Soul Selling: A Look Into Music Censorship

             In today's society, music censorship is an issue that plagues not only the music industry, but television, radio stations, department store chains, and the average American. Music censorship is the term used to describe the act of editing, altering, or preventing the listener from hearing the music as the artist created it in order to deny certain information or to act as a moral gatekeeper of potentially harmful material. The argument for music censorship is not so much an argument against censoring the actual music; it is a battle over the themes, lyrics, and imagery that are being presented by the artist. It is a fight to keep moral standards and decency alive, and to fight against obscenity and indecency. When music is censored, more often than not, only the words that are deemed as "dirty" by our society are taken out. That should not be the case. All lyrics promoting sexual immorality, degradation of women, drug use, racial content, violent behavior, and all that justify as well as promote immorality should be censored.
             The Bible provides help when look ing at the issue of music censorship. The Bible does not come right out and say that music should be censored, but a few verses can be related to music censorship. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no evil talk come from your mouths, but only what is useful for building up as there is a need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear." This verse is clearly saying that no one should speak (or in this case, sing) obscene words or of obscene things such as adultery or murder. Another verse that relates to music censorship is Psalm 98:4, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises."
             This verse is saying that music is a wondrous thing as long as long as it is sung in praise to the Lord and not polluted. The biblical material as mentioned above, should be looked at as a guide when dealing ...

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Soul Selling: A Look Into Music Censorship. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 15:36, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/90527.html