The 1980s War Between Christianity and Rock & Roll

[Unknown Soldier]

In the 1980s there was a surge of evangelical Christianity in America. TV evangelists like Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell loudly preached against the evils of abortion, teaching evolutionary theory in the public schools, pornography, homosexuality, extramarital sex, and Led Zeppelin.

Let's discuss Led Zeppelin. And Ozzy Osbourne. And Kiss. And the Eagles! These bands and many others were denounced as glorifying Satan. Christian preachers went after them with gusto claiming they had "backward masked" Satanic messages on their records.

There was a war: Christianity versus Rock & Roll. Rock & Roll fought back and won a major battle when several TV preachers were exposed in sex and money scandals. Ozzy responded to the news by writing a song "Miracle Man" which mocks Jimmy Swaggart for his visits to a prostitute in New Orleans.

So who won this war? It's hard to say because both Christianity and Rock & Roll are still around although both are arguably in decline.

 

[jab]

In the 1980s there was a surge of evangelical Christianity in America. TV evangelists like Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell loudly preached against the evils of abortion, teaching evolutionary theory in the public schools, pornography, homosexuality, extramarital sex, and Led Zeppelin.

Let's discuss Led Zeppelin. And Ozzy Osbourne. And Kiss. And the Eagles! These bands and many others were denounced as glorifying Satan. Christian preachers went after them with gusto claiming they had "backward masked" Satanic messages on their records.

There was a war: Christianity versus Rock & Roll. Rock & Roll fought back and won a major battle when several TV preachers were exposed in sex and money scandals. Ozzy responded to the news by writing a song "Miracle Man" which mocks Jimmy Swaggart for his visits to a prostitute in New Orleans.

So who won this war? It's hard to say because both Christianity and Rock & Roll are still around although both are arguably in decline.

Some Christian ministries have incorporated rock type music into their hymns.
American Christianity was horrified by jazz and blues music--too pagan, "primitive" sensual, and sexual--and by rock and roll in the 50s and 60s, for the same reason and for offering a secular ecstatic release like promised by visionary and ecstatic Christian sects; poaching on these Christians' monopoly.
Christians earlier had consider the waltz very bad.

 

[Ford]

I remember it well. Back in high school (I graduated in 83) one of my classmates did a presentation on the "Satanic" influence in rock music. Ozzy, KISS, Led Zep, and Judas Priest were all name-checked as "being in league with Satan."

By the time I was in college, "Christian rock" had started to be a thing, and when I got my first full time radio gig a few years later, the AM station had a 4 hour program in the afternoon that played it.

In fact, one of the funniest things I've ever heard on the radio happened at that station. The host of the afternoon show (who was definitely not into the music or the religion) was chatting up the receptionist at the front desk. He had forgotten to cue up the next song, so when the one that was playing began to fade out, he ran back to the studio...cursing at the top of his lungs. We heard the song fade completely out...the studio door close...and the sound of him cracking the mic.

"That was a moment of silence. For prayer. And now, back to the music. Here's the latest by Phil Keaggy."

I learned that all "Christian rock" music was just pop/rock where the lyrics were replaced with bland "worship" words. Years later, South Park hit the nail squarely on the head.

 

[bilby]

"Can't you see you're not making Christianity better? You're just making rock and roll worse!" - Hank Hill

 

[steve_bank]

Led Zeppelin and Ozzie cults vs Christian cults? Six of one half a dozen the other, flip sides of the same coin.

Ozzie's Black Sabbath says what to Christians? Black Sabbath was dark and mind numbing based in drugs. Ozzie was a poster boy for self abuse.

Porn? Like most things there is porn and tere is porn. Porn is diverse from gay to straight.

A major theme in Internet porn is older men with a young teen looking girl on her knees with a cock in her mouth. Is that is entertainment for you, what are your values? Getting off on a woman being pissed on?

Porn historically back in the 50s-90s was highly exploitative of females. A lot of abuse and sexual slavery of a kind.

Point being if you want to call it a war between Christians and values, then you need to have an objective discussion of what the values mean on both sides.

It has been well covered in current media of the foreign and here in USA young underage girls in online Internet live sex.

Another simplistic OP.

Putting on my Freethought hat, just because Christians are against something does not mean they do not have a valid point.

In our diverse western liberal system everyone including Christians can aggressively promote their ideas and complaints.

 

[bilby]

A major theme in Internet porn is

...whatever you are in the habit of searching for.

Literally every possibility is out there; There are no "major themes", just variations in popularity.

What your search engine puts in front of you is determined by your search history, and that of others who share common interests with you. It's not a cesspool into which you're looking, it's a reflecting pond...

 

[Unknown Soldier]

There was a war: Christianity versus Rock & Roll. Rock & Roll fought back and won a major battle when several TV preachers were exposed in sex and money scandals. Ozzy responded to the news by writing a song "Miracle Man" which mocks Jimmy Swaggart for his visits to a prostitute in New Orleans.

