Should Christians Listen to Wagner?

 Classical music lovers fall into two camps when it comes to Wagner: either they think he's awesome, or they think he's awful. Christians who are into classical music tend to completely shun him without completely knowing why. So then the question becomes, is this a fair case? 

   Growing up, my mom had a pretty good selection of classical music, but Wagner did not make her hit list. I hear rumours about this notorious composer, but then I hit Music History 3 and found that I was expected to actually study him. Of course, by the time one hits their ARCT in music theory, one has also amassed a collection of books that are not textbooks. Let me share with you what I learned about Wagner, and then we'll return to the question: Should Christians (or anyone else for that matter) listen to Wagner's music?

   In order to answer that question, you have to know where you're going to draw the line as far as what music you will and won't listen to -- and why. Music is a language that deeply affects our souls and spirits. If we understand this, we will agree that we need to exercise discernment in this area. With that, let's take a look at Wagner's life and philosophy, and if that should influence our choice regarding his music.

1. Wagner had some Christian influences.

   Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers claims, "Christian Themes emerge clearly in some of Wagner's music dramas, such as Tannhauser, Lohengren, and his last great work Parsival, which has been called his 'most Christian of works'" (page 106). It also claims Wagner accepted Christianity and had a personal faith. If you did not click on the link above and read my earlier review of this book, you should know that this is a book that gives a very, very wide margin to all famous composers in the area of Christianity. And the book itself says that Wagner's "Christianity" was "unorthodox."  

   Here's the thing: Wagner lived from 1813 to 1883. That means that, though concepts such as humanism, individualism, and other man-centered philosophies were plentiful, the majority of European culture was still influenced heavily by the Judeo-Christian culture. (By the way, that also means that Wagner was not anywhere close to being a contemporary of Hitler. Some members of my family seemed to be under that impression. But, speaking of Hitler, it's noteworthy that the infamous dictator also had his own version of pseudo-Christian beliefs -- or at least, claimed to in certain public speeches. You can tell I'm highly skeptical of Wagner's claims to Christianity. You'll understand better as you keep reading.)

2. Wagner's life was inconsistent with Christianity.

   He had romantic affairs while married to Minna Planer. He was a political activist; according to David Barber in Bach, Beethoven, and the Boys (not recommended for younger readers), it was socialism that he was enamored with for a short time period. He became romantically entangled with a married woman, Cosima (Liszt) von Bulow, after his first wife's death. Oh, and he was anti-Semitic. 

   But are these reasons in and of themselves to disregard his music? If so, we would have to throw out many Romantic-era composer's works, for hardly a one of them led an exemplary moral life! 

   Let's look at two more things about Wagner. 

3. Wagner was fascinated with the supernatural -- in all the wrong ways.

   Wagner would have fit right in with today's fantasy writers. He was, in fact, responsible in a large measure for moving the story lines used in opera from historically-based plots to "the idealized folk legend" (The Enjoyment of Music, seventh edition, page 153). I can't help but wonder, speculatively, if he didn't have some influence on the modern fantasy movement -- though I can't find anything to prove this speculation. He drew inspiration from Norse mythology and Celtic legends and included the supernatural as part of the drama. What's so bad about that? Let's think critically here. Which gods are Norse mythology and Celtic legends glorifying? What happens when you dabble in the supernatural, apart from the One True God? 

   In fact, his most famous work, Die Walkure, is populated with gods, goddesses, and demigods. Strangely enough, these divinities are immoral, bickering thieves. Huh. Now what spiritual being does that seem more closely related to?! 

4. Wagner had his own religion. 

   There was a movement in the 1800s called "art as a religion." This, I believe, was Wagner's true religion. I am backed by the current Celebrate Theory: ARCT History textbook, which on page 7 states in regard to this movement, "Richard Wagner referred to his opera Parsifal [remember, this is the same one mentioned under point 1] as 'a festival-drama of consecration.'" Also by a comment on page 154 of The Enjoyment of Music, seventh edition: "The Wagnerian gospel [of Wagner's dramatic philosophies] spread across Europe, a new art-religion." What exactly was the basis of this new 'religion'? "The pursuit of the divine spark and the search for sublime beauty" (Celebrate Theory: ARCT History, page 7). From all the gods incorporated in Wagner's music, the one he worshipped -- and, more dangerously, the one he drew others to worship -- was the art itself. Never mind what he may have claimed in regards to Christianity.  

Conclusion

   If we're going to place the music we listen to under scrutiny of whether it helps us in our Christian lives or not, Classical music must not be exempted simply for being classical. 

   Personally, I won't be listening to Wagner any time soon.