Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique describes a diabolic Witches' sabbath, Liszt's Faust Symphony is about someone that sold his soul to the Devil (the same is done by Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust), Liszt's Dante symphony describes Hell and we have the Mephisto-Walzer. But at the same time, it is said that the Symphonie Fantastique was important in music history and had many innovations, and Liszt is said to be one of the greats and an innovator in music. So I don't know if I, as a Christian, can listen to the music previously mentioned.
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Hello @Unman87, first off, WELCOME TO CF 
You ask an interesting question, one that is not discussed directly in Scripture.
On the positive "it's ok to listen" side of things, the biggest advantage that we have with symphonic works is that they do not (typically) have words. So, the question is, could just listening to the 4th and 5th movements of Symphonie Fantastique cause a believer spiritual harm of some sort, especially if they didn't know the "back-story" behind the music (or even if they do)? Personally, I think not, unless someone chooses to mentally wander away from their focus on the music alone and become deeply involved with the back-story instead, perhaps bringing it to life in their mind's eye
I know the story and I have never sensed any spiritual ill-effect from it over my many years of listening to it and playing it, but that's me. You have to decide what is best for you (and how what you choose to do will affect the people around you too, especially if they know that you are a Christian).
You might also consider what is said in the following chapters/passages, as something there may prove to be useful to you if you can tie the topics together: Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:23-30.
God bless you!!
--David
p.s. - if I have additional thoughts about this I'll return and share them with you (Dv).
You ask an interesting question, one that is not discussed directly in Scripture.
On the positive "it's ok to listen" side of things, the biggest advantage that we have with symphonic works is that they do not (typically) have words. So, the question is, could just listening to the 4th and 5th movements of Symphonie Fantastique cause a believer spiritual harm of some sort, especially if they didn't know the "back-story" behind the music (or even if they do)? Personally, I think not, unless someone chooses to mentally wander away from their focus on the music alone and become deeply involved with the back-story instead, perhaps bringing it to life in their mind's eye
I know the story and I have never sensed any spiritual ill-effect from it over my many years of listening to it and playing it, but that's me. You have to decide what is best for you (and how what you choose to do will affect the people around you too, especially if they know that you are a Christian).
You might also consider what is said in the following chapters/passages, as something there may prove to be useful to you if you can tie the topics together: Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 10:23-30.
God bless you!!
--David
p.s. - if I have additional thoughts about this I'll return and share them with you (Dv).
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- Mar 4, 2005
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I don't see any reason why not.
Listening to the theme to Superman will not make you able to fly around the world.
Listening to the Magic Flute will not make you a Freemason.
Listening to the Hallelujah Chorus would not make an unbeliever a Christian.
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- Oct 28, 2006
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If you have two ears, I think you "can" listen to it.
I don't know if you'll go deaf in the process when doing so, but I've listened to these and other similar pieces like Saint-Saens Dance Macabre, and I still have my auditory ability intact.
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The bible has rape, incest, murder, a Devil, , demons, ...... in it.
The world has all this in it, and perhaps your neighbors are doing it.
Don't worry about Opera.
Enjoy listening to your music.
Now , watching Opera is different because Opera can be very visually sensual as presented on Stage.
You have to use discernment, in THAT case.
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Berlioz also wrote 'L'enfance du Christ'. Do we igJnore this because of other works by him?
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Rite of Spring by Stravinsky is also "pagan" themed.
Are we going to have another "Bonfire of the Vanities"? Most of those artists were influenced by Romanticism, and their works were not meant to be taken literally, much less prescriptively, playing around with powerful symbols in our past. It was meant to be a kind of echo of a lost age of enchantment, a rebellion against the Newtonian worldview, which had no need for witches, gods, or devils.
Are we going to have another "Bonfire of the Vanities"? Most of those artists were influenced by Romanticism, and their works were not meant to be taken literally, much less prescriptively, playing around with powerful symbols in our past. It was meant to be a kind of echo of a lost age of enchantment, a rebellion against the Newtonian worldview, which had no need for witches, gods, or devils.
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Stephen3141
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