Is it wrong for atheists to enjoy Christian Carols?

[RandBlade]

Saw today a Christian complaining about those who aren't practicing Christians treating Carols etc as "karaoke" during the Christmas season. Apparently its hypocritical/wrong and maybe even offensive - do you think so?

I wouldn't say that non-Christians should necessarily enjoy Carols, and there's enough that's secular/non-Christian origins about Christmas to enjoy if you want to be secular. Certainly plenty if not nowadays most major Christmas music is not religious of nature. However despite being very firmly a non-believer, I've always enjoyed certain Christian music, not just but especially around the Christmas season. I don't think its wrong to enjoy it in the same way you'd enjoy any other music or karaoke.

One of my all-time favourite artists is Frank Sinatra. From his music its certainly possible to love Santa Claus is coming to town on a secular level. Yet I'm not from New York, but love New York, New York so why shouldn't it be good to hear Frank singing Silent Night (one of my all-time favourite Carols) or O Little Town of Bethlehem?

If you enjoy classical music then why enjoy the works of Mendehlssohn but draw the like at Hark! The Herald Angels Sing? Its a brilliant tune.

Bing Crosby and David Bowie are two of the all-time greatest performers. So why should I be happy to enjoy Bing's White Christmas but you mustn't like Little Drummer Boy?

In other walks of life you wouldn't need to believe a work of fiction is real to enjoy it. I don't need to believe in Dwarves, Elves or Orcs to enjoy Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit, Games Workshop or Warcraft. As an atheist I believe that religion is, to put it politely, fictional. So why not just enjoy the best bits of that fiction the same way you'd enjoy any other work?

[GGT]

Religion and music don't have to be connected in the 21st century, even though music/musicians were historically connected to churches or religion in previous centuries.

Our best classical music shouldn't have to be enjoyed just in church, or during religious holidays.

Confutatis, benedictis, maledictis. Lacrimosa....REX! The librato matters less than the music itself.

[Flixy]

Am I allowed to listen to hiphop even though I'm white? Or soul or R&B?

[GGT]

Hey, tons of Christmas carols aren't "Christian" at all, but celebrate seasons and holidays with pagan roots.

Good King Wenceslas used to be one of my favorites as a kid, but it had nothing to do with religion as far as I was concerned. I also liked Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and stories about Santa Claus. But I also liked stories, parables, and music about the birth of Christ.

[Ominous Gamer]

Saw today a Christian complaining about those who aren't practicing Christians treating Carols etc as "karaoke" during the Christmas season. Apparently its hypocritical/wrong and maybe even offensive - do you think so?

That christian is an idiot.

[Veldan Rath]

That christian is an idiot.

Shocker huh?

[Nessus]

Shocker huh?

I think it could be argued that Newton was a fairly smart guy. Completely nuts, but smart. Randy's Christian is an idiot, though, and also nuts. I'm sure they'll be made MP.

[Hazir]

IIRC the complaint is based on the dislike all people who live in touristic hotspots have for tourists, so I can sort of sympathize with the feelings he expresses. I don't like tourists in my area too much either and sometimes tourists riding a bike can put me in a blind rage.

(That would be the tourists on a bike who think they are some sort of pedestrian who just happen to be using wheels to move forward. Under dutch law they are operating a vehicle and that means they are not allowed to ride on sidewalks or pedestrian areas). A couple of weeks ago an asshole on a bike hit me with his handlebar in a street that is very clearly marked as pedestrian and totally unsuitable to ride through on a bike. I pushed the handlebar back with force which made him fall. That wasn't my intention, but I also didn't feel so guilty about it that I would offer to help him back up again. That kind of angry they cause in me nowadays).

[GGT]

Saw today a Christian complaining about those who aren't practicing Christians treating Carols etc as "karaoke" during the Christmas season.

pfft. How would we know he is a Christian? And how would he know who's a practicing Christian? Bunch of fluff-n-stuff, really. The same kind of crap we get from Lewkowski posing as a Christian while posting things that would make Jesus weep.

[Hazir]

Funny he doesn't see the possibility that one of those atheist tourist might see the light and become a christian while listening to the singing and hearing the story of the birth of Jesus.

[Ominous Gamer]

Funny he doesn't see the possibility that one of those atheist tourist might see the light and become a christian while listening to the singing and hearing the story of the birth of Jesus.

this. this is what Christmas has become, (nearly) free advertising for religion. One reason why they throw a fit when atheists make holiday displays.

[GGT]

Away, in a manger, no place for a bed, the little lord jesus lay down his sweet head.....

Sounds like a song for poor or homeless parents, and their innocent children. How lib'rul.

[RandBlade]

Its not just Christmas hymns that are enjoyable as music/karaoke.

Pie Jesu is again a brilliant piece if you like classical music.
Jerusalem is an English hymn based partially on the apocryphal story that Jesus visited England, yet I would be happy to have it as a National Anthem.
While most amusingly of all I highly doubt that the Negroes singing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot would imagine that in the future it would be adopted as the unofficial hymn for drunk English Rugby Union fans (complete with crude gestures).

[Catgrrl]

I don't see why I can't just enjoy the beauty of a song. I absolutely love Christmastime, and yes I'm an atheist. And I'm always singing a Christmas song this time of year. Ave Maria and O Holy Night are two of my favorite religious Christmas songs.

[Lewkowski]

Eh? I don't get people sometimes... how can anyone be offended by more people singing Christmas carols.