Still thinking over posts (and haven't read the last article yet), but just wanted to drop a note saying thanks to y'all 
Orthodoxy and (Christian) Heavy Metal
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Justin Kissel
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Justin Kissel
I've been thinking about the articles, quotes, and just general stuff floating around my head concerning this issue. It seems to come down to a few different points in the Orthodox perspective...
If something is going to lead you astray, or lead you back into an old--and destructive--habit, it should be avoided. It doesn't matter if the thing itself is neutral or even good: music is such a non-essential, it just doesn't pay taking the chance and risking your soul.
Does this cause the passions to take control of me? How does this make me feel, and how am I reacting? What psycho-somatic effect is the music having, and therefore what possible effects on my soul?
The ideal language of prayerful communication with God is said to be silence. At the very least, prayer is a calm, solemn act. It is also the goal for us Orthodox Christians to keep God in our rememberance as often as we can--ceaselessly if possible. How does the genre of music in question (whichever we might be talking about) effect this goal?
How does listening to a particular genre effect my brother? Does it scandalize him? Could it lead him astray? If it has a harmful effect, regardless of whether it is deemed to be good, neutral, or bad music, should we not give it up so as not to lead another into sin? Isn't this exactly what the Apostle Paul taught?
Paradõsis wrote:I've been thinking about the articles, quotes, and just general stuff floating around my head concerning this issue. It seems to come down to a few different points in the Orthodox perspective...
If something is going to lead you astray, or lead you back into an old--and destructive--habit, it should be avoided. It doesn't matter if the thing itself is neutral or even good: music is such a non-essential, it just doesn't pay taking the chance and risking your soul.
Does this cause the passions to take control of me? How does this make me feel, and how am I reacting? What psycho-somatic effect is the music having, and therefore what possible effects on my soul?
The ideal language of prayerful communication with God is said to be silence. At the very least, prayer is a calm, solemn act. It is also the goal for us Orthodox Christians to keep God in our rememberance as often as we can--ceaselessly if possible. How does the genre of music in question (whichever we might be talking about) effect this goal?
How does listening to a particular genre effect my brother? Does it scandalize him? Could it lead him astray? If it has a harmful effect, regardless of whether it is deemed to be good, neutral, or bad music, should we not give it up so as not to lead another into sin? Isn't this exactly what the Apostle Paul taught?
Paradosis this is great man. I think I will use this criteria in the future.
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Justin Kissel
I still have the essay that I wrote on secular music on my geocities site 
though I never did edit or revise it properly. I'm in the process of reforming a Christian metal band with some old friends as well! Funny how things go in a completely opposite direction than you intend.
Justin
You know for many years i was a Bass player for several Punk rock and metal bands in america and my whole life revolved around Metal music...I too have struggled alot to end this passion.....I will sometimes pass a song that almost makes me cry, Why? I always asked myself, why does certain songs make me cry? is it my past, Maybe..what is true is that I now have Christ and everytime I go back to my music I let Christ down for he knows how i cried for help during those past years..I was the last person who could honestly believe that Metal music or any other type of music for that matter could guide our lives to selfishness and often forgeting CHRIST.But I today say with all my heart that Id rather serve and walk with CHRIST, next time a Black Sabbath song comes on that we loved when we were younger,remember CHrist and turn it off, and experince the Angels of GOD rejoicing for they have triumphed that minute over the evil one...............
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Cat.Timothy.
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While I dont think that rock music is as bad as many make it out to be I do think that if some one gives their soul to it than it can be dangerous. There are a lot of people out there who base their lives around a particular form of rock music whether Goth, Punk, Metal or Indie. I hardly think that is healthy.
Timothy.