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cbayer

(146,218 posts)
Sat May 16, 2015, 07:53 AM May 2015

Bill O'Reilly Blames The Decline Of American Religion On Hip-Hop

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/14/bill-oreilly-hip-hop_n_7283556.html

By Antonia Blumberg

Posted: 05/14/2015 12:30 pm EDT Updated: 05/14/2015 12:59 pm EDT

A new Pew Research report found that the number of Americans who identify as Christian dropped from 78.4 percent to 70.6 percent between 2007 and 2014, and conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly thinks he knows why.

In a Wednesday segment, the Fox News anchor said that "people of faith are being marginalized by a secular media and pernicious entertainment."

"The rap industry, for example, often glorifies depraved behavior, and that sinks into the minds of some young people -- the group that is most likely to reject religion," he said. "Also, many movies and TV shows promote non-traditional values. If you are a person of faith, then the media generally thinks you are a loon."

O'Reilly's conclusion is flawed and "troubling" for many reasons, said the Rev. Tony Lee, the senior pastor at the Community of Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church. Lee noted that the pundit specifically did not mention rock, pop, country or any other genre of music.

more at link, including video
31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bill O'Reilly Blames The Decline Of American Religion On Hip-Hop (Original Post) cbayer May 2015 OP
Why can't we blame the Christian community for sprewing hate? Thinkingabout May 2015 #1
We can, but O'Reilly can't. cbayer May 2015 #3
I am an atheist iwillalwayswonderwhy May 2015 #2
Agree. It's as bad as Limbaugh's blame it on the gays. cbayer May 2015 #4
There is always a scapegoat with religion (the literary origin of "scapegoat"). longship May 2015 #5
And the more outrageous they can make it, the better it sells. cbayer May 2015 #6
I remember the outrage over Elvis in the fifties. longship May 2015 #7
I never liked Elvis either. cbayer May 2015 #9
I dislike Hip-Hop edhopper May 2015 #8
"Anything that helps people reject religion is doing something right." cbayer May 2015 #11
good one edhopper May 2015 #17
Here you go: cbayer May 2015 #20
thanks edhopper May 2015 #27
Religion & Hip Hop Studies . . . and . . . What Christianity Can Be Petrushka May 2015 #10
What a fantastic site! cbayer May 2015 #12
Glad you like it! Petrushka May 2015 #13
That would be a fun course. cbayer May 2015 #14
Relative to that Religion & Hip Hop course, here's another FB link you might wanna peruse ---> Petrushka May 2015 #16
That is so great that you are doing this. cbayer May 2015 #19
Start at the following link ---> Petrushka May 2015 #21
I have registered and thank you very, very much. cbayer May 2015 #22
Just noticed: Religion & Hip Hop course is archived at edX, meaning . . . Petrushka May 2015 #23
I will do that. cbayer May 2015 #24
What a coincidence! Petrushka May 2015 #25
That is an amazing coincidence. cbayer May 2015 #26
I thought it was due to gay marriage? CanonRay May 2015 #15
Muslims doing hip hop while smoking pot at a gay wedding. cbayer May 2015 #18
I absolutely loathe everything about Hip-Hop and Rap noise........ aka-chmeee May 2015 #28
Hd really proves what an idiot and dinosaur he is. hrmjustin May 2015 #29
...I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it AtheistCrusader May 2015 #30
Billo is a racist, anti-atheist, anti-science scumbag Lordquinton May 2015 #31

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
1. Why can't we blame the Christian community for sprewing hate?
Sat May 16, 2015, 08:11 AM
May 2015

They preach hate towards LGBT, Muslim, and others, they should be talking about loving others. Who wants to listen to hate.

longship

(40,416 posts)
5. There is always a scapegoat with religion (the literary origin of "scapegoat").
Sat May 16, 2015, 08:18 AM
May 2015

One should never, ever give any of these people any credence. The argument is mere rubbish.

The blame game is one of the more pernicious of religion's affectations.

longship

(40,416 posts)
7. I remember the outrage over Elvis in the fifties.
Sat May 16, 2015, 08:38 AM
May 2015

That was also on putative religious grounds, although it was not so overtly presented as such in those days. I find it sublime that Elvis spent a good part of his career singing gospel.

BTW, I despise Elvis. IMHO, he was talentless. But he is an exemplar of this cultural affectation that a particular form of music is somehow against some other part of culture (i.e., religion). It speaks strongly for religion's negative cultural effects. I also despise hip-hop, rap, or whatever one calls it, however I would not want it to go away. I would not presume that my musical tastes are in any way the norm, or are necessarily better than others.

Like rap? Or Elvis? That is okee-dokee with me. Myself, I like Bach, Mozart, and Puccini. I hope that's okay with you as well. I also like classical religious music. As me being a lifelong atheist that may seem strange, however, music is music. If one gets ones inspiration from religion who am I to quibble. As Duke Ellington said, "If the music sounds good, it is good."


cbayer

(146,218 posts)
9. I never liked Elvis either.
Sat May 16, 2015, 09:03 AM
May 2015

He wasn't even on my radar and his act held no appeal to me. I really wasn't aware of a religious objection to him. I thought it was just a prudish objection to his semi-overt sexuality.

The Beatles, OTOH, I would have walked through fire for.

While I don't love hip-hop and rap, I have a respect for it. It is powerful and there are some performers that I really enjoy at the right time/place.

I love all kinds of music. My favorite radio show all week is David Johannsen's Mansion of Fun on Sirius radio's The Loft. He plays a very eclectic array of music, from opera to jazz to choral to blues. He always has a theme, though you may have to listen carefully to discover it.

If you have access, check it out. It streams and can be played on demand if you subscribe.

