Comedy, music, dancing, and religions.

[Mock Turtle]

I don't know about any others, but I suspect it will be so for many without any particular religious beliefs, that one of the things that usually puts one off any religion is how it sees any of these. Oliver Cromwell might have had a point about the monarchy being a leech on society (not sure he ever used such words but it still applies) but his subsequent behaviour when in power - being quite puritanical (coming from being intensely religious perhaps?) was a bit of a blow to the populace. Misery-guts hardly seems to describe him adequately. Abandoning public holidays, closing down theatres (‘Being spectacles of pleasure, too commonly expressing lascivious Mirth and levitie… Publike Stage-playes shall cease, and bee forborne.’), but no doubt they were truly evil, just as they are today.

There are a few religions apparently where some believers seem to hold onto such anachronistic views - Charlie Hebdo comes to mind, along with similar attitudes to song and dance - but for most, these things are just part and parcel of everyday life - and all the better for such. One of my favourite forms of music is country dance (as exemplified by the excellent Blowzabella), because it just provides such innocent pleasure to so many.

Are you equally turned off religions because of certain attitudes towards what many of us would see as just 'normal life'? Or is it just the very few who hold such views anyway - so let them have their (lack of) fun?

How do you see such?

 

[Sunstone]

Asceticism is a legitimate religious path, but some ascetics, such as Cromwell, forget it is not a legitimate path for everyone.

 

[Left Coast]

I don't know about any others, but I suspect it will be so for many without any particular religious beliefs, that one of the things that usually puts one off any religion is how it sees any of these. Oliver Cromwell might have had a point about the monarchy being a leech on society (not sure he ever used such words but it still applies) but his subsequent behaviour when in power - being quite puritanical (coming from being intensely religious perhaps?) was a bit of a blow to the populace. Misery-guts hardly seems to describe him adequately. Abandoning public holidays, closing down theatres (‘Being spectacles of pleasure, too commonly expressing lascivious Mirth and levitie… Publike Stage-playes shall cease, and bee forborne.’), but no doubt they were truly evil, just as they are today.

There are a few religions apparently where some believers seem to hold onto such anachronistic views - Charlie Hebdo comes to mind, along with similar attitudes to song and dance - but for most, these things are just part and parcel of everyday life - and all the better for such. One of my favourite forms of music is country dance (as exemplified by the excellent Blowzabella), because it just provides such innocent pleasure to so many.

Are you equally turned off religions because of certain attitudes towards what many of us would see as just 'normal life'? Or is it just the very few who hold such views anyway - so let them have their (lack of) fun?

How do you see such?

Religions like that would certainly turn me off. Even when I was a Baptist I thought the prohibition against dancing and drinking among some Baptists was stupid and legalistic.

Thankfully, there are religions that don't have those neuroses, and integrate things like music and dance into their faith.

 

[PureX]

These are very complex ideas and issues. The various forms of self-expression and 'entertainment' you refer to can be of great service to their society, or they can be used to cause great harm. Just as religious behavioral controls can be of great service to individuals and societies that engage in them, or can be used to do great harm to the individuals and societies that engage in them. As Sunstone pointed out; there is no 'one-size-fits-all' resolution to the application of art or religion to human social interaction.

 

[sun rise]

My perspective is that dance can be celebration of Divinity. Lord Nataraj, the Divine dancer, symbolizes the sacred nature of that dance. Our dancing at its highest is a moving prayer.

"The source of all movement,
Shiva's dance,
Gives rhythm to the universe.
He dances in evil places,
In sacred,
He creates and preserves,
Destroys and releases.

We are part of this dance
This eternal rhythm,
And woe to us if, blinded
By illusions,
We detach ourselves
From the dancing cosmos,
This universal harmony…"
Who Is Nataraj the Dancing Shiva?

 

[sun rise]

As far as comedy goes...

 

[Onoma]

....last time I tried dancing they thought I was having a seizure ( Might have been the odd facial grimaces, now that I think back on it...)

Idk, when it comes down to it, live and let live

If someone wants to have stale toast and lukewarm tap water for breakfast, who am I to deny them such earthly pleasures ?

