Is it wrong to listen to Heavy Metal and Ozzie Osborne?

[Jackson Cooper]

Ultimately, we should be preparing our souls to dwell eternally in Heaven. I don't think those are the kinds of sounds we'll be hearing there, so we don't want to take a love for such music into the afterlife with us...

That would include all music not sung in church, and even then I don't think music in Heaven will be comparable to music in any church.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Have you asked your priest this question?

 

[Jackson Cooper]

Have you asked your priest this question?

I plan on doing so. If Lord of the Rings was written by an atheist, but the books were exactly the same, I don't see what would be wrong with enjoying them.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I think the name was inspired by an Italian horror movie which was playing across the street from where the band was. I don't see anything wrong with Black Sabbath, but I would avoid bands like Judas Priest.

well, a Black Sabbath is a witch's black mass. that is pretty bad, and they use demonic imagery in a lot of their albums.

 

[Jackson Cooper]

well, a Black Sabbath is a witch's black mass. that is pretty bad, and they use demonic imagery in a lot of their albums.

Oh, I did not know that.

 

[Jackson Cooper]

well, a Black Sabbath is a witch's black mass. that is pretty bad, and they use demonic imagery in a lot of their albums.

Well what about Ozzie's songs that don't have bad lyrics? What'd be wrong with that?

 

[Halbhh]

I know song lyrics can have subconscious effects. Do you think it would be harmless to listen to Heavy Metal so long as I wasn't bothered by the lyrics? Is it problematic that the singer I'm listening to may have written another song with bad lyrics?

Well, some Christian Metal could be ok, again, as others are saying, if it is ok as to its affects on you. Here are a few I found out about in another discussion.

Apparently there must be a lot of Christian Metal music, though I know very little. The 3rd one below was a seeker who indeed found Christ and then became totally changed, and testified extensively, and wonderfully.

from the thread:
Is Christian Metal Sinful?

 

[ArmyMatt]

Well what about Ozzie's songs that don't have bad lyrics? What'd be wrong with that?

it would depend. sometimes the songs are very subtly sinful.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Oh, I did not know that.

yeah, bad stuff.

 

[peregrinus2017]

Right or wrong is probably not the best way to look at such things. Personally, I have to take care what I look at and listen to. I find that many things that don't seem to phase others impact me. That is my own weakness and sensitivity, it is not something that I can put on anyone else.
Ultimately the goal of this life is to become more like Christ. If something is not spiritually profitable, edifying, or does not draw me closer to God, I should put it aside (forgive me for preaching to myself). Again, this is just my opinion, but I think music and movies often fall under our overdeveloped need to be entertained, and is something to keep a wary eye on.
As others have probably already said, this is something you should talk to your priest about.

 

[nutroll]

My point in quoting from the Seventh Ecumenical Council is that what we set before ourselves we will imitate. If we listen to, look at, or read good, virtuous, and holy things, we will imitate those things and be edified by them. It is the same with bad, vulgar (understand that the word vulgar does not necessarily mean obscene, but can just mean common) or sinful things, we will imitate them if we set them before ourselves. This is not a judgment on any particular thing, but a general rule.

One of my favorite movies is the Big Lebowski, a movie that is replete with swear words. It is clear to me that the swearing is intentionally done in a way that is almost like costuming or set dressing. It is meant to place the characters in a context. And yet I have not watched it in years because we imitate what we put in front of ourselves. There are books that I don't read, shows I don't watch, and music that I don't listen to, not because they are pure evil, but because I don't need to imitate such things.

Furthermore, there is a difference between what others set before us, and what we set before ourselves. A saintly person could be shown all manner of filthy images and remain unaffected by them. But when a person seeks those things out, it is almost never to test their strength against temptation. We set before ourselves what we want to imitate, which is why it has such an effect on us. Temptation comes from all around us, we cannot avoid this, but what we let in is significant.

 

[Jackson Cooper]

I will make a judgement based on individual songs. There are pop, country, metal, and rap songs that I would find stumbling. There is plenty of wholesome Heavy Metal out there.

 

[Jackson Cooper]

My point in quoting from the Seventh Ecumenical Council is that what we set before ourselves we will imitate. If we listen to, look at, or read good, virtuous, and holy things, we will imitate those things and be edified by them. It is the same with bad, vulgar (understand that the word vulgar does not necessarily mean obscene, but can just mean common) or sinful things, we will imitate them if we set them before ourselves. This is not a judgment on any particular thing, but a general rule.

One of my favorite movies is the Big Lebowski, a movie that is replete with swear words. It is clear to me that the swearing is intentionally done in a way that is almost like costuming or set dressing. It is meant to place the characters in a context. And yet I have not watched it in years because we imitate what we put in front of ourselves. There are books that I don't read, shows I don't watch, and music that I don't listen to, not because they are pure evil, but because I don't need to imitate such things.

Furthermore, there is a difference between what others set before us, and what we set before ourselves. A saintly person could be shown all manner of filthy images and remain unaffected by them. But when a person seeks those things out, it is almost never to test their strength against temptation. We set before ourselves what we want to imitate, which is why it has such an effect on us. Temptation comes from all around us, we cannot avoid this, but what we let in is significant.

