“It Is Amazing How Complete Is The Delusion That Beauty Is Goodness," Tolstoy

Tolstoy
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The chain of user comments below makes more sense than the upper crusty Telegraph article on which they are based. There is something insular, stuffy and egotistically self-satisfied in the effete aestheticism that the "cognoscenti" have carved out for themselves. I'm reminded of Tolstoy's cautionary observation: “It is amazing how complete is the delusion that beauty is goodness.”

"Too much Catholic church music caters to old hippies. Fortunately there's a simple solution"
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/jmacmillan/100071768/too-much-catholic-church-music-caters-to-old-hippies-fortunately-theres-a-simple-solution/

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Timothy Reid 

• a day ago

Snobbishness is not very attractive. We can appreciate all types of music in church. I mean, heavy metal, hip hop or country would be too much, but when people say that there is only 1 acceptable style of church music, I just want to shake a tambourine at them. Our choir does chant in both Latin and English as well as songs with guitars, drums and tambourines. If you read the Psalms, you notice that there is no organ mentioned, but plenty of stringed instruments, drums and tambourines. A wide selection of music makes for a well rounded congregation liturgically.

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  Andrew Ward  Timothy Reid 

  • 4 hours ago

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  It's a matter of offering the best that we have to God, because that's what He asks of us. God isn't snobbish in this respect, he just asks that we offer the highest form of praise that we can. In that light, organ and gregorian chant are more preferred because they are "finer" in quality than tamborine and guitar. And this isn't to say that tamborine and guitar are bad in and of themselves, they just fall shorter on the hierarchical list of sacred instruments. What would a man offer his intended when asking her to marry him? A diamond ring, or a pewter ring? Though it isn't a perfect metaphor (one can only offer what one has the means and money to offer), it does say something about love, and how we should give the best to those we love, especially when talking about God.

  
  
  

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  Timothy Reid  Andrew Ward 

  • 4 hours ago

  
  

  Although, I don't blame the organ player. If they're playing out of genuine praise and worship to God and their playing and singing are sub-par....they're still making a joyful noise unto the LORD and it's all good.

  
  
  

   

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  Timothy Reid  Andrew Ward 

  • 4 hours ago

  
  

  You obviously have not heard a guitar played well. Your statement that tambourine and guitar fall short on the hierarchical list of sacred instruments sounds like clerical tripe. You are right about the metaphor of the diamond ring not being perfect. My wife and I have rings that cost under $10.00. We're approaching 16 years of marriage so it's not about the ring. God doesn't care about whether you praise Him with organ and Latin or guitar, tambourine and the vernacular. One is NOT higher praise than the other. A well played guitar is much higher praise in my mind than a clunky organ player.
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