MMF - The neutrality of Music - Instruments yes lyrics no

Music is not emotionally neutral - although often certain emotions stirred up by music are based on cultural views and understanding

Music IS morally neutral

Lyrics are not neutral in either aspect

 

He actually wrote about 8 or more articles on music to see them follow the link on the above articles;

and then click on near the top right

Author archives

You will then get to see alll the articles he's written not necessarily on music either.

 

1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1 Kings 19:10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And there Aaron - I do hope that that proves something to you

I actually applied to study music in university, however since I was didnt follow proper audition procedures - and my voice isnt that spectacular.

We would expect that one culture that found a certain tune "soothing" could be found by another culture to be "rousing."

My personal experience with Indian and Asian music.

The very fact that everybody has their own preferences for relaxing to. Being bored tends to show very similar results to relaxation.

Now lets deal with everything is evil or good. Are guns evil or good? Is war good or evil? Is farming evil? after all Adam and Eve had to farm because of sin

Let's assume guns are fundementally evil - then I want every Christian in America to sell their guns NOW! Or are guns fundementally good? Its so obvious that its the usage of something that causes the good or evil, and not the object itself.

Remember if objects are evil, we have to give up a whole bunch of things in order to stay Biblical.

Good and evil are the results of actions, and uses, they are not initial conditions. Unless of course tou dont believe in the "age of innocence"

Stop quoting piles of manure from other people - come up with your own shovelful - that way you know you aren't missing out on other parts of related surveys.

Certain states imitate others.

God gave us music AFTER the fall - thus music does not suffer the same fate as creation.

Music does not create emotions it merely brings out those that exist and as ChristianCynic posted not all music evokes the same emotion despite your scientists claim otherwise. Play O'Town and some little pre-pubescent girl will shriek in glee. While it will turn the stomachs of older people, or other young girls or perhaps boys who prefer Spice Girls, or something more uptodate and cuter Atomic Kitten.

The intellect can stimulate and evoke emotions.

And somehow you still manage to say that culture does not affect the interpretation of music. That shows a sad lack of international experience. [personal jab deleted by Aaron]

Ive been overseas, I have had to study different languages. The very nature of language construction involves agreement on relations between ideas and concepts. The style of letters themselves are a fundemental difference in style of thought or an approach to an idea. If you dont agree with that; then I feel sorry for you.

Its the understanding of and relation to the culture that leads to the interpretation of that culture and its products.

Your scientist's studies were flawed, incomplete, and if any decent scientist wished to study behviour and music they would do well to throw out, almost all of those studies; and just start from scratch.

[ April 14, 2002, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: Aaron ]

 

Those verses were to illustrate jealousy, envy, covetness, to burn with zeal as a positive emotion

To counter your reply to my question to state that an emotion is evil.

Aaron's POST -----------------------------------
Not depending upon its context, but upon the other elements that are added to it. One can take practically any tune and either play it in a soothing or rallying way.

Let's hear "Jesus Loves the Little Children" with brass and bass drums as opposed to strings or even the timbre of a mother's voice. Big difference, but a difference NOT dependent upon the context, a difference that is dependent upon the style.

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But those elements still make it music, adding or subtracting non lyrical elements still do not change the fact that is was and is still music. The very fact one can play a tune with a martial air would seem to indicate that is not the music at fault but the method by which the music is played. I have heard lullaby's played in the lullaby 'style' with brass and bass drum. Something may be played in a jazz style but not be jazz, because of the the keys used in its composition or arrangement, or even what makes a piece a certain genre may be the lyrics added on to it. And we aren't arguing the neutrality of thought, but rather the 'neutrality' of emotion in that no emtion is wrong or right, but its how one uses or experiences that emotion.

Unless of course, you care to argue certain elements of music are what make it sinful. If so please specifically list those elements

I knew more then one of my pastors when it came to the Greek and Hebrew when it came to certain
interpretations of Scripture of course he only had a Bachelors of Theology, but thats more then I have; and I havent gone to Bible college. A piece of paper does not preclude wisdom or ignorance on a specific topic. I have studied music outside of the public system. If you look at my profile, you'll notice I've stated that I like to play around in various fields. True that means Im not as "expert" as those who focus on their specific fields, but it does mean my opinion should carry weight more then the "average" man; or "experts" in un-related fields.

Have you ever listened to microtonal music? Or are you just trying to ignore that aspect of my argument? Emotions are produced in two ways - raw stimulation, or intellectual stimulation. As people get older they form associations which overlap and tend to override the raw emotion - slaving it to intellect, albeit a trained instinctive response, rather then a concious one. The intellectual controls are a basis of culture and personal preferences.

 

OK I just posted a verse stating that jealousy, envy was good, to balance your jealousy is bad.

Now in your rebuttal to Bob's article you state anger is bad. Here are examples of righteous anger.

Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

Romans 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Actually I suggest that we canNOT actually worship God with anything else BUT our natural emotions and affections, we do not know how to pray, in fact we cannot - It is the Holy Spirit, who actually does it on our behalf when we attempt through our natural means to talk to God

Music was and is a gift of God, our lives are a gift of God; its not our lives that are inherently sinful ie the time spent living is not sinful; its how we use that time. Its us who are sinful. We do not make time sinful. Time cannot be sinful, it can however be used sinfully.

The usage of something too often defines what an object is. There is NO emotion that a holy God cannot express, and thus us His creations may also express as long as the purpose or usage of that emotion is correct and Scriptural.

I assume you read the passage in Acts 10 - at no time during the vision did God call the food clean rather He just told Peter to arise - kill - eat. It was afterwards that God stated that He had 'cleansed' these things. Now was this a temporary cleansing of the things forbidden to the Jewish diet? Or was it from then on until forever cleansing? Or could it have been a: "I have created this thus it is clean" kind of statement.

I assume you are going to get around to dealing with microtonal music?

Your final statement was
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Therefore the morality of an emotion has less to do with its context as it does with its nature and origin, and music is an eminent criterion upon which to judge this.
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Your arguing an absurdity - Christ's very existence on earth refutes your statement.

The nature of man is to sin - but Christ was both entirely man and entirely God. If He hadnt fulfilled the law as a man, with our sinful chains attached to Him as well, He could not have been the perfect sacrifice. He rose above His earthly origins (for that part of history) and lived a sinless, blameless life. In theory it is possible for man to do so as well, but man has not the strength of will the fortitude, throughout his entire life to accomplish this. Which is why Christ was sent. Christ invalidates your argument.