I think the point that atheists miss with Owl City and Young's lyrics is that the pervasive joy, hopefulness and vivid imagination he inspires are all directly linked to his relationship with God. There really isn't another way to say it. If he wasn't a Christian, it would be hard to maintain this state of eternal optimism for long. Once you listen to it from that point of view... that everything he believes from his core outwards is entirely dependent upon his relationship with his creator, is it any wonder he's joyful? And that he wants to share that joy with others as a way to reach others? It's a wonder it doesn't come out more.
I'm not going to make some ridiculous statement and say that only christian's can make inspiring music. But it's pretty easy to see here how worship of God spills over into his broader message he spreads in his music. At least as a christian, it's pretty clear to me.
But if you don't believe in God, you're left with the unenviable task of separating the happiness and positiveness of the music from it's inspiration. I don't know how you do that.
Well, I have to disagree strongly there. You don't have to separate the happiness and positiveness from its inspriration to enjoy the words or the thought he is trying to get across. The core foundations of a religious soul and outlook can be accomplished without beleiving in a creator . Maybe I speak for myself, but the only reason I don't beleive in god is because I don't "feel" it the way everyone and the bible says I should.
Well, I have to disagree strongly there. You don't have to separate the happiness and positiveness from its inspriration to enjoy the words or the thought he is trying to get across. The core foundations of a religious soul and outlook can be accomplished without beleiving in a creator . Maybe I speak for myself, but the only reason I don't beleive in god is because I don't "feel" it the way everyone and the bible says I should.
I would love to just beleive, but I can't and listening to Adam's lyrics is a great way for me...
I would love to just beleive, but I can't and listening to Adam's lyrics is a great way for me to connect to religion. I may never get there, but I respect his dedication to his beleifs to much to ever hold it against his music. Just as long as he keeps up with the amazing lyrics. Christian music lyrics are normally horrible and unimaginative, in my opinion.
"Sometimes I’m asked why the music I create tends to sound like it does – why the optimistic flavor? Is that because you’re an excessively happy person? Do you ever have bad days? It’s an innocent question and I enjoy answering it because music has always been my way of “dealing with life” by way of escapism. Rather than create art that mirrors the inevitable dark days I’m plagued with just like everyone, I prefer to let my daydreams carry me away into places where one can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone, in a way that only the mind...
"Sometimes I’m asked why the music I create tends to sound like it does – why the optimistic flavor? Is that because you’re an excessively happy person? Do you ever have bad days? It’s an innocent question and I enjoy answering it because music has always been my way of “dealing with life” by way of escapism. Rather than create art that mirrors the inevitable dark days I’m plagued with just like everyone, I prefer to let my daydreams carry me away into places where one can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone, in a way that only the mind can allow. And rather than express whatever angst and malaise that gets dealt my way by writing profane songs littered with curse words or crude allegories or sexual vulgarities, I’d rather spend my time imagining how immensely BEAUTIFUL this life has the perfect potential of being. Of course, each artist to his or her own, but somehow “portraying true, gritty hard reality” tends to make me sick, whatever the medium of art. I can’t even watch an R-rated movie without feeling violated and totally nasty."
Adam posted that on his blog about a month ago. Not one mention of God in there, is there? My favorite song is currently "Angels", even if I am an atheist. And this song? Well, Adam here is saying that God is what makes his life beautiful and worthwhile. What I hear is the very fact that life IS beautiful and worthwhile. Not two atheists are the same.
I think I may have been a bit harsh there, for that I apologize :(
I think I may have been a bit harsh there, for that I apologize :(
No doubt, some of the most beautiful works of art, poetry, etc, have been written by agnostics and atheists... I think I'm just noting his particular style, and his belief in God.
No doubt, some of the most beautiful works of art, poetry, etc, have been written by agnostics and atheists... I think I'm just noting his particular style, and his belief in God.
This can quickly spiral into a discussion about our existence on Earth and what our purpose is, but in a nutshell, my belief in God is what predicates my finding the world beautiful. And it's what gives me a purpose. It's what gives Adam a purpose, gives him the inspiration to seek the beauty...
