‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’

: pop music as parables of the Kingdom of God

Abstract

This thesis will explore the possibility of a theological rationale for positive engagement with pop music. It will emphasise the potential of pieces of pop music to function as parables of the Kingdom of God in order to mediate divine revelation and religious experience. After a brief exploration of the history of the pop music industry, this thesis will consider and respond to Theodor Adorno’s critique of pop music. It will then explore the potential for that which may be considered ‘kitsch’ and ‘low art’ in the conveyance of the divine. Following this investigation, in the second chapter this thesis will consider the relationship between the theology of Karl Barth and culture, first by exploring Barth’s rejection of natural theology and then by looking at several contemporary attempts at developing a Barthian theology of culture. This will be followed by a consideration of Barth’s Doctrine of God (CD II), his Doctrine of Reconciliation (CD IV/3.1) and his treatment of Mozart in order to develop a basis for pop music to function as parables of the Kingdom of God. The final chapter this thesis will explore several different attempts at determining the function of biblical parables primarily through the work of Dan Otto Via, Jr., John Dominic Crossan, Paul Ricœur and Søren Kierkegaard. With these insights, it will consider worked examples of pop music within six categories (embodiment and sexuality, consolation and healing, community and belonging, revolution and subversion, mystery and transcendence, and death and hope) that might function as parables of the Kingdom of God.

Date of Award	21 Jun 2016
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Gavin Hopps (Supervisor)