So who won this war? It's hard to say because both Christianity and Rock & Roll are still around although both are arguably in decline.

Some Christian ministries have incorporated rock type music into their hymns.

It sounds like you're saying that to some extent Christianity and Rock & Roll established a cease fire with Christian rock. Is that correct?

American Christianity was horrified by jazz and blues music--too pagan, "primitive" sensual, and sexual--and by rock and roll in the 50s and 60s, for the same reason and for offering a secular ecstatic release like promised by visionary and ecstatic Christian sects; poaching on these Christians' monopoly.
Christians earlier had consider the waltz very bad.

I've done some research into the rock bands that evangelical Christians attacked as Satan worshippers, and oddly enough, there is some truth to what the preachers were saying. Several members of Black Sabbath, for example, did dabble in the occult although none of them were outright Devil worshippers.

Belief in Satan? Drugs will do that to a person!

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

FFS what's the difference between christianity and the occult? Christians casting aspersions about the occult are merely projecting. My woo is better than your woo. And I remember that christian rock. Goofy shit.

 

[southernhybrid]

This nonsense started in the 50s. I know because as a child of the 50s, I wasn't permitted to listen to that evil rock and roll. So, when I got my first transistor radio, I would listen to it at night, while holding the tiny radio up to my ear and listen to soul or rock. Back then, the radio stations played rock, soul and even some light jazz as pop music.

The only music permitted openly in my house was religious music. I think my sister and I did have a little record player and we did sometimes buy some 45s with our allowance. I guess our mom tuned it out. Prior to my parents becoming "saved", we were only permitted to openly listen to secular music, other than my classical albums that I talked her into buying for me when I was about 8. We were also forbidden to go to the high school dances. Our church was Baptist and I'm sure you all know the old joke.....
"Why don't Baptists have sex standing up? People might think they are dancing."

I used to sneak out with my Catholic friends to attend the dances anyway without telling my mom where I was going. She mellowed out as she got older.

 

[steve_bank]

Yea, in the 50s Christians were burning records. Books were burned.

In the 60s there was controversy over Catcher In The Rye being in public libraries.

Starting with the Catholics a very long history of supression in the name of god.

There was a pope who went around hacking the penis off statues and putting fig leaves on paintings.

There is also politics and self interest. From a bio I read of Galileo his initial antagonists were the intellectuals who made a living teaching the orthodox science to the welthy. Intially the pope was on Galileo's side.

Today Christianity is a billion dollar business. Discredit creationism and you theaten the livlihood of those profiting on market for religion. Christian music and video games.

 

[steve_bank]

FFS what's the difference between christianity and the occult? Christians casting aspersions about the occult are merely projecting. My woo is better than your woo. And I remember that christian rock. Goofy shit.

I agree, there is no difference. The RCC in particular is an occult system.

Priests convert bread and wine to body and blood of a dead person which people consume. IMO ritual canibalism, eating a person one absorbs the attribues of the person. Outside of the RCC that would be witchcraft.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I remember it well. Back in high school (I graduated in 83) one of my classmates did a presentation on the "Satanic" influence in rock music. Ozzy, KISS, Led Zep, and Judas Priest were all name-checked as "being in league with Satan."

I've been a big fan of all four of those acts since 1980, the year I started college. When I let the guy across the hall in my dorm know, I found that he was a self-righteous Christian who bitterly complained about my "acid rock" saying I was a demon for listening to it.

By the time I was in college, "Christian rock" had started to be a thing, and when I got my first full time radio gig a few years later, the AM station had a 4 hour program in the afternoon that played it.

When I had my two-year stint as a Christian in the mid 80's I was encouraged by the Christians in my church to give up my "acid rock." One of them, though, offered a compromise: Christian rock. I soon found myself listening to Stryper, Petra, and even Amy Grant. I actually liked the music and listen to it to this day.

In fact, one of the funniest things I've ever heard on the radio happened at that station. The host of the afternoon show (who was definitely not into the music or the religion) was chatting up the receptionist at the front desk. He had forgotten to cue up the next song, so when the one that was playing began to fade out, he ran back to the studio...cursing at the top of his lungs. We heard the song fade completely out...the studio door close...and the sound of him cracking the mic.

"That was a moment of silence. For prayer. And now, back to the music. Here's the latest by Phil Keaggy."

No wonder Jimmy Swaggart preached that "Christian rock" was a Satanic Trojan horse.

I learned that all "Christian rock" music was just pop/rock where the lyrics were replaced with bland "worship" words.

I wouldn't be quite so harsh. I think some Christian contemporary music is of comparable quality to "the Devil's music."

Years later, South Park hit the nail squarely on the head.

Who would think that South Park would mock Christian rock?

 

[Unknown Soldier]

FFS what's the difference between christianity and the occult? Christians casting aspersions about the occult are merely projecting. My woo is better than your woo.