Life music, religion is personal. If it speaks to you, it speaks to you, just like the Duke said.

edhopper

(33,208 posts)
8. I dislike Hip-Hop
Sat May 16, 2015, 08:45 AM
May 2015

but if O'Reilly is right, I will have to offer my praises to it.

Anything that helps people reject religion is doing something right.

Petrushka

(3,709 posts)
10. Religion & Hip Hop Studies . . . and . . . What Christianity Can Be
Sat May 16, 2015, 09:12 AM
May 2015

< snip >

As the numbers decline…maybe the numbers of Christian need to decline so that a more robust and genuine faith can evolve without Christianity itself.


Perhaps we need fewer self-identified Christians and far more followers of Christ.


Perhaps we need fewer self-identified Christians and far more lovers of justice, mercy, and righteousness.


Perhaps we need much less civil religion, often couched in American patriotism, and far more theologically sound doctrine focused on the lost and the “least of these.”


I am convinced that Christianity needs more disciples, not members. We need more lovers of God, not pew sitters. We need more agents of mercy, not church boards.


As the numbers of self-identified Christians decline, perhaps what will emerge will be an actual reflection of the kingdom of God: those committed in both word and in deed to walk humbly, act justly, and love mercy. As the numbers decline, perhaps those who identify as Christians in the United States will be shaken from their comfort and slumber and rise up to tend to the business at hand: loving God and loving each other.

http://kineticslive.com/2015/05/what-christianity-can-be%E2%80%8F/


In my opinion, the younger generation(s) are searching for answers to the same ole same ole age-olde questions---"Why am I here?" and "What does it all mean?" and etcetera---but, if, during their spiritual quest, the young-uns have been turned on by the rhythms and rhymes of rap music and the other elements of hip-hop culture, perhaps it's because they were turned off by "churchianity."

Anyway . . .



http://kineticslive.com/2012/09/kineticslive-com-presents-religion-and-hip-hop-the-new-terrain/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Religion-and-Hip-Hop-at-Rice-University/170557972969389?fref=ts

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monica-r-miller-phd/no-church-in-the-wild-spirituality-between-beats-and-rhymes_b_1756187.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/snoop-lion-and-the-struggle-to-find-spirituality-in-hip-hop/2012/08/03/15e60650-dc25-11e1-af1d-753c613ff6d8_blog.html


cbayer

(146,218 posts)
12. What a fantastic site!
Sat May 16, 2015, 09:20 AM
May 2015

Thanks so much for bringing it here. I have not checked your other links, but the kineticslive site is great.

I started watching this amazing video and it alone is outstanding.

Petrushka

(3,709 posts)
13. Glad you like it!
Sat May 16, 2015, 09:39 AM
May 2015

I just discovered it myself . . . after it was brought to my attention by something posted at the Facebook timeline link I provided. .

Oh . . . but . . . the free online "Religion and Hip Hop" course offered at that Facebook link sorta finished up earlier this month.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
14. That would be a fun course.
Sat May 16, 2015, 09:56 AM
May 2015

I'm going to check this site regularly and see what else they come up with.

Thanks!

Petrushka

(3,709 posts)
16. Relative to that Religion & Hip Hop course, here's another FB link you might wanna peruse --->
Sat May 16, 2015, 10:15 AM
May 2015
https://www.facebook.com/reli157x?fref=ts


Edited to add:
Yes, the course was fun . . . and proved especially interesting to this olde biddie who knew nothing about hip-hop culture but was willing to learn. It was the third free edX course I've taken in the past two years; and I'll be starting a fourth on the first of next month.






cbayer

(146,218 posts)
19. That is so great that you are doing this.
Sat May 16, 2015, 10:51 AM
May 2015

Where do you find out about the courses?

I'm trying to keep my brain in shape and learning new things is critical.

Kudos to you.

Petrushka

(3,709 posts)
23. Just noticed: Religion & Hip Hop course is archived at edX, meaning . . .
Sat May 16, 2015, 11:43 AM
May 2015

. . . you can sign up at any time and review the Courseware at your own pace . . . but I don't think you can earn a certificate at this point.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
24. I will do that.
Sat May 16, 2015, 11:45 AM
May 2015

I just signed up for the Letters of Paul. This is something that I know so little about and the faculty looks great.

What are you going to take next?

Petrushka

(3,709 posts)
25. What a coincidence!
Sat May 16, 2015, 11:59 AM
May 2015

I signed up for the Letters of Paul a few minutes ago . . . something to keep me occupied until the certificate course begins in June: Jesus in Scripture and Tradition. Also---coming soon---Humanity and Nature in Chinese Thought.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)
26. That is an amazing coincidence.
Sat May 16, 2015, 12:24 PM
May 2015

The two courses your are planning on taking next sound great.

I'm really excited about this and sometimes think that serendipitous things like this happen just when you need them.

I will not forget your, Petrushka.

CanonRay

(14,038 posts)
15. I thought it was due to gay marriage?
Sat May 16, 2015, 10:13 AM
May 2015

Maybe it's hip hop being played at gay weddings? Maybe Billo, Pat Robertson and Huckabee should get together and work this out and let us all know.

aka-chmeee

(1,129 posts)
28. I absolutely loathe everything about Hip-Hop and Rap noise........
Sat May 16, 2015, 05:38 PM
May 2015

but I may have to reconsider if it actually has that redeeming attribute.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)
31. Billo is a racist, anti-atheist, anti-science scumbag
Sat May 16, 2015, 10:31 PM
May 2015

Saw this comment on the story

Rappers are religious at a rate much higher than the general population. MUCH higher. The list of atheist and agnostic rappers past and present with national distribution is so small that I can count them off on one hand. The vast majority... the VAST majority of rappers are either christian, muslim, or members of the nation. And they rhyme about it, believe me.

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