My mouth turns down when I hear the term ‘christian music’ these days. That’s unfortunate, as there’s actually some good stuff out there musically and thematically. My first pick you might find surprising, it’s aggressive. Argyle Park was controversial, rare, and introduced me to Industrial music. The story I heard is that “Violent” is about a pastor who disappointed them in some way. “Liars can’t be trusted, but who doesn’t lie?”
Completely different, here’s Julie Miller with “All My Tears”. I love her voice, and the simplicity of this. Even tho I was postchristian when I heard this, it still brought tears to my eyes.
I think we’re nearly done with music week.
PS: Check out a guest post I just did for Agnostic Pentecostal.
I’m the illest Buddhist you’ve seen
all the ladies wanna meditate with me
I look so serene when I bust a lotus
but i don’t have an ego so I wouldn’t even notice
Yes it’s humour from Arj Barker, no offence intended. More ‘serious’ music below.
“Tashi Dalek”. It’s Tibetan, and means “may you experience extraordinary good fortune”. They use it to say hello according to tweet friend Surya Devi. Here’s her beautiful Green Tara Mantra.
You’re in the middle of music week, normal Spritzophrenia disservice will be nonresumed momentarily.
Music Week continues and I don’t want it to be forced into fixed categories, particularly with this poet. The first song is arguably nihilist, and contains Christian references. Leonard Cohen left music and spent about 10 years as a Buddhist monk before returning.
Leonard Cohen | The Future
Leonard Cohen | Anthem “There is a crack in everything. It’s how the light gets in.”
Welcome back to music week. Today, atheist music and there’s such a lot to choose from. In the end I’m going with XTC | Dear God (more below)
and
Mainly because I love Slayer. I wanted to post the title track of Slayer’s “Christ Illusion” but it doesn’t seem to be on youtube. So “Skeleton Christ” will have to do. Lyrics
Interestingly, I read that singer Tom Araya is some kind of nominal Catholic but says he’s quite happy to sing the lyrics his atheist bandmates write.
I came across a new word this morning – misotheism. I think this song expresses that.
Don’t forget to check out other posts in music week. See you tomorrow for day three.
I checked the blog about the progress of a childhood friend on Friday and read “The chemo is no longer working. [The specialist] estimates that Dave has about 2 weeks left.” I shed tears reading that, and in writing to him. David is the pastor of a small christian church in another city, and was a good friend to me.
He is also a deep thinker, and probably sympathetic to my “open agnostic” beliefs. The above is black-humoured music from a man who died not that long ago, also from cancer. Disclaimer: I have no idea if Warren Zevon was agnostic, I find the song speaks to me in relation to my dear friend at this point.
Here’s the song that probably began my agnostic search when I was five years old. I still love it.
Announcing Music Week! Next week I’m going to blog every day.
“Life is what happens to you while you’re planning something else”. I don’t intend to update this blog daily, though it happens. Instead I’m loosely trying for three times per week. I’m behind on my follow-ups to The Meaning of Life, My Favourite Free Twitter Apps and Why Be Moral? They’re in the pipeline, along with some critical posts about religion that will make atheists happy. And some that won’t. For now, I need to write another piece and get on with living life.
As compensation, and to give me some breathing space, I’m going to blog a short piece every day from Monday next week. You’re going to hear some wonderful agnostic, atheist and spiritual music, and probably some you’ll hate. Do you have any music suggestions for me?
For now, here’s a taster: George Harrison’s Hinduism, inspired by a friendly chat with some Hare Krishna devotees before lunch. Thanks so much for your warm response to my last post. See you next week!
