By darker things, I DON'T mean participating in the occult or anything of the sort. I mean liking horror stuff, gothic type of stuff, and things that bring a less happy emotion out of the work's atmosphere. I'm not asking if it's okay, but rather asking if you believe it is or not from your point of view.

I enjoy this type of stuff. I do find the dark arts interesting to research, but I would never play around with magic. I just wanted to get that part out of the way so no one thinks I mean this. I'm not trying to seem oh so deep at all. The things I like are not of the norm among Christians from what I've seen. I enjoy the darker side of music because it is what calms me. I enjoy horror because it's hilarious, and can open the door to such creative stories that may have been laughed at for being weird otherwise. I like gothic stuff just becauase it is cool to me.

Also, if you give verses, explain why you believe the verse says that about this. I'm wanting an intelligent discussion. Thank you.

For those curious about me since I made this... May as well just give the list of bands I like...

Gorguts
Overkill
Death
Mayhem
Immortal
Burzum
Iron Maiden
Hocico
Mortification's early stuff
Antestor
Virgin Black
The Becoming
Clock DVA
Flesh Field
Slough Feg
Goatsnake
Black Sabbath
Slick Rick
Flobots
Candlemass
Screaming Trees
Agalloch
Screeching Weasel
Nausea
Saetia
Rites of Spring
Abhorrence

That list will be good for now... Discuss the topic. That list is only there for the purpose of maybe helping get the topic started and to just make it obvious that I'm not one of those kids who are obsessed with bands like Tokyo Hotel or Marilyn Manson that thinks they're so goth and dark. I had to get that straight.

Okay. If God has people who are cheery spreading his word, what about Christian goths? Yeah, goths can be cheery, but I'm just putting that out there.

No Jesus is light and goodness not evil and darkness have you ever thought of Jesus with fire, bats, vampires and blood behind him?
No you don't .
But thats just my point of view you have your own.

xekiasmarch6 : *Jesus dies on cross* 4Kids edit of blood? There goes the use of songs about Jesus and His blood in children's worship. /that was a joking remark about the blood thing

Bats are not dark. Fire is a natural thing. Vampire is an actual illness that involves needing others energy or blood. The blood versions take from people willing to, though. If you are the energy kind, you can take all you want. Don't believe me? Google vampire disease. It's called porphyria if you want to use a better term.

I respect what you think, but I also must say what I think.

I think this scripture is relevant,

...but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil (Romans 16:19).

I find this mindset to be helpful in gray areas of relationship with the Lord. I'd say that the realm of evil is a morbid curiosity for a Christian. That aside, there is absolutely nothing wrong with coming to the Lord with Gothic points of view.

Alright so for me, I might watch a horror movie or TV show of sorts, but if it's too morbid, personally I get the idea that God created us with love and to watch people get mutilated towards death doesn't entertain me.

However my perception is that there are many things that, we as Christians, would be better off not dwelling upon in order to understand the love that God has for us.

No, I don't think its following God to have any kind of interest in what is dark. It might only be an "interest" without actually worshiping Satan, but just because you aren't waving a candle around chanting hail Satan does not mean you aren't serving him. Honestly, if someone has a love for God than they would have no interest in darkness. I love horror movies and creepy books but depending on what I'm watching or reading, any type of infatuation or interest can develop and that is unhealthy. And even if you do not follow God I have experience with this kind of thing. I know very well how dangerous it is to even have interest. By having an interest you're basically daring the darkness to come and get you, it uses the interest to suck you in. You really need to be careful.

I don't think it is.... I think you've got to pick your side. If you want to enjoy the dark things then go enjoy them.... if you want to be Christian then don't do it halfway... go all out because otherwise you're just kidding yourself in claiming to be Christian.

geeogree : And I was meaning non-occult or Lucifarian dark. Not the other way around. I even say that in a less clear way on my thread creator post.

Also... Since gothic culture is part of what I meant...

http://www.christiangoth.com/

I find the occultish stuff interesting, but I am against hurting anyone. For example, Ouija boards hurt the spirits it summons, and causes bad things. I find them pointless, anyway. Why talk to the dead? They want to be left alone. I would never do any occult stuff. Also, if the dark side of life is wrong, why? I respect the fact that not everyone will think the same, and like that. I respect the religious. I have respect for everyone here, but I'm curious about why a Christian who is being how they were made equates to Satan and crap like that.

