FTS Team

33 min read

On Worldly Music

Poster
Table of Contents

Fr. Moses McPherson, an Orthodox Christian priest, recently conducted an interview, where he gave wisdom to a large Orthodox Christian audience regarding Orthodox Christians listening to secular music.

We have provided citations of what was said by Fr. Moses in this interview, and to the best of our ability, have responded with the assistance of the teachings of the Holy fathers.

May we be enlightened by their wisdom.

Some are seeking the truth in bouzoukib music! Others are looking for Christ in hideous contemporary music!

— St. Paisios the Athonite.

No intrinsic harm

"For me personally, I don't have a problem listening to whatever. It doesn't bother me. It doesn't wound my conscience. I don't have any regret or blame." — Fr. Moses McPherson

We should first ask: what do our saints say about our conscience? And more importantly, when do our saints tell us that we can rely on our conscience?

For the conscience to be in a healthy condition and functioning correctly, it must be oriented according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church because every incorrect thought accepted by a person has an influence on the conscience — it begins to shift the conscience away from the correct path.

— St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Field, Chapter 14: Conscience

We should not rely on our conscience, until we have been oriented to the teachings of the saints and fathers. The reality, is that many do not know what the fathers say on such matters. Therefore, guiding newer Orthodox Christians indiscriminately to rely on their conscience, before they have developed an awareness of the teachings of the church and the fathers, is undiscerning.

Do our elders say that all types of music is permissible?

Surely, rock music and generally, jazz music in a broad sense, is not new. And it concerned the worship of idols, of demonic forces. This is why this music has inside it the demonic element.

— Elder Athanasius Mitilinaos, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcZxWDjLcGA (video below)

Play

“Just check your conscience”

"If its not causing us to sin or some other issue to transpire, then I don't really see an issue with it." — Fr. Moses McPherson

The problem with this, is that our actions often lead us into temptations, which lead us into sin, without us even realizing the connection.

When our parents tell us as children us not to place our hand on the stove, we do well to obey, and to also exercise common sense knowing the truth in this.

Likewise, if our "fathers" tell us to that music can arouse the passions (to warn us to stay away), will we disobey? And will we see how this is common sense?

The emotions, the doors into the soul through which the soul communicates with the outside world, are constantly led by the devil into fleshly pleasures and their inextricable bonds. In famous concert halls, loud music expresses and arouses various passions.

— St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

If we listen to satanic songs, it makes us unworthy to listen to the word of God, and even makes us unworthy to receive Holy Communion.

And those who listen to satanic songs, gossip, chatter, and other like absurdities are not worthy to listen to the word of God. Likewise, those who lead sinful lives cannot receive Communion and enjoy the immortal life which is brought about by divine Communion, because the powers of their souls have been put to death by the sting of sin.

— St. Nikodemos, Concerning Frequent Communion

To then to justify all types of music, as Fr. Moses does, by using the following scripture

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

— Titus 1:15 

would putting one's personal interpretation of scripture, above the interpretation of the church and the fathers, as we'll see later.

Only a Problem for Fragile People

"You have somebody who's kind of a bit more fragile or newer to the church or maybe a little more fragile in their faith, they tend to be more sensitive about things. And what they end up doing is they end up pushing their sensitivity on other people, telling other people that this is not proper or appropriate behavior." — Fr. Moses McPherson

Sensitivity to harmful influences is not a sign of weakness, but wisdom. The saints advise all believers to avoid what leads to spiritual downfall. Dismissing this as fragility shows a lack of understanding of spiritual warfare.

The songs of this world are a snare of the devil, leading the soul into impure thoughts and passions. It is better to keep silence and pray than to indulge in the melodies of the world.

— St. Ephraim the Syrian

“It's just background noise”

"I just find it's having some kind of background music beat, something thumping that is like having drummers on rowing ships - battle speed. - Right? It would beat the rhythm of the rowing. And then, you know what I mean? Also, it would use it as a distraction." — Fr. Moses McPherson

Just because it's background noise, and that one isn't paying attention to the lyrics, does not mean it isn't harmful to us.

