The last time I saw a topic along these lines, I took it wrong and, unfortuately, had little constructive to say.

However I would like to revive that along a slightly broader line:

The most part of our religious exchanges involve either scientific processes or religious writings, as well as personal experience. I wanted to add art to that.

Books, movies, music, paintings ... I would hope it all to be fair game.

I will post one or two songs from a 1991 heavy metal album ... but also a quick couple of points for starters:

* Man of Sorrows, a painting by Boticelli, is my favorite painting of Christ. Post-crucifixion, I think there's tinges of emotion present in Christ's facial expression that adds a more human effect; though I have no idea if the painting was made during a time when docetism ran rife in the church (something I'll have to look into).

* J.D. Salinger's Franny was among the first literary works to turn my perceptions of Christianity utterly upside-down. This had something to do with the internalization of faith to the point where outward expression is subtle, but contained in every pulse of the heart, every breath drawn, and every step taken. I was able to grasp the rudiments of internal faith before the idea was given to me by preachers.

Hope it's worth it. Stay tuned for the heavy metal. :D

thanx,
Tiassa

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Take a side you say, it's black and gray. And all the hunters take the hunted merrily out to play. We are one, you say, but who are you? You're all too busy reaping in the things you never sown. And this feast must go on and on and on .... Nobody gives a damn. (Floater; "Beast")

I have, in my musical library, a list of artists whose positive intentions were misinterpreted as being inspired by or paying tribute to the Devil. Styx's Snowblind (single) and Peter Gabriel's first solo LP come to mind.

But I have an obscure one, from a largely forgotten metal band that still survives today, called Savatage. (Their gothic, metalized version of Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King, as well as a song about the coming of Christ earned them distinction as a Satanic rock band.)

The LP I'm taking from is called Streets: A rock opera, and bears the secondary title : "The story of D. T. Jesus and the Subway Messiahs". Musically, I think it's one of the most underrated albums of its movement, but that's beside the point.

The story so far: A drug dealer has clawed out of the streets by fronting a rock band. Upon his triumphant return home, a former business associate murders his best friend and chief roadie in a bar. D.T. (the dealer/musician) wanders around New York until he finds himself at Saint Patrick's cathedral:

St. Patrick's (Oliva, O'Neill, Oliva)

Hey there Lord, it's me;
I wondered if you're free,
Or not asleep,
This just won't keep.
It seems I just don't see.

Why all the things we asked
Or prayed would come to pass
Have gone unheard
Like silent words
That slip into the past.

For Lord, they're not schemes,
Can't you tell dreams?
Why do you
Let them slip by
Never even tried?

It isn't you don't hear,
There's far too many tears.
Or can't you feel?
Are we unreal
To one who knows no peers?

You say we must pay dues;
But still I am confused.
I need to walk
And with you talk
Instead of to statues.

For Lord, they're not schemes,
Can't you tell dreams?
Why do you
Let them slip by
Never even tried?

You take all the fame.
But who'll accept the blame
For all the hurts
Down here on Earth,
Unnecessary pain?

For surely you must care--
Or are you only air?
Built in our minds
When we're in binds
And never really there?

And can we be tired of you?
Is that something that we're
allowed to do?
For even the blind change
their view.
And it's time we tried
something new.

And so I pled my case.
I'll now pull my escape.
Didn't mean to doubt
What it's all about.
Seems I forgot my place.

But if you find the time,
Please change the story line.
Or give a call,
Explain it all ...
I'll even leave the dime.

_________________________

Oh ... I guess I should mention that the label is Atlantic and these lyrics do happen to be copyrighted. So legal apologies where necessary.

thanx, :cool:
Tiassa

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Take a side you say, it's black and gray. And all the hunters take the hunted merrily out to play. We are one, you say, but who are you? You're all too busy reaping in the things you never sown. And this feast must go on and on and on .... Nobody gives a damn. (Floater; "Beast")

[This message has been edited by tiassa (edited February 10, 2000).]

I like the idea Tiassa,

Art.....Only problem is I failed art dismally because for my major assignment i turned in a painting of Garfield the cat.

