In June I shared the news that Katy Perry, whose hit single "I Kissed A Girl" was climbing the charts, had released a Christian album back in 2001 under her real name, Katy Hudson.
The debate has raged on ever since. Does the song promote homosexuality and does it matter? Is Katy Perry a Christian and if not, how did she get a Christian record deal? (Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Katy "insists she still has her faith and has a tattoo which reads 'Jesus' on her wrist.") And what do her conservative evangelical preacher parents think about her new album?
Well, now Perry's parents have chimed in on the discussion.
The UK's Daily Record reported yesterday that Katy's mother, Mary Hudson says, "I hate the song. It clearly promotes homosexuality and its message is shameful and disgusting. Katy knows how I feel." She tells the British paper that she and her husband are "deeply ashamed" of their daughter and say that the song "promotes a sin."
She calls her daughter's recent antics (which include jumping off the stage to land a lip lock on a 16-year-old female fan and offering a kiss to Miley Cyrus; Cyrus declined) a period of rebellion, and adds that she's praying for her daughter's salvation, despite the fact that Katy apparently assured her, "Oh Mum, I'm not going to turn into Amy Winehouse."
There you go. What do you think about the whole Katy Perry story? Has she been "led astray by the Hollywood crowd" as her mother claims, or is Katy Perry just being herself? And what dangers abound for Christian artists (like the Jonas Brothers) in the mainstream music world?
And here's another question: even if you don't agree with your parents' beliefs, do you have a responsibility to not flaunt your opposition? Or is there an age at which you can do whatever you want, regardless of who you hurt or embarrass?
Can't wait to hear your thoughts!
**** NEW: 1/26/09: Katy Perry: Clearing The Air On Her Faith, Her Parents And The Celibacy Vow ****
RELATED POSTS
Katy Perry, Christian recording artist?
5 Things I Hate About The Jonas Brothers (commerical empire, that is)
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
My heart is heavy for this young lady. I don't condemn her, but I also don't believe that she has ever accepted Christ. For this reason I don't believe she should be referred to as a Christian. Serving the Lord because you love Him is evidence of true faith. Perhaps she loves her parents dearly and deeply, but recalling my days of youth, loving my parents was never a good enough reason to truly love and serve God. However, once I came to know Him, pleasing Him became paramount.
I also don't believe in holding the unsaved to a standard that can only be lived out by someone who relies heavily on the Holy Spirit and God's Word to attain. In our weakness, He is strong. But the unsaved live in their sin-weakened state without the strength of the Seavior who loves them. Her behavior will change, when her heart changes and not before. Only the power of God through salvation can change her heart.
The real "disgusting" thing here is that you people still believe that something such as that is a sin.
Really, now, just because a book that's nothing more than an elaborate bit of fiction tells you that gay people are evil, is that really a reason to base your life on that ideal?
The real "disgusting" thing here is that you all live your life by such a rigid code of ethics, and it's because you feel that some book told you to.
If any of you really have the "love of God", and I use that term loosely, considering that there is no God, then shouldn't you accept everyone?
All of you people are close-minded, and it used to make me sad, but now it just makes me angry.
If you believe in a fake spirit, fine, more power to you.
But do not push it on people who aren't willing to listen to your preaching, and far be it beyond you, even if you feel that "God" has spoken to you (he hasn't-you're just hearing voices because you are all crazed), it doesn't give you the right to get on your soap box and start throwing out hateful comments.
You don't see me preaching Atheism and it's quirks to you all, even if it might be better to be Atheist than it is to be a programmed robot following everything a book tells you.
You have all based your lives off of a work of fiction, and there are scientific studies that prove there is no God.
It would be the same thing if you all based a religion off of Harry Potter.
But I forgot.
You don't read those because they're evil and promote witchcraft.
You are all disgusting.
You are the real disgusting people.
And you should keep your opinions to yourself.
Just keep your close-minded mouths shut, lock yourself in your house, and die in obscurity, please.
I have noticed that there is a pattern to the success of performers who start out in the church, then take their talent to the world. It always seems they shine brightly for a season, garner a lot of popularity and support, then they fade and they slip into obscurity. The people that support her current choice, are the same people who will stop buying her music, when they begin to label her passe. But the Lord's love will never fade and His compassion will always be toward her, awaiting her return. That's the beauty of Christ.
>> Is Katy Perry a Christian and if not, how did she get a Christian record deal?
Just because someone’s beliefs do not correspond exactly with your own, does not mean they cannot be considered a Christian… there are many divisions and interpretations of the Bible and Christianity, what right does anyone have to state that their interpretation of scripture is accurate, and thereby condemn the interpretations of others? Granted, there are passages in the old Testament that appear to condemn homosexuality, but there are plenty of passages that you would not interpret literally anymore, such as not eating animals with cloven hoof, or barring those with less than perfect sight from the clergy (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, see Leviticus, I think Chapter 20).
>> And here's another question: even if you don't agree with your parents' beliefs, do you have a responsibility to not flaunt your opposition? Or is there an age at which you can do whatever you want, regardless of who you hurt or embarrass?
Your analysis of this situation is disturbingly one sided. You raise a valid point, but you fail to consider the converse situation: should Katy’s parents, who should be older and wiser, be flouting their opposition so publicly either? Being Christians, and apparently pastors, perhaps they should know better? You may say it is their responsibility to spread the word of God, but is the best way to do so by publically attacking their daughter? Her mother responds so vehemently against homosexuality that it makes me wonder if she’d love her neighbour if he or she were gay?
Adcocate, that comment wasn't to question what a Christian is, but what defines Christian music. There's used to be guidelines for what constituted Christian music - what it is musically or lyrically, what behavior was expected from artists, etc. Not that those guidelines were good, but the questions I have are more about defining Christian music.
Joanne
host of the GS blog
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.