Do not be allured by the melodious sounds of an instrument or of a voice, but by their effect upon the soul, or by the words of the song, consider what their spirit is: if the sounds produce upon your soul tranquil, chaste, holy feelings, then listen to them and feed your soul with them; whilst, if they give rise in your soul to passions, then leave off listening to them, and throw aside both the flesh and the spirit of the music.

— St. John of Kronstadt

Our need to have background noise in any task (weight lifting, running, studying, etc), points to our unrest:

We are now used to living with noise. Many young people cannot study without listening to rock and roll music! In other words, they are more comfortable studying with music than with quiet. They are comforted by unrest because there is so much unrest within them.

— St. Paisios the Athonite, With Pain and Love (pg. 191)

Is the Christian life about simply distracting ourselves from our boredom, or pain? Or is it about acquiring attention and Nepsis in all that we do?

What did the early pious Christians listen to?

We follow the Holy Fathers

Only the Church can unerringly understand Holy Scripture, for only the Church, and not the individual, is the custodian of the truth.

— St. Hilarion Triotsky, On The Dogma of The Church

We find it unfortunate that nowhere in this lecture, does Fr. Moses McPherson, an Orthodox priest, refer to any teaching from any of our Holy Fathers or saints, the tradition of the church, canons, nor anything really that is Orthodox in nature.

Acquire for yourself the thought and spirit of the Holy Fathers through the reading of their works. The Holy Fathers have attained the ultimate goal—they have been saved. You also will achieve this aim according to the natural way of things. As someone who is one in mind and heart with the Holy Fathers, you will be saved.

— St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Field

Acceptable forms of music

There are the types of music that stimulate a carnal sensation in us.

On the other hand, every natural, worldly state, no matter how elevated it may be, will, without fail, stimulate some worldly, carnal sensation—for example, rapid heartbeat, pleasurable scintillation of the nerves, goose bumps—which frequently appear when people listen to beautiful music or singing.

— Archbishop Averky, The Struggle for Virtue, Chapter 2: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

People often put forth classical music in this discussion.

It is important to note that we are not discouraging people to listen to classical music.

However, many use classical music to defend the carnal, worldly music one would listen to. So it is worth commenting on classical music, to shed light on the nature of this defense.

It is true that Fr. Seraphim Rose recommended classical music. It must be understood, however, that he himself stopped listening to classical music once he matured spiritually.

“The most refined classical music leads the soul to prayer, but the music of the Church is the music of prayer itself.” It was for this reason that Fr. Seraphim did not seek to listen to classical music during his years as a monk, even though this music had once had such a profound formative influence in leading him to God. In his first years at the skete he listened to classical music not at all. It was only later, when the children and young monastic aspirants came, that classical music tapes were played in order to refine the souls of the younger generation, many of whom had been corrupted by the carnal rhythms of contemporary cacophony.”

Hieromonk Damascene, Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works

This is often misportrayed by those who quote Fr. Seraphim Rose.

The entire reason he recommended classical music, was to help those who had been corrupted by contemporary music.

There are many who use this recommendation from Fr. Seraphim Rose, but simply to justify ALL contemporary music. Which contradicts the very reason why Fr. Seraphim Rose recommended such music.

The goal of this section isn't to comment on classical music, but rather, show how people use it as a scapegoat argument to justify the carnal music they want to listen to, and they desire to cite Fr. Seraphim Rose, irrespective of the full context.

Music of the church is always preferred

The saints also confirmed this witness. They too, agreed, that there IS edifying music outside of church music, but that church music generally is always preferred:

Select both secular and religious songs that are edifying and sing and play only these. This is for other people; you should never sing secular songs for yourself, just religious ones.

— St. Theophan the Recluse

The Elder said ‒ pointing to the box and laughing like a little child, lovely, and from the heart ‒ ‘He brought me this radio–cassette player as a gift. Take it to the School but only listen to Byzantine music with it.’ I remember, he underlined:

‘Only Byzantine music.’ He was concerned about every aspect of our upbringing and about our protection from hidden dangers.

— Saint Paisios, TESTIMONIES – ENCOUNTERS – TEACHINGS) Series: Lived Orthodoxy 3

It’s good to listen to music. The most superior music is Byzantine music, because it doesn’t agitate the soul. Instead, it unites it with God and puts it completely at ease. If you really want to, you can listen to secular music, but I say that it’s better to listen to music that doesn’t have words.