Another thing I'd like to know. Why does dark equate to evil or sin? I know this is a, "Here, have an opinion." thread, but I'm curious.

The Dark equates to evil and sin because this is where sin comes from. The Darkness is absolute defiance against God. The dark arts such as witch craft or mysticism or any part of the occult is an abomination to Christ. The power from the darkness is purely from Satan. And as for ouija boards, looking at that from a Christ perspective, they don't summon the dead as they are already dealt with, they only summon demons.

Okay I vaguely understand the "darkness" of Gothic. There's nothing evil about Gothic per say unless it results in evil, and chances are that a lot of aspects from Gothic do.

Um..yes it is possible to enjoy that type of stuff. As long as you believe in the lord in your heart than you're free to do anything. only god knows your intentions and knows whether or not you're pure hearted. Liking gothic things does NOT make you evil or a devil worshipper. We all have minds of our own and are able to do what we choose...but again only god knows out intentions.

I think you may need to explain a little bit on what exactly do you do. I mean, explain "darker things"

As for what has been talked about just now, concerning goth culture stuff, like just enjoying rock music, dark colors, and all that. (am I understanding this correctly, it is only to enjoy these artistic views, like more dark and horror things?) I think it's fine. There's nothing wrong with it.

However, if you are involved doing stuff that is like witchcraft, or any type of thing that involves getting mixed or messing around with the spirit world or something like that (even if it is not hurting anybody), that is evil. The Bible makes it EXPLICITLY CLEAR not to do that.

Yeah, I think as long as you're not going into witchcraft and stuff like that... and as long as the "dark" stuff you speak of isn't dark enough to the point where it's almost worshiping the devil... then it shouldn't be a bad thing...
But I do have to say that I think it would be unhealthy to your Christian life to even explore too much of that type of stuff.

play4fun : I explicitly mean stuff like music about death, and just darker things, goth culture, death, horror media, and stuff like that. People are twisting what I mean insto OCCULT. I mentioned I find the occult interesting, but I didn't mean doing it. No. I meant learning about it. I don't plan to do it. I don't want to do anything that could actually hurt someone or something.

Rock music isn't goth, by the way. Rock music is for everyone. Now if we're talking stuff like goth rock, that is one dark style of music I mean. I prefer black metal, industrial, death metal, and doom metal over that stuff normally, though. Much goth rock is actually written with humor in mind. Notice how the song Bela Lugoshi is Dead seems to be a joke song? Well... It is. Goths like deadpan humor, dark humor, and dry humor. I like that kind of stuff, but I can clearly say I'm not goth because I only seem it.

Now the music I listen to does have theme s about Satanism, but it doesn't effect me. I can say that much. I like one band known for doing black magic mock stuff on stage called Black Widow. I like the theme s of the early stuff for the fact that it is interesting. I know not to do what is said. I'm playing a game called Show Hearts that shows explicit scenes of demonic possession, Taoism, Taoist magic, and even uses of the GD word. I like the game for the magic stuff that isn't just boring fluffy sheep stuff, but I would never do it.

I was taught fact from fiction. I was also taught not to do what is in fiction. I would watch a horror movie like Halloween, and would enjoy the violence, but I know it's fake.

I have read the Bible. I know what's right from wrong. I'm glad we know this is a debate/general conversation, which is good. I made this to sorta challenge, and also to see different views. Notice how I respond with a calm demeanor? I'm a person who likes to learn, and even if it means learning of views I don't agree with, I want to learn it.

I don't do anything that involves witchcraft. I don't dabble in it. I don't want to. Dark colors... Have nothing to do with this unless you think wearing all black(I do wear all black when I can) is evil. Dark colors are just colors.

If this type of stuff brings you into a deeper relationship with Christ then no one can say it's wrong, I can't say for certain whether it is or isn't because I'm not you. Only it is wise for you to know if it is bringing you closer to Him or not.

I believe that is it possible to like darker things and still be a Christian. I am strong in my faith, yet at the same time I like Silent Hill games and heavy metal (including extreme metal, specifically death metal and thrash metal). Neither of the two have effected the way I practice Christianity in any way.

Here's my take-
Light cannot exist without darkness, darkness cannot exist without light.
Dark does not equal evil and light does not equal good.
People tend to equate dark with evil since they do not understand it.

Looking at it from a biblical perspective, light cannot coexist with the darkness. You're either on one side or the other. Christians should not be interested in the dark arts. It is ok to see a creepy movie or a spooky book as long as you like them for being spooky.