You could try VidAngel. They censor out the cussing in movies.

 

[FenderTL5]

I live in Nashville, Music City USA.
We have some musicians and music industry people in our parish.
We have celebrity guests every now and then.

imho - this is just me; what you choose for entertainment is a personal choice for your own benefit or detriment. Choose wisely.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

After Forever---Black Sabbath (lyrics by Ozzy Osbourne)

Have you ever thought about your soul can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?
When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days
Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love
Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?
I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve
Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear, yes I think it's too late

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Far be it from me to try to correct or criticize my good buddy Father Matt, but Black Sabbath the band was named after the old Boris Karloff super corney 1963 horror film "Black Sabbath." Nothing to do with satanic worship. Ozzy and the guys liked the film name.

well, a Black Sabbath is a witch's black mass. that is pretty bad, and they use demonic imagery in a lot of their albums.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Far be it from me to try to correct or criticize my good buddy Father Matt, but Black Sabbath the band was named after the old Boris Karloff super corney 1963 horror film "Black Sabbath." Nothing to do with satanic worship. Ozzy and the guys liked the film name.

they are also on record as saying Black Sabbath is also the 5th member of the band, who watches over them and guides them while on stage. which is totally demonic.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I'd be careful with some of these supposed quotes, plus there's just too much to contradict it. Geezer Butler has said many times that he dabbled in the occult in 1969, got into it, visited magic stores, and one time believed he conjured up an evil spirit. It scared him so badly that he said he never messed with it again....The band had an upside down cross in the sleeve of their first album. The record company put it in there against their will. They always wore crosses on the stage, and when some Satanic weirdos showed up at many of their concerts, they said it was disconcerting and not the demographic they had hoped for.

Black Sabbath is the title of an old, cheesy movie. And with songs like "After Forever" that encourage faith and affirming Christ, it really muddies the waters. Heavy metal was more of a horror spook movie genre and real Satanism and legitimate demonology with these guys is doubtful.

For me, Dio was my favorite singer for Sabbath. My favorite Sabbath tune of all time is most definitely "Children of the Sea." Incredible and beautiful. Most Sabbath songs just use those tough-sounding E and F power chords and they tune down. It sounds more menacing that it is.

I remember people getting their underwear wadded up about the line "just like witches at Black Masses!" in the song "War Pigs." The point wasn't Satanic. The lyric is comparing Vietnam War generals to a bunch of fiendish violent witches celebrating the destruction they've created.

I'm not a huge fan or anything, I just think these guys were a bunch of drunken Brits who grew up in a bad way. They lived in Birmingham, England during the post-WWII era and they said the crime, poverty, and black coal and pollution gave them a different perspective on life than the rosy naivete of hippies in the rest of the world. They wanted to make hippies take a chill pill. LOL So they had a darker take on life looking at what humanity had done in the wake of post-War UK.

But hey, that's just my take. I prefer Iron Maiden, another band accused of Old Nick-lovin' LOL

they are also on record as saying Black Sabbath is also the 5th member of the band, who watches over them and guides them while on stage. which is totally demonic.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I'd be careful with some of these supposed quotes, plus there's just too much to contradict it. Geezer Butler has said many times that he dabbled in the occult in 1969, got into it, visited magic stores, and one time believed he conjured up an evil spirit. It scared him so badly that he said he never messed with it again....The band had an upside down cross in the sleeve of their first album. The record company put it in there against their will. They always wore crosses on the stage, and when some Satanic weirdos showed up at many of their concerts, they said it was disconcerting and not the demographic they had hoped for.

Black Sabbath is the title of an old, cheesy movie. And with songs like "After Forever" that encourage faith and affirming Christ, it really muddies the waters. Heavy metal was more of a horror spook movie genre and real Satanism and legitimate demonology with these guys is doubtful.

For me, Dio was my favorite singer for Sabbath. My favorite Sabbath tune of all time is most definitely "Children of the Sea." Incredible and beautiful. Most Sabbath songs just use those tough-sounding E and F power chords and they tune down. It sounds more menacing that it is.

I remember people getting their underwear wadded up about the line "just like witches at Black Masses!" in the song "War Pigs." The point wasn't Satanic. The lyric is comparing Vietnam War generals to a bunch of fiendish violent witches celebrating the destruction they've created.

I'm not a huge fan or anything, I just think these guys were a bunch of drunken Brits who grew up in a bad way. They lived in Birmingham, England during the post-WWII era and they said the crime, poverty, and black coal and pollution gave them a different perspective on life than the rosy naivete of hippies in the rest of the world. They wanted to make hippies take a chill pill. LOL So they had a darker take on life looking at what humanity had done in the wake of post-War UK.

But hey, that's just my take. I prefer Iron Maiden, another band accused of Old Nick-lovin' LOL

well, I know there is a lot of fake stuff out there, but I have read stuff they have interviewed where they do affirm occult stuff, to include who Black Sabbath is.

 

[Jackson Cooper]

well, I know there is a lot of fake stuff out there, but I have read stuff they have interviewed where they do affirm occult stuff, to include who Black Sabbath is.

What's your take on the lyrics of Mr. Crowley?