— St. Porphyrios, With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers

Conclusion

Not all types of music are ok to listen to. This is not the consensus of the fathers.

We should discern the effect of the music we listen to has on us.

Do not be allured by the melodious sounds of an instrument or of a voice, but by their effect upon the soul, or by the words of the song, consider what their spirit is: if the sounds produce upon your soul tranquil, chaste, holy feelings, then listen to them and feed your soul with them; whilst, if they give rise in your soul to passions, then leave off listening to them, and throw aside both the flesh and the spirit of the music.

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

However, the person who hasn't yet oriented themselves towards the witness of the fathers, has absolutely no business judging this for themselves, as they are listening to their passions, instead of their conscience.

Has a person who needs worldly songs and instruments as "background noise", been healed yet? Does the person who labors in ceaseless prayer, seek background noise?

When we engage in these conversations, let us strive to know what the Fathers say on these topics, before arguing, reaching our own conclusions, and simply agreeing with others.

If some theological question should arise on which no conciliar decision has been given, one should then have recourse to the opinions of the Holy Fathers, especially of those who, each in his own time and place, remaining in the unity of communion and of the faith, were accepted as approved masters; and whatsoever these may be found to have held, with one mind and with one consent, this ought to be accounted the true and Catholic doctrine of the Church, without any doubt or hesitation.

— St. Vincent of Lerins

Much music can and will awake carnal passions in us, regardless of if we listen to the lyrics or not, or even if there are no lyrics. Let us be very careful declaring that loud, worldly, sensual music has absolutely no effect on us, and contradict the saints by doing so.

If someone realizes they have to slowly and progressively reduce their consumption of music, that is another matter. But to state that listening to any type of music is ok, and to aggressively disagree with anyone who would state otherwise, labeling them as fragile, is unreasonable. It's not only not a discerning stance, but it's disrespectful of the wisdom of the fathers.

May God lead us to obedience to the saints, who were truly counted worthy of heaven. Amen.

(this text ends here, but we've added all the quotes we can find on music).


The education of youth today, especially in America, is notoriously deficient in developing responsiveness to the best expressions of human art, literature, and music. As a result, young people are formed haphazardly under the influence of television, rock music, and other manifestations of today’s culture (or rather, anti-culture); and, both as a cause and as a result of this-but most of all because of the absence on the part of the parents and teachers of any conscious idea of what Christian life is and how a young person should be brought up in it-the soul of a person who has survived the years of youth is often an emotional wasteland, and at best reveals deficiencies in the basic attitudes towards life that were once considered normal and indispensable.

— Fr. Seraphim Rose, Life and Works

Even if people are totally insensitive, they still do not find peace and rest, no matter how hard they try. They want to justify the unjustifiable, but inside they are tormented and agitated; that is why they are constantly craving entertainment, listening to loud music, getting drunk, and watching television. They crave all kinds of distraction because their conscience reproaches them.

— St. Paisios the Athonite, With Pain and Love (pg. 47)

The emotions, the doors into the soul through which the soul communicates with the outside world, are constantly led by the devil into fleshly pleasures and their inextricable bonds. In famous concert halls, loud music expresses and arouses various passions; these passions are depicted on the stages of theaters. People are led in all possible ways to these pleasures of deathly evil. When drunk with these pleasures, a person forgets about the divine goodness that saves him, the blood of the God-Man that redeems him.

— St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Field

We are now used to living with noise. Many young people cannot study without listening to rock and roll music! In other words, they are more comfortable studying with music than with quiet. They are comforted by unrest because there is so much unrest within them.

— St. Paisios the Athonite, With Pain and Love (pg. 191)

The "Jesus Movement," which is largely "charismatic" in orientation, spreads spectacularly among teenagers and young people. The crudest form of American popular music is "Christianized" at mass "Jesus-Rock Festivals," and "Christian" tunes for the first time in the century become the most popular in the land.

