I discovered in this past year that I crave beauty. Yours was the first comment I saw here. I smiled and appreciated seeing your comment. God's blessing to use you, and be working great things in your life and His plans for you.
The bit about silence is actually the most important point you make, you're not supposed to always be in noisy environments, puts your nervous system under siege
I found that focusing on true, good and beautiful relationships has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I used to be a “player” and it wasn’t until I found my beautiful, kind and loving girlfriend that I saw just how empty my life was before her. She has added a fullness to my life that I can only compare to a feeling of gods love and I just know that it’s right. This has in turn made me closer to god and I cannot thank her enough for adding so much fullness and warmth to my life. So I guess what I’m trying to say is work on your relationships and value them because they will bring so much value to your life. More than anything else will.
I get what ur saying. I use to listen to heavy mettle music, but the Lord convicted me and now I’m obsessed with Gregorian chant, and prefer classical music. It has truly changed me as a person. I’m no longer drawn to being depressed, my temper is no longer sporadic and out of control, and I am FAR LESS prone to irritability. I highly recommend people trying to fast from music! It truly brings the heart closer to God 🙏🏼🕊🌹
Francis&Fawn /Catholic&Danish hi Francis. I am Catholic and Danish too. An unusual combination. On with the Good the True and the Beautiful. Finish the Bros. Karamazof Matt. Probably spelled the Bros wrong. 😊
Interesting story. Heavy metal can be fine as long as you're really searching for the beauty in it. Through the Fire and Flames, by Dragonforce for example, is a very beautiful metal song in my opinion.
Andrew Prahst yeah, I see where ur coming from. Often many lyrics of rock songs are far more wholesome and pure compared to modern pop music. Some of Black Veil Brides lyrics convey a good message. For example Savior makes me think of Jesus, and that He is always with me. One has to be carful with music these days. On the outside the melody will sound nice, but the lyrics r filled with objectifying garbage.
It is so true how we feel uncomfortable in silence. I actually struggle at first and then my body settles into it. Kind of like a baby fighting to stay awake and the falls asleep.
Excellent talk. We are constantly assaulted with noise, excitement, and visual stimulation, that we have begun to need it, and we've begun to believe truth, beauty, and goodness are relative to us and our opinions. It's so hard to find moments of silence, even during Mass! Realizing this led me to start going to Adoration and to stop listening to the radio when driving. Now if I could just quit RUclips...
We always lay in bed with our kids before we tuck them in, sometimes we read, sometimes we sing hymns, and sometimes - I hate to admit it - we are so burnt out we just watch a video on the tablet with them. No more tablet - more beautiful things. Small steps. Thanks for this video!
Before I shun or fast from music, tv shows, or Netflix, I would try to establish if there is a center of gravity to what I am currently listening or viewing. Music is the easiest form of communication to gauge with your soul. Some would even call it a "mother's lullaby". Gregorian Chants are a good measure for how well you could find the center, or the holiness, in a song. You like them for their constancy. We get into trouble when we want to focus too much on adding the guitars or high-pitched tones that don't match a steady rhythm. It's why a woman wants a man with constancy to keep her safe.
At first I thought you were being extremely subjective and offensive . . . everything you seem to like is "objectively" beautiful and good. I thought you were going to make a point that these these are subjective, but no . . . you actually believe them to be objective. Could you perhaps explain further why the things you enjoy are objectively better?
Didn't expect to see you here. I was surprised too. It is Christian doctrine that goodness is objective. This man may be wrong about exactly what is of Godly quality, but it wouldn't true to say that everything is of equal godliness. There is no perfect piece of art, and people can enjoy things differently, but certain types of enjoyment are harmful. Namely, things that merely distract and addict. You have to actually see BEAUTY in what you're consuming, it should INSPIRE you and make you a better man.
It isnt that the things he enjoys are objectively better but that outside of what anyone enjoys the truth and goodness never change and we all have the voice of god (your conscience, you know the thoughts are good even if you resist them) and the voice of satan (temptation, think of the feeling of resisting a cigarette or any addiction; you know it is wrong even if you give in to them)
HG Wells Outline of History is a radical historist anti-Christian work and is why Chesterton wrote The Everlasting Man. People do not understand how radical Wells was.
if you have the cognitive reasoning enough to sit with Wells you have the potential for critical thought enough to reason with and discern against any arguments that arise. ...you don't see Aquinas cowering from opposition in his Suma do you?