This can quickly spiral into a discussion about our existence on Earth and what our purpose is, but in a nutshell, my belief in God is what predicates my finding the world beautiful. And it's what gives me a purpose. It's what gives Adam a purpose, gives him the inspiration to seek the beauty in a created world and marvel at our existence here. If you believe God created the entire universe to demonstrate His glory to us, on our little 25000 mile wide floating paradise alone in space, it's pretty awe inspiring. Likewise, it's the nature of God, aka His morality, that gives Adam sick heebie jeebies when he listens to a rapper sing about bad things. Nitty Gritty reality is evil, and thus repulsive, if you haven't numbed your conscience to it. Non-christian's feel the same way to a certain extent too, if they don't subject their minds to trash in the media all the time too.
Now I agree, your religious beliefs or lack there of don't stop you from creating an imaginative world where you can go to escape. I just think that his particular style of doing so finds it's inspiration from God, and his belief in what that entails. But that's all open to interpretation, and I didn't mean to shut anyone down here. It's awesome his music can be interpreted so many different ways, and bring joy to people no matter their personal beliefs. My 2 cents! :)
@Doug9las6 Sorry for "imposing" like this, but it doesn't really sound right to me when you say you can't believe in God because you don't "feel" it. Feeling are not to be trusted, as I have well learned (sorry, Obi-Wan). I don't believe because I feel any particular thing, but rather because it makes the most logical sense to me. I don't have room (and you don't have the time or desire) to put my whole complex philosophy here, but I can't believe the unbearable vastness of the galaxies could come from anything but infinity (which God is)....
@Doug9las6 Sorry for "imposing" like this, but it doesn't really sound right to me when you say you can't believe in God because you don't "feel" it. Feeling are not to be trusted, as I have well learned (sorry, Obi-Wan). I don't believe because I feel any particular thing, but rather because it makes the most logical sense to me. I don't have room (and you don't have the time or desire) to put my whole complex philosophy here, but I can't believe the unbearable vastness of the galaxies could come from anything but infinity (which God is).
I think the point that atheists miss with Owl City and Young's lyrics is that the pervasive joy, hopefulness and vivid imagination he inspires are all directly linked to his relationship with God. There really isn't another way to say it. If he wasn't a Christian, it would be hard to maintain this state of eternal optimism for long. Once you listen to it from that point of view... that everything he believes from his core outwards is entirely dependent upon his relationship with his creator, is it any wonder he's joyful? And that he wants to share that joy with others as a way to reach others? It's a wonder it doesn't come out more.
I'm not going to make some ridiculous statement and say that only christian's can make inspiring music. But it's pretty easy to see here how worship of God spills over into his broader message he spreads in his music. At least as a christian, it's pretty clear to me.
But if you don't believe in God, you're left with the unenviable task of separating the happiness and positiveness of the music from it's inspiration. I don't know how you do that.
Well, I have to disagree strongly there. You don't have to separate the happiness and positiveness from its inspriration to enjoy the words or the thought he is trying to get across. The core foundations of a religious soul and outlook can be accomplished without beleiving in a creator . Maybe I speak for myself, but the only reason I don't beleive in god is because I don't "feel" it the way everyone and the bible says I should.
Well, I have to disagree strongly there. You don't have to separate the happiness and positiveness from its inspriration to enjoy the words or the thought he is trying to get across. The core foundations of a religious soul and outlook can be accomplished without beleiving in a creator . Maybe I speak for myself, but the only reason I don't beleive in god is because I don't "feel" it the way everyone and the bible says I should.
I would love to just beleive, but I can't and listening to Adam's lyrics is a great way for me...
I would love to just beleive, but I can't and listening to Adam's lyrics is a great way for me to connect to religion. I may never get there, but I respect his dedication to his beleifs to much to ever hold it against his music. Just as long as he keeps up with the amazing lyrics. Christian music lyrics are normally horrible and unimaginative, in my opinion.