— Fr. Seraphim Rose, Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future

Before coming to the 1981 Pilgrimage, I had listened almost exclusively to pop and rock music. My first real exposure to classical music came at the monastery. The fathers explained how rock music is (generally speaking) music of the body; the best classical music is music of the soul; and the music of the Church is the music of the spirit (or higher part of the soul). In order to lead ourselves to the realm of the spirit, we have to rise above the fleshly and prepare the ground of our souls. Presented in this context, it made sense to me why one would listen to classical rather than rock music. I remember that when Fr. Herman played Mozart’s 24th Piano Concerto for us, it really moved me in my soul. Something deep inside me responded to it a part of me I had hardly known existed.

Going back to my dorm room at college, I did not immediately throw out all my old albums, but I did begin a weaning process, listening mostly to classical and good folk music. People down the hall were playing The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen, while I was playing Rimsky Korsakov, Sibelius, and Celtic harp music. My fellow students began to respond. Their souls, too, had been starving on a diet of fleshly music. They would stop by my room and ask, ‘What is that beautiful music you’re playing? Can I borrow that album?'

— Hieromonk Damascene, Fr. Seraphim Rose, Life and Works

It is so important to have good teachers, especially in our days. Children are like blank tapes - either you can fill them with Byzantine (church) music or with filthy songs.

— St. Paisios the Athonite, With Pain and Love (pg. 340)

All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient (1 Cor. 10:23), we are taught by an Apostolic utterance. It is therefore indispensable for every man to eat in order to live. Accordingly, for those whose life is one of marriage and children and popular amusement it is proper for men and women to eat in mixed company, though to avoid calumny and reproach they ought to take food merely in order to obtain nourishment, and not for the enjoyment of it, and in absence of theatrical arts, or what may be called Satanic songs, music of harps, and whorish twistings of the body.

The Rudder

Homily IV. Upon the gathering together of the waters. There are towns where the inhabitants, from dawn to eve, feast their eyes on the tricks of innumerable conjurors. They are never tired of hearing dissolute songs which cause much impurity to spring up in their souls, and they are often called happy, because they neglect the cares of business and trades useful to life, and pass the time, which is assigned to them on this earth, in idleness and pleasure. They do not know that a theatre full of impure sights is, for those who sit there, a common school of vice; that these melodious and meretricious songs insinuate themselves into men’s souls, and all who hear them, eager to imitate the notes of harpers and pipers, are filled with filthiness.

— St. Basil the Great, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers Series II, Volume 8

One person who was very intellectually and culturally developed admitted to me that when he listened to music he had an experience of prayer. How, in fact, can we tell the difference between a natural state and a genuine spiritual one? A genuine spiritual state is always totally passionless, so exalted that it lifts a person above the earth, not offering him any worldly sensations. On the other hand, every natural, worldly state, no matter how elevated it may be, will, without fail, stimulate some worldly, carnal sensation—for example, rapid heartbeat, pleasurable scintillation of the nerves, goose bumps—which frequently appear when people listen to beautiful music or singing.

— Archbishop Averky, The Struggle for Virtue, Chapter 2: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

You must guard too your ears. First of all, do not listen to shameful and lustful speech, songs and music, which fill the soul with fancies, render it dissolute, and fan the flame of carnal lust in the heart.

Unseen Warfare, Cap 24. General lessons in the use of the senses

At a time of actual temptation [bodily passion], do as follows: hasten to discover the cause which provoked the attack and sweep it away immediately. This cause may be internal or external. External causes may be: undisciplined eyes, words sweet to the hearing, songs which delight your ears by their content or melody, fine garments made of soft materials, perfumes pleasing to the nose, free behaviour and conversations, physical touch and pressing of hands, dances and many other things. Remedies against these are: simple and humble attire, the will not to see, hear, smell, say or touch anything which may produce this shameful impulse, and especially avoidance of all intercourse with people of the other sex, as has been already said above.

Unseen Warfare, Cap 19. How to struggle against bodily passions

Homily 3. On the Power of Man to Resist the Devil. That evil comes of sloth, and virtue from diligence, and that neither wicked men, nor the devil himself, are able to do the wary man any harm. The proof of this from many passages, and amongst others from those which relate to Adam and to Job. The day before yesterday we set on foot our sermon concerning the Devil, out of our love for you. But others, the day before yesterday while these matters were being set on foot here, took their places in the theatre, and were looking on at the Devil's show. They were taking part in lascivious songs; you were having a share in spiritual music. They were eating of the Devil's garbage: you were feeding on spiritual unguents.