If you read the Wells without Chesterton you are missing the whole debate including he Christian side of it. Which would be like reading the opponents to the Suma without reading the Suma!
I agree with you Mr Frad but I don’t think you defended yourself well enough. Maybe this will help: things (including music) either conform to the natural order of number and sound or they don’t. They are either proportionate according to the nature of magnitude and number or they’re not. They either have integrity, ie they have all their parts, according to their nature or they don’t. And their beauty is either easily seen and grasped (clarity) or its not. Also he doesn’t deny taste exists. Everyone has their taste but everything either does or doesn’t have beauty in the actual thing.
Excellent video! I can relate to this. I keep hearing the Lord telling me to turn off the television and start reading the bible. I need more peace in my life. Thank you for the video. It came at the perfect moment.
Amen thank you mate from down under in Melbourne OZ. I have started to read the Sunday readings with my breakfast each morning instead of the newspaper and am finding that I am more peaceful and happy in Jesus' God as I start the day.
Addendum on my post - just sharing my personal beautiful music tastes. Oh, thank God I have eclectic taste in beautiful things like music. And long ago, with the exception of needing to be purged of songs expressing too much longing for earthly emotional love - since that was something I needed to repent of (putting too high in contrast to agape - Ahava - Covenant Chesed); --- way back when the Grace of God had me develop an aversion to loud noisy yelling or innuendo or explicit disordered things in music and arts. Yes sometimes I have gone overboard - but mostly good judgment. And I do enjoy Christian, Gospel, and other Inspirational music along with classical, easy listening, ballads, even romantic ballads if I can filter my own desires from getting extreme for earthly happiness over Godly happiness. Some smooth jazz. I've enjoyed Raggae. There is a beautiful album by The Agape Children's Choir with very little English that I enjoy. Lately, I have been listening a lot to the Soundtrack of Catholicism put out by Word on Fire. Very beautiful, and inspirational, and Christ centered especially when taking note of the titles of the songs. Sometimes in personal singing, I alter lyrics.... for example, Moon River. Two homesteaders, off to save the world, there's such a lot of world to save. We're after the same rainbow's end, wait'n 'round the bend, my huckleberry friend, moon river and us. I grew to love that song, because Audrey Hepburn exhausted herself as ambassador for starving children in the world at the end of her life. It's kind of like I like Cool Hand Luke more now because Paul Newman started 'Hole in The Wall Gang,' summer camps for severely disabled children, to get a real camp experience.
I agree! I actually realized it myself a few months ago. I realized that the beauty is objective. How wonderful to hear someone confirming it! What you like and consider beautiful, reflects the state of your soul. If you like sleazy and lousy music like Beyonce then there is a disorder in your soul.
this is something I've been struggling with. I want and I pray that beauty is objective, but I can't find a single proof. If anyone has one, please do share!
Great ideas Matt! Dostoyevsky! Good! Ideas for the purgation of my and all of our Churches failures and faults? For myself the path is absolutely attainable. Or at least giving it a go of it as follows- Prayer Penance And Silence Lived in Solitude and Simplicity Only seeking the truth just like you said Matt. Thank you for keeping me centered on the possibility of achieving a state of grace. Pax Vobiscum Shalom
Beauty is indeed not subjective but it is present in many more things than we would like to think. It is hidden in some things and obvious in others that's why we think it's "subjective" That being said - it is certainly not present in everything. I agree with your point.
No, I can't stop watching your videos and others like it at least while getting ready in the morning! Lol, but I do avoid tv and turn the radio off for silence.
Its essence is its being. Being is not exactly the same as existing. to be expresses an act, the most intimate perfection of a thing, while to exist only indicates that a thing is given in fact.
Great video. I’d like to recommend Bruckner and Brahms as well for those seeking good music. Let Beauty bring you to the Good, and the Good bring you to the Truth.