"Sometimes I’m asked why the music I create tends to sound like it does – why the optimistic flavor? Is that because you’re an excessively happy person? Do you ever have bad days? It’s an innocent question and I enjoy answering it because music has always been my way of “dealing with life” by way of escapism. Rather than create art that mirrors the inevitable dark days I’m plagued with just like everyone, I prefer to let my daydreams carry me away into places where one can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone, in a way that only the mind...
"Sometimes I’m asked why the music I create tends to sound like it does – why the optimistic flavor? Is that because you’re an excessively happy person? Do you ever have bad days? It’s an innocent question and I enjoy answering it because music has always been my way of “dealing with life” by way of escapism. Rather than create art that mirrors the inevitable dark days I’m plagued with just like everyone, I prefer to let my daydreams carry me away into places where one can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone, in a way that only the mind can allow. And rather than express whatever angst and malaise that gets dealt my way by writing profane songs littered with curse words or crude allegories or sexual vulgarities, I’d rather spend my time imagining how immensely BEAUTIFUL this life has the perfect potential of being. Of course, each artist to his or her own, but somehow “portraying true, gritty hard reality” tends to make me sick, whatever the medium of art. I can’t even watch an R-rated movie without feeling violated and totally nasty."
Adam posted that on his blog about a month ago. Not one mention of God in there, is there? My favorite song is currently "Angels", even if I am an atheist. And this song? Well, Adam here is saying that God is what makes his life beautiful and worthwhile. What I hear is the very fact that life IS beautiful and worthwhile. Not two atheists are the same.
I think I may have been a bit harsh there, for that I apologize :(
I think I may have been a bit harsh there, for that I apologize :(
No doubt, some of the most beautiful works of art, poetry, etc, have been written by agnostics and atheists... I think I'm just noting his particular style, and his belief in God.
No doubt, some of the most beautiful works of art, poetry, etc, have been written by agnostics and atheists... I think I'm just noting his particular style, and his belief in God.
This can quickly spiral into a discussion about our existence on Earth and what our purpose is, but in a nutshell, my belief in God is what predicates my finding the world beautiful. And it's what gives me a purpose. It's what gives Adam a purpose, gives him the inspiration to seek the beauty...
This can quickly spiral into a discussion about our existence on Earth and what our purpose is, but in a nutshell, my belief in God is what predicates my finding the world beautiful. And it's what gives me a purpose. It's what gives Adam a purpose, gives him the inspiration to seek the beauty in a created world and marvel at our existence here. If you believe God created the entire universe to demonstrate His glory to us, on our little 25000 mile wide floating paradise alone in space, it's pretty awe inspiring. Likewise, it's the nature of God, aka His morality, that gives Adam sick heebie jeebies when he listens to a rapper sing about bad things. Nitty Gritty reality is evil, and thus repulsive, if you haven't numbed your conscience to it. Non-christian's feel the same way to a certain extent too, if they don't subject their minds to trash in the media all the time too.
Now I agree, your religious beliefs or lack there of don't stop you from creating an imaginative world where you can go to escape. I just think that his particular style of doing so finds it's inspiration from God, and his belief in what that entails. But that's all open to interpretation, and I didn't mean to shut anyone down here. It's awesome his music can be interpreted so many different ways, and bring joy to people no matter their personal beliefs. My 2 cents! :)
@Doug9las6 Sorry for "imposing" like this, but it doesn't really sound right to me when you say you can't believe in God because you don't "feel" it. Feeling are not to be trusted, as I have well learned (sorry, Obi-Wan). I don't believe because I feel any particular thing, but rather because it makes the most logical sense to me. I don't have room (and you don't have the time or desire) to put my whole complex philosophy here, but I can't believe the unbearable vastness of the galaxies could come from anything but infinity (which God is)....
@Doug9las6 Sorry for "imposing" like this, but it doesn't really sound right to me when you say you can't believe in God because you don't "feel" it. Feeling are not to be trusted, as I have well learned (sorry, Obi-Wan). I don't believe because I feel any particular thing, but rather because it makes the most logical sense to me. I don't have room (and you don't have the time or desire) to put my whole complex philosophy here, but I can't believe the unbearable vastness of the galaxies could come from anything but infinity (which God is).