— St. John Chrysostom

Music is then to be handled for the sake of the embellishment and composure of manners. For instance, at a banquet we pledge each other while the music is playing; soothing by song the eagerness of our desires, and glorifying God for the copious gift of human enjoyments, for His perpetual supply of the food necessary for the growth of the body and of the soul. But we must reject superfluous music, which enervates men’s souls, and leads to variety, — now mournful, and then licentious and voluptuous, and then frenzied and frantic.

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.500-501

For God gave man also a voice; and yet love-songs and indecent things are not on that account to be sung.

Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg. 433

“Be sober, and watch; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking any one to devour.” He goes about every one of us; and even as an enemy besieging those who are shut up (in a city), he examines the walls, and tries whether there is any part of the walls less firm and less trustworthy, by entrance through which he may penetrate to the inside. He presents to the eyes seductive forms and easy pleasures, that he may destroy chastity by the sight. He tempts the ears with harmonious music, that by the hearing of sweet sounds he may relax and enervate Christian vigor.

Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg.491

If the sounds of music evoke in you calm, pure, holy sentiments-I is t e n to them and nourish your soul; if, on the other hand, they awake passions in you, stop listening and turn away from both the sound and spirit of this music.” Whenever he encountered any thing in art, and entertainment, or the culture of his time that violated the sanctity of the soul, he would quote from St. Paul: …but having itching ears will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts” (II Tim. 4:3).”

— St. John Kronstadt

St. Theodora underwent twenty toll-houses. 1) The first is in which one is tormented by the sins of idle, unruly, vulgar, and scandalous human word and speech; of blasphemy, ridicule, bawdy worldly songs, indecent exclamations, laughter, and raucous laughter.

— St. Theophan the Recluse, The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to it

Each toll-house presents its own sins: the one for slander examines all things done by the mouth and tongue: lies, oaths, broken vows, idle talk, babbling, and vain talk; gluttonous abuses and prodigal drinking of wine; uncontrolled and improper laughter; immodest and improper kisses; and lewd songs.

— St. Cyril of Alexandria, The Departure of the Soul (SAGOM)

CHAPTER FOUR Guarding the Sense of Hearing Three Evils Are Born from Hedonistic Melodies The second sense is that of hearing and one must be careful to guard it from corrupt melodies, which are composed for pleasure and which pour out the sweet honey of sound unto the ears. It seems to me that there are three evils that come from such melodies. First, these hedonistic and worldly songs tend to weaken the manly and proud bearing of the soul so that it becomes effeminate and lethargic as it listens to these sweet sounds. Secondly, these sensual songs tend to fill up the mind with the many passionate images which they describe. Thirdly, let us suppose that even if the persons doing the singing are not seen-and especially when these may be women—, nevertheless the songs themselves are capable of impressing the imagination, moving the desire of the heart and drawing out an assent from the soul. This is why St. Basil taught us: "Do not submit your souls to corrupt melodies that come to us through the ears. Many passions that enslave us have been caused to grow in our natures by this sort of music.", St. Gregory the Theologian in one of his paschal homilies said: "Let us not have the flute played to our hearing." And in his lambic Poetry he wrote: "Block your ears with wax, and foolish words hear not, nor pleasant songs or thrilling melodies."

— St. Nikodemos, A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel

Thus, for instance, he [the Devil] incites us, he makes us trust, not in God, but in money, food and drink, human ties and connections, ranks, honours and privileges, nobility of birth, intellect, education, books; he incites us to find pleasure in food, drink, dress, in concerts of worldly music, theatres, joking, idle-speaking, and in the play of words.

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

The corrupted man continually wishes to eat and drink, to continually satisfy his sight, hearing, smell, and feeling; carnal men satisfy themselves with dainty food and drink, fine sights, music, smoking, magnificent edifices, and outward splendour.

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

Thus, Christian, be afraid, each one of you, of setting your heart upon money, food, drink, dress, luxurious rooms, books, or profane music; do not love, do not indulge the flesh by anything; either by pleasures, fine views, dainty food, and drink, or by sleep, idleness, and slothfulness, by shameful deeds, games, idle travelling, or frivolous books and sights.