And I wonder what that says about my spirtuality or faith. :D :D :D

Movies..... well I think the old classics that I grew up watching on Sundays at noon leave a lot of the new stuff for dust. Not in special effects but in the way that they were more often than not feasible and believable plots rather than the oil driller becomes astroboy or giant rock causes giant wave or some other far fetched thing... So relating it back to faith I would say look for quality rather than quantity.

Music..... Sing a song from your own heart and at the top of you lungs, make up your own words that fit the mood and emotion of the moment.... And then if you can sell a million copies GO FOR IT :D :D :D Kidding OK.

Personaly and in the light of my faith I find that nothing we create, devise or make in art, music, writing etc can match or even scratch the surface of the infinite beauty of the creation that surronds us. They are mearly all interpretations or represntations of it.

Well that's my two bob's worth.

H2o :D :D :D :D :D

Hmm. I once was told that man does not create art but rather records life.

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It's all very large.

Tiassa,
You have brought a huge subject of discussion to this forum.
Almost everything what we discuss about here, has so volatile nature that is very hard to express verbally what we are feeling (especially for me due to my Englisz). But it’s a common problem for all people, so art is the best way to express themselves and sometimes it’s a best way to understand the emotion of a man who uses such way of expression (artist).
Sometimes I have an impression , that bible and other saint books would be much better understood if they are written as poetry (lyrics) and the only permitted way of reading them is sing a song.
I mentioned yesterday a Peter Gabriel’s song: “In your eyes” and attach below the lyrics of this song. I think that it’s just in line.
<CITE>
<BIG>
SONG: In Your Eyes</BIG>

Peter Gabriel from the book "Peter Gabriel In His Own Words"
It's a love song.
There is a tradition in Africa that intrigued me;
that of writing love songs so they can be heard as love of God or the love between men and women. No one seems to do that in western lyrics, so I thought I would try mixing images.
The eyes are clearly a focus point for the soul.
I dedicate this song to MY PG, my wordsmith. I am complete in your eyes.


love I get so lost,sometimes
days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
when I want to run away
I drive off in my car
but whichever way I go
I come back to the place you are
all my instincts, they return
and the grand facade, so soon will burn
without a noise, without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat i
n your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes
love, I don't like to see so much pain
so much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for out survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
and all my instincts,
they return
and the grand facade,
so soon will burn
without a noise,
without my pride
I reach out from the inside
in your eyes …………..
</CITE>

Ivan

The Ravens Are Not What They Seem



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TonyH2o--

Einstein failed algebra. Berke Breathed--Bloom County and Outland comic strips--failed art ... his project was a painting of an astronaut; when he couldn't finish the face, he blew red paint through a straw, spattering it on the helmet and calling the painting, Gesundheit.

Both gave me glimpses of God, as seen through their eyes.

(Are two bobs a half-crown?)

* * * * *

Bowser--

I would sooner presume to argue a fortune cookie or horoscope than argue with that phrase. Take that as a compliment, please. Fortune cookies are general enough, but there's at least one horoscope in my region that pegs me damn near every week, and that's just downright frightening. Thanx.

* * * * *

Ivan--

It took me years to see that song in any context near what you're referring to. Being thirteen and horny when I bought the album, and then having John Cusack in that silly scene in Say Anything ... I took it as a straightforward love song for years. Of course, So was the only Gabriel album I owned during those years, so I think that's my loss.

Thanx for that reminder.


thanx,
Tiassa :o :) :D :cool:

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Take a side you say, it's black and gray. And all the hunters take the hunted merrily out to play. We are one, you say, but who are you? You're all too busy reaping in the things you never sown. And this feast must go on and on and on .... Nobody gives a damn. (Floater; "Beast")

Originally posted by Ivan Kruk:
Sometimes I have an impression , that bible and other saint books would be much better understood if they are written as poetry (lyrics) and the only permitted way of reading them is sing a song.



I thought it may interest you to know that this is precisely what Greek Orthodox priests do. All the bible verses are sung.
Unfortunately they use a very old form of classical Greek which is pretty hard to comprehend unless you have a masterful grasp of old Greek.
Some of the services can be very moving though, because of the verses they sing and the partircular melodies they use.

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