I've thought of this too. Christian missionaries have literally demonized other religions categorizing them as "the occult" telling people that practicing them is a Satanic trap that imperils their souls. But as you say one person's God is another person's devil. As we know, all religions can be evil and often are evil.

And I remember that christian rock. Goofy shit.

I starting listening to it when I was a Christian because I wanted to love Jesus without giving up rock & roll. I liked and still like much of Christian rock. I saw Petra in concert, and I thought they were very good.

 

[steve_bank]

Jesus and pop music are both personality cults.

Christians derive identity from Jesus, pop music devotees derive meaning and infidelity from bands and individual magicians.

Both Christians and pop music fans religiously defend their icons. Christians wear crosses, pop music zombies pay for and wear t-shirts with their icons. Christians quote scripture, pop music devotees quote lyrics as profound revelations.

Ny favorite example is Bob Dylan. People elevated him to a prophet status. All the while Dylan shinned it and said he was no prophet and if people found some meaning in his lyrics that is up to them.

At a 60s Newport fp;k festival he went electric and had The Band as his back up. Fans were outraged. He was a symbol for the anti system counter culture. Yet when asked about getting rich he said what's wrong with that?

The Rolling Stones would take a limo to a concert from an upscale hotel, change from suits to rags for the show, change back, and go back to the upscale hotel. Yet fans bought into the stage facade of the act. Another counter culture icon that got rich preaching rebellion to the followers.

Pop music and Christian leaders both 'shear the sheep' so to speak.

In te 60s I took the train into NYC and went to The Fillmore East and hang around the Village. I went through it all.

Not that I have any afinity for Christianity, the war is between two sides.


Christians and pop music cults are equally unable yo engage in introspection and see negates associated with their cults.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

So who won this war?

Hip hop

 

[excreationist]

In Sunday school in a Lutheran church and in class in a Lutheran school they showed us excerpts of this from 1989:

There's also a sequel:

I own those as well as a ten hour version of:

They Sold Their Souls For Rock n Roll

Watch video clips from the Good Fight Ministries critically acclaimed production of They Sold Their Souls for Rock n Roll.

www.goodfight.org

Their analysis is interesting. They also claimed that "rock and roll" was a term that originally meant having sex in a car.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

This nonsense started in the 50s. I know because as a child of the 50s,

Buddy Holly's mother told him he was playing "jungle music," a possible racist epithet on her part. It seems to me that those who hate rock & roll tend to hate people.

I wasn't permitted to listen to that evil rock and roll.

One morning I woke up to discover that my mother had burnt my rock & roll LPs along with my record player. She was screaming that they were "Satanic" and forbid me to ever listen to rock & roll again.

So, when I got my first transistor radio, I would listen to it at night, while holding the tiny radio up to my ear and listen to soul or rock. Back then, the radio stations played rock, soul and even some light jazz as pop music.

After my mother's "auto de fe" (burning a heretic as an act of faith in Christ), I managed to scrape up some money and bought a cassette player and some tapes along with an earphone. I would go out into the woods to listen to my tapes or sit in the bathroom using the earphone.

Our church was Baptist and I'm sure you all know the old joke.....
"Why don't Baptists have sex standing up? People might think they are dancing."

Kinky!

I used to sneak out with my Catholic friends to attend the dances anyway without telling my mom where I was going. She mellowed out as she got older.

So did my mother once she realized that she just couldn't go around destroying people's property to destroy their enjoying life. She was miserable and hated the idea of anybody being happy.

So that's religion for you. It attracts people who want to use it as a justification for their hating people and wanting to hurt people. Rock & roll is far from perfect, but at least nobody ever burned a record in the name of rock & roll and nobody ever burned a person in the name of rock & roll.

 

[Jarhyn]

A major theme in Internet porn is

...whatever you are in the habit of searching for.

Literally every possibility is out there; There are no "major themes", just variations in popularity.

What your search engine puts in front of you is determined by your search history, and that of others who share common interests with you. It's not a cesspool into which you're looking, it's a reflecting pond...

Yeah... Like, "Rule 34" and "Rule 35"

Rule 34: if it exists, there is porn of it.
Rule 35: if someone tries and fails to find porn of it, they will inevitably MAKE porn of it.

If the Internet is a cesspool, we are the spigot from which it fills.

 

[Jarhyn]

Pop music is popular because it is fun, encodes common human experience, and has elements which stick in the brain.

It has nothing to do with cults and everything to do with giving the brain something enjoyable to chew on for a while.

Religion just doesn't like to compete for thought hours.

 

[steve_bank]

Pop music is popular because it is fun, encodes common human experience, and has elements which stick in the brain.

It has nothing to do with cults and everything to do with giving the brain something enjoyable to chew on for a while.

Religion just doesn't like to compete for thought hours.

You can say the same for religion and porn.

The die hard music-drug devotees like theists can never seen any negatives of what they do.