— St. John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ

This western mindset is responsible for inundating the entire globe with corruption and apostasy. From this center, all evil begins and flows out to the entire world…[where] we find all these by-products of western ingenuity, such as rock music, smoking, narcotics, substance abuse, licentiousness, promiscuity, crime and sexual perversions.

— Elder Athanasius Mitilinaios, Revelation Series (14:8)

Whenever you hear about the communion of bridegroom and bride, about dancing, music and feasting, do not take these things in a material or worldly manner: they are spoken of simply by way of illustration, as a condescension to our understanding.

— St. Symeon Metaphrastis, The Philokalia

A List of the Passions [...] immodest dancing, clapping, improper songs, revelry, fluteplaying [...]

The Philokalia

To occupy oneself with the arts, with music and so on, is very beneficial. The thing that I place top of the list, however, is interest in the Church, in reading Holy Scripture and attending services. As you study the words of God you are cured without being aware of it.

— St. Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pg. 179

Therefore, you have misused your Divine gift, squandering it on frivolous things. Now the thoughts that you turned toward pleasing God should also be turned toward using your Divine gift. If one is to eat and drink to the glory of God, the more so should one sing and play music. If you were to play and sing something that made an impression on the souls of the listeners and caused them to be inspired toward the Lord and rise up to Him with praise and thanksgiving, you would be doing the same thing that a good preacher does in church. This is the fruit of your gift! Direct, as you will, the use of it toward this. Select both secular and religious songs that are edifying and sing and play only these. This is for other people; you should never sing secular songs for yourself, just religious ones. I repeat again, do not change everything suddenly, but gradually.

— St. Theophan the Recluse, The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to it, pg. 264

For the first seventeen years in this wilderness I struggled with my deranged sexual desires as though with fierce beasts. I desired to eat meat and fish which I had in abundance in Egypt. I also desired to drink wine and here, I did not have even water to drink. I desired to hear lustful songs. I cried and beat my breasts. I prayed to the All-Pure Mother of God to banish such thoughts from me. When I had sufficiently cried and beat my breasts, it was then that I saw a light encompassing me on all sides and a certain miraculous peace filled me.

— St. Mary of Egypt

Even the church's music has a dogmatic character. No one can chant in church in any way he pleases. Music has purpose, exactly the same purpose as theology: asceticism. If we have music in church that provokes demonic feelings, that music is demonic. Not that what provokes erotic love is demonic in itself, but it is not the purpose of the Church. We cannot have romantic relationships with the saints, Christ, the All-Holy Virgin, as they have in the Latin Church. Their attitude towards the saints is romantic, so their music is effeminate and sentimental.

— Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, Empirical Dogmatics Vol. 1

The Elder said ‒ pointing to the box and laughing like a little child, lovely, and from the heart ‒ ‘He brought me this radio–cassette player as a gift. Take it to the School but only listen to Byzantine music with it.’ I remember, he underlined:

‘Only Byzantine music.’ He was concerned about every aspect of our upbringing and about our protection from hidden dangers.

SAINT PAISIOS (TESTIMONIES – ENCOUNTERS – TEACHINGS) Series: Lived Orthodoxy 3

We should not be surprised that occultists should seek to spread their worldview through films, they have always used whatever medium is available, be that paintings, drama, sculpture or music.

— Fr. Spyridon Bailey, Orthodoxy and the Kingdom of Satan

Are you careful what your ears hear? Do you like to hear sinful music and conversations?

Do you dance in a provocative and sinful manner? Do you listen to sinful immoral songs? Do you frequent parties, nightclubs, and bars? Do you celebrate sinful, worldly festivals such as Mardi Gras, gay and lesbian festivals, Halloween, etc.?

Guide to Confession, St. Anthony's Monastery: "Yourself"

And those who listen to satanic songs, gossip, chatter, and other like absurdities are not worthy to listen to the word of God. Likewise, those who lead sinful lives cannot receive Communion and enjoy the immortal life which is brought about by divine Communion, because the powers of their souls have been put to death by the sting of sin.