I've recently found a real gem. Bieber's Rosary Sonatas, absolutely gorgeous. Lol . . . I think have grown up with the beautiful. I grew up reading Pride and Prejudice, Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Pan, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, and so many others. I will always prefer Lord of the Rings to 24. I couldn only watch one season when my family was watching it. There was too much stimulation for me. And, unfortunately, Netflix is getting rid of the beautiful movies and shows, but at least Father Brown is still available. Lord of the Rings is now on it too (Fellowship is, at least).
Thanks for this vcast! I'm happy to hear someone speak to this! I believe it takes time to discover beauty, objetively, but starting with your suggestions is the right place. I see some want the criteria for "objective" beauty and that's another vcast!
Those things are a bit more complicated from where I sit. Goodness, justice, beauty and freedom are what we ought to make true the most out of all for all. Those fundamental things are distinguished from others by their special mechanic of mutual reinforcement i.e. good act is even better when it is also an enactment of justice, it is better if it is also beautiful, an act out of free will rather than coerced, for example by a strict law and threat of punishment if unexecuted etc etc. Likewise a just decision is even more when it is also good, a beautiful decision even more beautiful when it is an act of justice -like, the interplay goes on and on with such examples and we could imagine all sorts of different scenarioes that show this at large -this is besides the point though. It also sometimes happenes that those values within particular options for our choices and paths collide against each other -sometimes, but it could occur. What we choose is those moments is what truly determines our character and I do sincerely believe, that to make the most of them to coincide with each other and further mutually reinforce each ought to be the goal. Dunno. Stay healthy! 💜
A thought on the word "ugly" as it relates to the arts (music, movies, books). Since there are so many different expressions of the arts appealing to a variety of tastes, there might be some clarity if thought about like this. While my 7 year old might not enjoy Bach, they won't be offended by it. While my teenager might not enjoy "A man for all seasons", they wouldn't be uncomfortable watching it. So with that in mind, if a song, a movie or story is shared with our whole family from our youngest to our grandparents all in an open room in eye contact with everyone, are there elements where there is discomfort between the people in the room? Does the music, movie or story bring our imaginations to places we wouldn't share with the whole family? Or does the artistic expression elevate our mind to what is good in us? Might it be that "ugly" is more closely aligned with doing harm to human dignity? Does the music, movie or story raise our mind to the dignity of every human person or does it debase it? This would leave room for a wide variety of artistic expression and style, but keep us on track with the powerful potential influence of the arts in our lives. Other thoughts?
Oh I could talk about this method of school all day! Its also known as Liberal Arts method...its teaching kids HOW to think not just WHAT to think! And right now in our society we need strong independent thinkers who will stand up for God! So excited that you're interested! This video and article gives a great description. ruclips.net/video/uRLxvptCuzw/видео.html classicalacademicpress.com/what-is-classical-education/
"Beauty is the emotions recognizing the emotion's true purpose." Recognition. Learning how to recognize beauty is a lifelong endeavor. Matt's slipped into a practical recommendation instead of a logical proof. If you want to learn beauty the fastest, experience ANYTHING that survived time up to this point. It's obviously laced with the eternal. And when you get done curing yourself of temporal provincialism turn around and watch 24 again. Then tell me what parts of it were beautiful and help me discard all that was ugly in it. That is the rubber meets the road of how someone can say Puccini trumps Beyonce.
i think he is underestimating beyonce. well not underestimating her, but underestimating the concept of pop music. her specific songs might not be eternal, but the harmonies, melodies, chord progressions etc are, and continue to reappear in different songs continuously.
#askmattfradd Hey Matt, I love your videos and your podcast Pints With Aquinas. I've heard you talk a lot about the Eastern Church and was wondering what experience you've had with Eastern Catholicism and Easten Orthodoxy? Were you raised the Eastern Church or introduced to it later on? Thanks so much for all you do.
