Friday, July 15, 2011

Atheist Songs (?)


It is often said that the arts is the best way to learn philosophy (I heard this from a Christian preacher). People will not bother to read books or listen to philosophers when it comes to their belief system. I agree that people would get their philosophies through the arts, like music, painting, etc.

The problem I have is that most of the so called atheists’ songs are not of my genre. I have nothing against rock music and stuff but the thing is that I find them too noisy.

Then there was Nerina Pallot. My first encounter with her was with the song, “Sophia.” I really liked the way she sang, and then I forgot all about her. Then I decided one time to listen to her songs. I then learned of “Everyone’s Gone to War.”

She says in some lines:

“If God's on our side, then God is a joker,
Asleep on the job, his children fall over”

That for me presents some sense of doubt for the goodness of God.

The good thing about this singer is the way she says her words. For me it’s how words are said that makes them more meaningful.

The last song I’ll be presenting is “Damascus.” It’s the reverse of the story of the conversion of St. Paul done in a very poetic and heartbreaking way. The lines go:

“I saw the light-I saw the light!
But hey, it never saw me,
Oh, conversation has just left me heathen”

And “It's hell, hell is where I'm gonna be,
The devil my intimate friend,
And hell is other people's hearts,
And knowing that everything must end.”

So go ahead and pick up her albums. You won’t regret it, even if you are not an atheist.