— St. Nikodemos, Concerning Frequent Communion

  1. The causes of bad thoughts Know that, in general, bad thoughts derive from two causes, one external and the other internal. The external cause of bad thoughts is the sensible objects of the five senses, that is, those things seen, heard, smelled, tasted, and touched, like bad and indecent and theatrical sights, obscene words and lewd songs, scents and colognes and perfumes, luscious foods and pleasurable drinks, fine and soft clothes and comfortable mattresses. All these things cause passionate and hedonistic thoughts in the soul, and then sinful and death-bearing thoughts.

— St. Nikodemos, The Exomologetarion

You [spiritual father] should advise him to guard his ears so as not to hear any bad word, indeed, those erotic and obscene songs, just as the Theologian exhorts, saying: “Block your ears with wax, and foolish words hear not, nor pleasant songs or thrilling melodies,” (Carmina Moralia 33, PG 37, 933A.) because from hearing these things the soul is disturbed and begins to recall obscene idols in its imagination and to think immoral thoughts in its heart.

— St. Nikodemos, The Exomologetarion

St. Mark the Ascetic says that: “Passion is an inclination of the mind to harmful things, firmly seated in the soul and difficult to wipe out.” Finally then, disturbance of the intellect is when the soul, without any passage of time, without any assault, but as the result of only the mere contemplation of a person, as the result of listening to a single song, as the result of a single touch of the hand, suddenly fornicates passionately.

— St. Nikodemos, The Exomologetarion

There are, of course, other less violent forms of the popular unrest. There is the passion for movement and speed, expressed especially in the veritable cult of the automobile (we have already noted this passion in Hitler); the universal appeal of television and cinema, whose most frequent function is to provide a few hours of escape from reality, both by their eclectic and "exciting" subject-matter and by the hypnotic effect of the media themselves; the increasingly primitive and savage character of popular music.....

— Fr. Seraphim Rose, Nihilism

Our adversary incessantly ensnares us with various arts of temptation. The one purpose of his schemes is to be able to draw away from the commands of God those redeemed by the blood of Christ. For this reason, we are bound to take the greatest care not to be wounded by any darts of the enemy. His weapons are not harsh to the senses of the body. In fact, they are all too pleasant to the flesh, in order to harm the soul. For the sense of sight, they draw the eyes to various desires so that, from the beauty of the world, the flames of lust might be kindled, or the errors of superstition might be born. The sense of hearing, through treacherous sounds, is touched with gentle rhythms, so that the stability of the soul might be undermined by enticing music.

— St. Leo the Great

As for obscene thoughts, they spring from the imaginative part of the soul. That is, within the mind appear people, things, and deeds that the five senses of the body have gathered and transported into the storehouse of the imagination. And in time, the devil will present to the imagination people or things or songs, etc., that the senses have stored up, and in order to create thoughts he incites the passion so that he may sack the city of God—the heart, that is—and defile it.

— Geronda Ephraim, Counsels from the Holy Mountain

An exact description of the toll houses and the order in which they follow each other in the aerial realm is found in the vision of Theodora. She, having left her body on earth, was led by two holy angels on a path toward heaven through the aerial realm. When she started to rise up, she was met by the dark spirits of the first toll house, in which all human sins of the word are tested, such as idle talk, foul language, ridicule, blasphemy, singing of foul songs, rude exclamations, sinful laughter, etc.

— St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Threshold

When you have children, teach them music; of course, real music and not dances and songs. Music aids the development of the acceptance of spiritual lift. The soul becomes more refined. It begins to also understand spiritual music.

— St Barsanuphius of Optina

The Sources of Sin

The Elder pointed out the doorways by which sin enters, internally through thoughts and externally through the senses. One day, when in a friend’s car, we passed by a gypsy camp. It was the well-known scene of their camp, with surrounding speakers, continually playing bawdy modern folk music of gypsy preference. The Elder was silent. I, however, frowned on those people in my thoughts, for their cultural level in general and their listening habits in particular. Then I heard the Elder interrupting my thoughts saying, “The poor gypsies. What can they do? They play those songs to gain comfort in their misery.” I wondered: Did the Elder then agree with their musical preferences? Then the Elder, again knowing my thoughts said, “Of course, I’m not saying that those songs are good.”

— St. Porphyrios, With Elder Porphyrios: A Spiritual Child Remembers