 

[Mock Turtle]

As far as comedy goes...

So is that an affirmation of perfection or the opposite then?

 

[Spirit of Light]

I don't know about any others, but I suspect it will be so for many without any particular religious beliefs, that one of the things that usually puts one off any religion is how it sees any of these. Oliver Cromwell might have had a point about the monarchy being a leech on society (not sure he ever used such words but it still applies) but his subsequent behaviour when in power - being quite puritanical (coming from being intensely religious perhaps?) was a bit of a blow to the populace. Misery-guts hardly seems to describe him adequately. Abandoning public holidays, closing down theatres (‘Being spectacles of pleasure, too commonly expressing lascivious Mirth and levitie… Publike Stage-playes shall cease, and bee forborne.’), but no doubt they were truly evil, just as they are today.

There are a few religions apparently where some believers seem to hold onto such anachronistic views - Charlie Hebdo comes to mind, along with similar attitudes to song and dance - but for most, these things are just part and parcel of everyday life - and all the better for such. One of my favourite forms of music is country dance (as exemplified by the excellent Blowzabella), because it just provides such innocent pleasure to so many.

Are you equally turned off religions because of certain attitudes towards what many of us would see as just 'normal life'? Or is it just the very few who hold such views anyway - so let them have their (lack of) fun?

How do you see such?

Personally I do not dance, I do not attain parties or concerts. It's just not interesting to me, my preferred way of life is a calm relaxing day at home.

 

[stvdv]

I don't know about any others, but I suspect it will be so for many without any particular religious beliefs, that one of the things that usually puts one off any religion is how it sees any of these.

Comedy, music, dancing, and religions.

In the Ashram I stayed, they had daily at least 3 hours music, and the dance performances during festivals were great
Festivals were like twice a month, although sometimes they celebrated for 1 week or 10 days.
So, probably it depends which Religion you pick
No comedy though

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

A religion that bans those things is too strict, imo. I have no problem with them as long as people dont start dancing during the liturgy.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Comedy, music, dancing, and religions.

In the Ashram I stayed, they had daily at least 3 hours music, and the dance performances during festivals were great
Festivals were like twice a month, although sometimes they celebrated for 1 week or 10 days.
So, probably it depends which Religion you pick
No comedy though

No comedy? But I doubt any religion that appreciates dance is at all bad, and more likely very good. I have no issues with most religions, apart from the more puritanical ones.

 

[stvdv]

No comedy?

If you put 10.000 to 50.000 people in 1 place, there is plenty of "comedy" to watch

 

[sun rise]

So is that an affirmation of perfection or the opposite then?

Laughter to me in its highest form is the automatic response to the experience of real freedom. The poem expresses that:

Laughter (by Ladinskly/Hafiz)

What is laughter? What is laughter?
It is God waking up! O it is God waking up!
It is the sun poking its sweet head out
From behind a cloud
You have been carrying too long,
Veiling your eyes and heart.


It is Light breaking ground for a great Structure
That is your Real body – called Truth.


It is happiness applauding itself and then taking flight
To embrace everyone and everything in this world.


Laughter is the polestar
Held in the sky by our Beloved,
Who eternally says,


“Yes, dear ones, come this way,
Come this way towards Me and Love!


Come with your tender mouths moving
And your beautiful tongues conducting songs
And with your movements – your magic movements
Of hands and feet and glands and cells – Dancing!


Know that to God’s Eye,
All movement is a Wondrous Language,
And Music – such exquisite, wild Music!”


O what is laughter, Hafiz?
What is this precious love and laughter
Budding in our hearts?


It is the glorious sound
Of a soul waking up!

 

[SomeRandom]

Comedy, music, dancing, and religions.

In the Ashram I stayed, they had daily at least 3 hours music, and the dance performances during festivals were great
Festivals were like twice a month, although sometimes they celebrated for 1 week or 10 days.
So, probably it depends which Religion you pick
No comedy though

Ahh there is always comedy. The best pundits in temple were the ones who would joke with the crowd.