I loved this. God has been transforming me from the outside in and the inside out in a number of ways. I do love the "silent" time with God. I've been led to believe that wanting to like and enjoy nice, beautiful things is wrong, so I've just ignored it. Recently I've realized that I crave beauty. I've been starved for beauty (in my environment, apartment, and myself.) As I sit with God, and his word daily-I'm being transformed. ❤🩹Finally getting the message this isn't just ok, it's what I'm to be pursuing, the highest good. Thank you! For me to learn more and create the environment and things for the best. That way, becoming the best me I can be and then be able to help others and possibly the community. Be an agent for good, to transpire and inspire to rise above the muck, and go forward to create the good and beautiful. ❤Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I mean I get what you’re saying but as humans, we are seekers of information to squirrel away and use later. And I think God made us that way on purpose. So even if a mass is perfect and beautiful - I’m not boring if I find it boring after sitting through it 500 times. I need to hear something *new*. And classics (music, books, etc) are classics because they did something wildly new and interesting in their time - such that it gave us all a new foundation to step up onto and create more new things from. And so we *did*. And those new things are often just as good if not better than the classics because the new things are standing on the shoulders of the old things. But that doesn’t mean the old things are more beautiful that the new things (Beyoncé or whatever. I’m not a huge fan but you get my point I think.) I really think human beings are explorers and we get bored when there isn’t something fresh and relevant to explore. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that seein’ as how God made this here infinite universe to go right along with our explorative, restless nature.
Geez I mean seriously you’ve got such a good point here but you’re just murdering it under condescension. Bach is not more holy or better than techno. The creative spark is actually a holy thing, IMO. And once you go try to make a thing or do a music yourself, you might appreciate the creative spark in others a bit more even if they made music that isn’t your taste. Techno helps me get my house clean and that is no small feat. Just sayin’.
I totally agree. Plus, I get bored like the rest of the church when a father reads his Godknows howmany pagesof Latin meanings during his homily, etc. People want to see creativity. And so many fathers in the past (that are mentioned in the biographies of saints) said that you can't use the Latin or for today's generation let's say you can't use an encyclopedic language (terminology, etc.) while talking to the locals who didn't study what you did at all. Because including all the other fathers as well, everyone will sleep. I'm telling you Matt, I want you to read this please please please, it's not to scold you or judge, I want to make it clear. Fathers should talk, explain, tell stories during the homily, make it look attractive. So you see yes some masses are boring. I know all the people in my cathedral and I assure you of what I am talking about. Thanks. Sorry @rooftops renegade for writing so long. God bless.
mary teimourova yeah, and I might have felt it as a bit of a kick to the gut to hear him call out music (which is definitely an art form) as basically trash just because it’s not Bach or whatever. Because I’m really pouring my heart into my own art right now and ugh. I (like most artists) self criticize more than is probably healthy. We need to be able to love what we make while we are learning. Or we will freeze up and stop being able to tinker and play which is so desperately important to creation. But once you are an adult who is also trying to nourish your creative side (because if you’re a creative person and you don’t, you’ll just die inside... ask me how I know 👀) it is SO HARD to hold onto faith that you’re not doing something foolish and stupid and time wasting. The last thing I need is to hear someone else’s art criticized as trash based on the plum line of it not measuring up in comparison to one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Rooftops Renegade This is about consuming, not producing. Do you think a doctor would prescribe new, novice-made medication just because it would make that developer feel good? It's not about just feeling good, that's his whole point.
I liked all your videos until you critized techno music as "ugly". There might be things you don't approve but it doesn't mean that they are ugly. I know really good techno music makers (and yes they are educated musicians) who are really talented and trying their best to come up with a good beat and musical elegance. And the words they use do not contain any sensual meaning. So let's not generalize all of them. Because I am sure there were some people in the past called the classical music "ugly". Thanks for reading. God bless.. :) P. S: I extremely agree about the books. I enjoy books more than their movies. Because I learn more and I read beyond the book while reading it.
mary teimourova maybe he shouldn’t have generalized all techno but things (including music) either conform to the natural order of number and sound or they don’t. They are either proportionate according to the nature of magnitude and number or they’re not. They either have integrity, ie they have all their parts, according to their nature or they don’t. And their beauty is either easily seen and grasped (clarity) or its not. Also he doesn’t deny taste exists. Everyone has their taste but everything either does or doesn’t have beauty in the actual thing.
