Is something wrong with me actually liking this song?

[rocklobster]

I heard this song a long time ago and actually liked it. But now that I saw the lyrics to it posted on my lyrics thread at wrongplanet (a forum for those with autism and aspergers), I've begun to wonder if it's wrong for me to like a song so atheist. Especially since it's such a typical atheist rant. Note: XTC did make a video to this song. I watched it a couple weeks ago on Youtube out of pure curiousity. It's very compelling. If you want to see it, click here: the video for the song
Here are the lyrics:

Dear God, hope you got the letter and
I pray you can make it better down here
I don't mean a big reduction in the price of beer
But all the people that you made in your image
See them starving on their feet
'Cause they don't get enough to eat from
God
I can't believe in you

Dear God, sorry to disturb you but
I feel that I should be heard loud and clear
We all need a big reduction in amount of tears
And all the people that you made in your image
See them fighting in the street
'Cause they can't make opinions meet about
God
I can't believe in you

Did you make disease
and the diamond blue?
Did you make mankind after we made you?
And the devil too!

Dear God don't know if you've noticed but
Your name is on a lot of quotes in this book
And us crazy humans wrote it, you should take a look
And all the people that you made in your image
Still believing this junk is true
Well I know it ain't, and so do you, dear God
I can't believe in
I don't believe in

I won't believe in heaven and hell
No saints, no sinners, no devil as well
No pearly gates, no thorny crown
You're always letting us humans down
The wars you bring, the babes you drown
Those lost at sea and never found
And it's the same the whole world 'round
The hurt I see helps to compound
That Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax
And if you're up there you'd perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve

If there's one thing I don't believe in
It's you
Dear God

[FaerieChica]

If you like the music that's one thing; but the lyrics are utter atheism. I'm not sure why you would like a song that says "I don't believe in God". But, like I said, if you like the music that's different.

[ShiroiHikari]

Yeah, this might not be the healthiest stuff for a Christian to be listening to.

[Puguni]

Yeah, the lyrics aren't the best, but I've been there, where I like the beat, but the lyrics are utter crap. >_>

[CAAOutkast]

Yeah, the lyrics aren't the best, but I've been there, where I like the beat, but the lyrics are utter crap. >_>

Thats for sure. We should pray for the people who wrote and preformed this song.

[GhostontheNet]

What a load of garbage, there they place all the blame for human ill upon God while holding Nietzsche's line that God is a mental construction within a person - thus he takes one more step than necessary to find the real source of man's sufferings, which is man himself. And, no doubt, now that he has "proven" their is no loving God, he will go and sit of his behind using his royalties to go out, get drunk, get laid, and make a total waste of his meaningless life while children starve and family men go out and vivisect family men against their better senses. If this proves there is no compassionate God, it proves their is no compassion in man, which is the true reason our sufferings. We let globalists grow coffee in third world countries for a pittance as cash crops so we can have cheap coffee, and then we wonder why people in those countries starve (it was because the farmers didn't grow enough food for their own people because they could have more "success" growing cash crops). We invest a fortune in tools of destruction and a pittance of tools of harvest, health care, peace and secure living - which are often very cheap and affordable. I wonder, if one less bomb was built, how many boxes of those filtration drinking straws ( http://www.engadget.com/2005/08/18/lifestraw-purifies-water-instantly-for-under-2-a-year/ ) could be shipped around the world and how many lives would be saved, but evidently one precision kill is worth more than the lives that could be saved by a 2 dollar gadget. No wonder the world is a mess.

For what its worth, I've been engaging in a discussion of this nature at http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=79579 and if you'd like to continue this discussion, I'd take it there.

[Steeltemplar]

I think that you need to look at it from two perspectives and answer for yourself what your belief is in both cases.

1) Your own soul's edification and growth in God. Is it edifying to you to hear this? Or do you find yourself feeling sickened by the message even if you like the music? I think that the very fact that you came here and asked this question might be a hint towards the idea that it does not really sit well with your Christian sensibilities, which are born of your relationship with God.

2) Do you want to support this? Do you want this message to be spread to others? Would you give money to the artist who made this? We all vote with our pocketbooks whether we intend to or not. Your money does not tell this artist or their record label "I liked the music, just not the lyrics.". It simply gives them another sale and that is all they will see.


So answer those things according to the guidance of God and I think you will find the right answer to the question. Look to scripture (and if you happen to be Catholic, the teachings of the Church and the writings of the Saints) for advice.

One passage to consider, Philippians 4:8 (Duoay-Rheims Translation):

"For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things."

[Eric]

If you're not sure you should listen to it, then it would be better to err on the side of caution and not listen to it.

[the_lizardqueen]

Regardless of how great the music might be, if the lyrics are really going against my own experience and values, I won't be able to ignore them. Even in the case of the more questionable songs that I enjoy, there's something in the lyrical content that I relate to and the songs that really stick with me often have meaningful or interesting lyrics.

Regardless, I dunno about you, but I'm finding the song rather offensive :/

[rocklobster]

Thanks folks. I'll fast forward the tape it's on from now on.

[Steeltemplar]

Thanks folks. I'll fast forward the tape it's on from now on.

I think that you will not be unhappy that you chose this.

[GhostontheNet]

And if you're thinking about music that deals with these kinds of issues, evil and suffering and all that, you should go get The White Beyond by Industrial/Synthpop group ThouShaltNot on Itunes or http://www.dancing-ferret.com/ .