort of anti-religion. Not what Neal Morris is doing with his lyrics to be sure. But religion nevertheless. So in answer to the direct question Does religion have a place in Prog music? the answer is ABSOLUTELY. Now if the question was "Does preaching the word of the bible have a place in prog?" I may have to say no as I'm no fan of anyone preaching to me in any form, music, film or otherwise. But artists use religion as subject matter all the time. Myself included. In the words of the Roman soldiers... "Nailed it!"

HackettFan wrote: smartpatrol wrote: Hoesntly I don't even really understand the question. Is there a committee that decides what goes in prog albums and what doesn't? Exactly. As I said before, don't tell Prog musicians they can't do something, because they're sure to do it. @SteveG, It hasn't been said explicitly, but I presume the the real intended question was whether Prog listeners would be willing to listen to Christian themes. Yes? No?

In that case it really depends on the lyric. The Christian faith includes a huge spectrum of people who all interpret the Bible in so many different ways. But as long as it's not something along the lines of "Don't masturbate or question the church or you will burn", it's fine with me.

Another question can be ask about this: Is criticizing Religion in Prog music, is still talking about religion? The philosopher Nietzche talk about the depressing effect of the pity in Christianity and talk about a re-evaluation of the values of the Christianity in general.He puts value on the vital impulses of the life itself, which can be criticize. But for Nietzsche music is a  best way the counterforce against the anti-Christian movement. It's one thing to criticize Religion, and it's another thing to find a spirituality to replace it. I think we can find spirituality in music that doesn't have any connections to what we conceive as Religion as a faith in a superior spirit.

Everybody can sing about whatever they want but everybody has his own ethics and will disapprove of unethical behaviour or of messages which he considers unethical. When I see some American tele-preachers I consider them strongly unethical, when I see religion used to abduct people into sects I find that unethical, when I see religion used as an argument to limit a woman's freedom to abort I consider it unethical, when I see religion used to mutilate the genitals of women I consider it unethical, when I see religion used as justification to kidnap or kill people I consider it unethical...

Gerinski wrote: Everybody can sing about whatever they want but everybody has his own ethics and will disapprove of unethical behaviour or of messages which he considers unethical. When I see some American tele-preachers I consider them strongly unethical, when I see religion used to abduct people into sects I find that unethical, when I see religion used as an argument to limit a woman's freedom to abort I consider it unethical, when I see religion used to mutilate the genitals of women I consider it unethical, when I see religion used as justification to kidnap or kill people I consider it unethical... As long as religion is the theme but the message is not against my ethics I'm fine with it. Preaching in the old threatening style (you better believe and practice or you will burn in hell) I find it unethical. BTW, Neil Morse's "preachiness" is much more straightforward in his live concerts in his inter-songs talking than in his songs lyrics. I once took my ex-girlfriend to one of his concerts and she (who was strongly anti-catholic) couldn't help bursting out laughing.

^ Yes preaching is a real exploitation of people naivety...  Remember "Jesus he knows me" from Genesis. Yes the "preachiness" of Neil Morse is more obvious in is live show because he stops the music too talk about the tragedy with his daughter and start crying, but i am sure that unlike those TV preachers, he's not doing money with it.

OP's statement, a brief recap of the posts:
1. 15 Members stated that they were in favor of regilion in music.
2. 3 Members stated that they were against religion in music.
3. 3 Members offered no opinion either way.
4. 6 Members stated conflicting opinions that made their postion unclear.
5. Results so far: Quite a tolerant group regarding this topic.    (Give or take an opinion.)

Edited by SteveG - August 07 2014 at 14:58

Of course! In the right sense anyway.