If beauty is objective, then one ought to be able to define it with objective criteria. In the comments here, I've seen a couple of attempts to do so but, in reality, they just kick an ultimate subjective judgement a couple of steps down further in their assessment process. It's hard to escape the conclusion that what is actually happening is that apologists use a moralistic definition of beauty to imbue their own tastes with virtue at the expense of other's tastes.
i don't think beauty can be objective, because our experience of the world occurs through the lens of our own sense organs and the substrate of our own consciousness. the objectivity of beauty might be something like 'perceived harmony, perceived profundity, perceived excellence' but because this is all the result of our own perception, its possible to have one person see these qualities in a puddle on the ground after a storm or something mundane like that. And i dont think it is necessarily correct to tell them they are wrong, because if beauty is a God, then all things should possess a potential for beauty.
#askMattFradd can God be in something that isn't true, good, AND beautiful? As in, can God be in what is true, good, yet ugly? Good, beautiful, yet false? True, beautiful, yet bad? What if only one of the three applies? Can God still be there?
Amen. Beautiful, oh you said that... please make a video on tying the *Benevolent* uncaused Cause, making us with transcendent desires for *objective* truth, beauty, peace, *justice*, and the virtues. That God let the freewill of some of The Angels - Fallen Angels, and humanity bring such pain and sorrow to the world. What am I asking? Connecting trust in God's Benevolence with our desire for perfect truth, goodness (justice), and beauty. More to the point, we obviously have a transcendent desire for perfect truth, peace, justice, and beauty. This differs from creatures like monkeys who are biologically, instinctually motivated. From my understanding of Creation, The Garden of Eden is a story of teaching us that we have a freewill toward true freedom that always existed *or* freewill to choose the converse desires that magnify creation or feelings with above or differently then there benevolent purpose. So it is obvious that while we say we are being re-created, God is Creating us to enter into the Eternal Sabbath, where we no long have strife, pain, war - because God's Grace and our cooperation with that Grace let God transform our desires to benevolent desires always tempered for the purpose for which they were intended. Every rationalization carried out in reality in our plane of existence, causes some kind of disharmony - obvious to our limited perception or not. Isn't our goal, to trust God in God's Always Existing Benevolence - to let God transform our hearts, minds, and soul - our whole being, no matter the suffering we may have to endure in this hurtful world by Grace filled Godly courage; to avoid being part of the problem, but be part of the solution. 'The narrow and difficult way' by the easy, humble yoke of Christ, which He is yoked with us. God patiently endures all the unearned suffering in every moment of a long and arduous history from our point of view - for our Salvation; but God sees the end from a perspective that a thousand years pass in God's sight as a day - and pain last for a night, but joy is in the morning forever more. War no more, pain no more, every tear wiped away. A time and place much more fun than anything conceived of in this hurting world. Charity, justice, peace - always doing good for one another --- there is a rhyme and reason for the calamities, slings and arrows of so long a journey --- to shamelessly rob Shakespearean and other's descriptions. T'is a consummation devoutly to be wished at the end of this journey. Yes? Perfect thanksgiving to God, perfect music, perfect art, perfect performances, perfect family bonds, perfect togetherness, love, warmth and acceptance - all of the time. And none of the challenges will be stress-fully endured by the sweat of our brows every again. Rivers of living water, flowing into Living Stones of God's Temple, each have the Bread and Wine of Life - always participating in The Life of God. But ultimately indescribable since the human heart has not conceived what God has prepared for those who have Covenant Love for God. I suppose that is why Thomas Aquinas was prompted, after some type of near death experience or enveloped ecstasy of Heaven, - 'all I have written is straw.' It is so true, good, and beautiful. Peace.
#askmattfradd is there a reading list you have of books that novices like me can begin to read without diving into the deep end? I’m going to pick up Flannery O’Connor. Thanks!
4:02 Amen! Tolkien! Tolkien! Tolkien! 6:18 I tend to think the LoTR movies are kind of bad, but they're worlds better than the "Hobbit" movies... I sure hope they do a good job with the LoTR Amazon series and keep that hack Peter Jackson miles and miles away from it...
