As a reader of this blog, you’ve probably noticed that I put up pictures or videos relating to posts. In trying to find one for Ariana Grande’s new music video God is a Woman, I ran into some troubles. I was going to put up a link to the music video but it I didn’t want to promote it. I suppose the fact that it has tens of millions of views in just a few days shows that whether I promote it or not won’t make a difference. My second thought was to put a picture of Ariana Grande up top, however a quick Google search of her shows that it’s impossible to find a picture of her in even semi-modest attire so I couldn’t do that either. So basically I just ended up selecting a picture of some religious books and a rosary.
Basically the song God is a Woman is not about religion. It’s about a woman who’s about to have sex with someone and after this experience, he’ll believe that God is a woman; in other words her. It’s not even a pleasant song to listen to. Even the blasphemous song Take Me to Church from a few years ago was at least a bit catchy. This is just awful music.
So an explicitly sexual song with an explicitly blasphemous title; that’s what Ariana Grande has given us. I suppose that it’s not too different than when Lauren Southern set up a booth in England and handed out literature that said the Muslims god Allah was a “gay god”. Absolutely ridiculous.
Is nothing sacred anymore? I was taught as a child that marriage was between a man and a woman. I was taught that sex was meant for marriage. I always went to church with my mom and we learned about the life of Jesus Christ. How on earth could someone like Ariana Grande become such a reprobate? Was her childhood that bad?
I’ve never considered a boycott before and I always believed that I never would. I’m above that – I always used to tell myself. Even if I did it probably wouldn’t make a difference seeing as how many views this video is getting.
I really wish that I lived in a society where this stuff was banned. I don’t believe in freedom of speech or freedom of expression. I suppose in most countries in the world this video would be available. Saudi Arabia is probably one of the exceptions. They’ve most likely banned it because it would be scandalous to their people. I remember a few years ago, I was sitting with a group of people and they were talking about how barbaric Saudi Arabia was. They said that it was an inhumane country because they chop off the hand of someone who steals. My response was: “You know, I bet there’s a lot less stealing there.”
The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
– Psalm 12 : 8
Who would decide what would be banned? A government that enforces censorship is a government that must create a tribunal, like the inquisition. Authority to censor, if in the wrong hands, can quickly become tyrannical.
Although I agree with your concerns about social immorality, I still think freedom of speech and expression is the lesser evil. Perhaps the more interesting question is how to properly navigate (education, argumentation, your blog, etc.) and promote the Catholic stance in this decadent society.
The immorality of today provides your best opportunity to contrast two different ways of life; that of man and that of God (…yes, I am trying to read the City of God).
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the sharing your thoughts. It could start small for example, like Putin banning homosexual propaganda in Russia, however there situation is different. I don’t have an answer. If the year was 1200 we would have had a holy Church and a holy government so it was no problem.
I appreciate that you think it’s a lesser evil, but I think the cost is simply too big. I firmly believe in the doctrine of original sin. I live in Canada where homosexuality marriage was passed in 2005. I thought at least that things would be over. It’s only gotten worse. We should not have done that and we probably agree on this. However, they won those rights by Freedom of speech. God never promised us freedom of speech in the Bible. No Saints ever promoted it.
Here’s a post that I wrote that you should look into.
http://allanruhl.com/freedom-of-speech-is-demonic/
Putin, who I suppose has the power to censor media, could theoretically censor Christian or heterosexual propaganda. In Canada, bill C-16 could arguably punish speakers who offend transgender identities. The cost of censorship is more costly because it could – and has in communist states – be used tyrannically against our Christian morals. These examples are why I think freedom of speech needs to be defended.
While it is true that the Bible does not explicitly speak of the freedom of speech, it does talk of free will. Free will and freedom of speech are intertwined. We must be able to choose freely, not through force or coercion, to speak and act in accordance with God’s will. I think this approach would be analogous to how a Catholic should defend the principle of freedom speech.
What exactly does the Church say about Freedom of Speech? Here’s an interesting article that could add to our discussion:
https://aleteia.org/2013/01/21/what-do-catholics-believe-about-free-speech/
Hi Mark,
I fully concede that not every form of censorship is good. There is a lot of bad censorship out there. However, a holy government will govern according to the laws of God and the Church. We currently don’t have one.
Just because I believe in censorship and so do communists, doesn’t mean we agree with each other. Christianity and Islam oppose Judaism in saying that Jesus is the Messiah, but we oppose each other on His role.
I don’t believe that free will and freedom of speech are intertwined. I also don’t believe that freedom of speech can be reconciled with Catholic Tradition. That article only quotes modern documents and even it can’t find a categorical statement specifically endorsing freedom of speech.
Thanks for commenting.
God Bless,
Allan
Not the first to equate sex with the greatest experience of all.
“Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah” was even popularized by the first Shrek film.