Can anyone suggest some beautiful films? So many contain horrific scenes and swearing. Also I'd like to recommend Hill top hoods restrung for a combination of classical instruments and hip hop for something different.
Hey, Matt. Interesting video. Indeed, I agree that we habituate ourselves to things we believe may be good but are ultimately not good in developing our intellectual selves... However, where I feel your argument lacks merit is in the examples you provide to justify this notion of ‘The Universal Truth’, namely artistic works. As I pondered on this idea of ‘The Universal Truth’, I came to realise that if you do wish to view the world from this lens, to me, at least, ‘The Universal Truth’ should be defined as something that tangibly affects everyone in the world in a way that can be imperially measured. This not only makes it universal (as it can clearly affect everyone) but also truthful (as it can be proven using evidence). Saying that Beethoven is better than Beyoncé or that Tolkien is better than Netflix has no basis in rationality because it would be impossible to measure whether one or the other is more intellectually stimulating. Therefore, these examples cannot be seen as ‘universal truths’ based on my definition. There are many examples of ‘universal truths’ based on my definition but which also fit into your idea of our habituation to problematic behaviours as well. These could include: consumerism and its adverse effects on our emotional wellbeing and environmental conservation, and users of drugs who use them to alleviate stress and other issues. They align with both of our definitions of ‘universal truths’ as there exists readily accessible information out there highlighting society’s excusal of these behaviours, despite how objectively damaging they can be to society. But despite all that I have said, I actually do not subscribe to the idea of ‘The Universal Truth’ for a variety of reasons. Namely, the angle in which you chose to explore this concept shows to me that it can stem from an incredibly dogmatic place, which is not something I personally stand by. Your point about Beethoven being the only artist anyone should listen to for intellectual stimulation exemplifies this. The beauty someone derives from the arts of their culture might not be viewed as beautiful by someone of a different culture. Ultimately, our differences do not lend credence to any type of universal consensus. What you are trying to pass off as ‘truth’ is merely your opinion, which is incredibly dangerous. Also, your point about how people see things as not beautiful not because they aren’t beautiful, but because it’s their problem for not seeing it as beautiful is borderline gaslighting if I’ve ever seen it. But all this is just my opinion. And I will claim it as such.
I think it’s best to look for beauty in everything. The fact that God lets us walk the Earth is something to admire forever. Beyonce speaks to some people more than the myriad of Italian composers. I, for one, try to find what makes my daily commute route nice, unique, and dare I say beautiful. As a musician, I can’t disagree more with blinding yourself to the beauty of music. Who can say what’s beautiful or ugly than God? And I’m sure that Jesus saw beauty in broken, “ugly” people. I’ll just enjoy the beauty here on Earth and look forward to the infinite beauty of Heaven.
The criteria might be subjective, but I think objective beauty can be reasoned out. Maybe asking yourself, "does this glorify God?" will help you decern what objective beauty is. The generic pop song on the radio probably doesn't glorify God quite like Bach does.
@@hitthefries Maybe think about the instrumentals. Years of practice on a stinged instrument is objectively more praise worthy than beats on a laptop meant to be easily consumable.
@Chromatic Swing I, as a fellow musician, was thinking the exact same thing as he was talking. The points people have made about something glorifying God to find objective beauty make sense, but what REALLY makes Puccini more beautiful than Beyonce?
The point is true but the examples come off as snobery. There are things on netflix that are beautiful and types of music written after 1840 that are beautiful. God is in all things if we look for him.
Very good. But take it a bit further. Philosophy is good; theology is better. The Scriptures say, " Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you." James 4:8. He IS Truth; He IS Beauty; He IS goodness! He says in His Word, " Be STILL and know that I am God." We need to purpose to "be still." When we put HIM FIRST (Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Matt. 6:33) HE surrounds us like a shield with Truth, Goodness and Beauty. He is faithful to perform His Word. ☝❤☝❤☝❤
I love listening to Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush, and I think a lot of their music is beautiful. Just because you love Tolkien, Back, and so on, does not mean that we all have to love it too!!!! Ordering us to listen to what you love comes across as condescending and patronising!!!!! And calling your viewers "boring", just because they don't agree with you??!!..... Anyway, this video gets my thumbs down!!!
It's not a matter of what he thinks, it's a matter of what God thinks. God is an objective God. Certain things naturally come closer to Godliness, even if they aren't exactly what he is prescribing here.
i think you are too strongly emphasizing the objectivity of the transcendentals without much basis. beauty is at least partially in the eye of the beholder. not everyone has the same tastes and i think it is sort of dehumanising to say we ought to all enjoy the same things, and if we don't it means someones 'beauty detector' is faulty and its their problem
Beauty is totally subjective, it has to do with taste. Suggesting people with different tastes are in the wrong because they like stuff you don't makes you look like an absolutist. You are trying to force people like things you like and think the way you think, why? Don't you know God loves diversity (true diversity not the forced one by the way) that's why he created us different from one another, that's beauty, goodness and truth. The world would be a very bad and sad place (or even badder or sadder from what it already is) if people were entirely the same, listened to the same music, watched the same shows, did the same things, etc. This video is an example of cognitive dissonance and maybe you thought you were doing good but you are flawed this time around, brother. Have a nice day everyone and be safe. God bless you all brothers and sisters!
This video does emphasize the objective aspect of the three Transcendentals (though he briefly, albeit simply negatively, mentions their subjective aspect). Be careful not to just pick the opposite extreme. Truth, goodness, and beauty make up our complex subjective and objective relation to things, ideas, etc. It is the case, I think, that the objective aspects of truth and goodness are easier to see. If the Transcendental perfections in things (and ourselves) are to lead us to the world, each other, and God, then they must pull us out of ourselves through both their subjectivity and their objectivity. The kind of music/art Matt refers to can induce a powerful passionate or intellectual response. Yet such art participates so little in the existentially rich character of beauty (taken by the Tradition referenced in this video as what is whole/integral, balanced/harmonious, and bright/clear/radiant) or even fights these characteristics in certain ways.
Is it ok to impose ideas, tastes, beliefs (political, social), etc to other people and call them "ugly" and/or "wrong" if the don't agree with what (in this case) Matt percieve is right? What makes a person's tastes the absolute truth/beauty/goodness? Is Beyoncé's music inherently evil or unworthy just because some people don't like it (i don't listen to her by the way)? Is watching Netflix of the devil? I personally get a powerful passionate and intellectual response while listening to alt.rock, am i being evil or ugly for listening the stuff i like? Does my soul belong to the evil one for the things i like and enjoy (not the sinful ones but good ones, like the paintings i paint, the food i eat, the teams i support, the movies i watch, etc)? What is soul if not tastes? His entire attitude seems so judgemental to me and it's a shame because until this point i liked his videos. It's such a turn off.
The moment something turns you off is the moment when you need to listen the hardest. If Fradd is making you uncomfortable then he's bringing an idea that you hadnt considered before. An idea you are not accustomed too. An ugly idea. But maybe we are like he says. Accustomed to the ugly. Diversity may not be inherently beautiful. Ever been to a pawn shop? That being said one important aspect that I believe Matt left out is the infinite and unknowable magnitude of God's beauty (more than a universe-sized diamond with atom-sized facets) and the contaminated nature of all our artifice. And that the beauty of one work of man may emphasize another aspect of God's beauty than another person's work or contain some beauty but to a lesser degree so we can not enter into it fully. Tolkien's work is better than Jack Bower (objective) but Tolkien could have taken a few minutes off of philology to make his journey to Rivendell pop just a little more with excitement (tough sell but I could do it). Puccini does have more to offer us when you go deep and turn off the spotify than Motley Crue but you'll never convince me that there isn't echoes of the greatest tragedy in Queen's "I want it all." One of the weird things about the 4 temporal or instrumental virtues is that existing in time (possibly because they exist in time) and translated by us fallen creatures their results will always be flawed. Some youTube videos will bring us great strength like this one. And sometimes our own quiet will not help us find the Silence of the throne room because we are content gluttons. BUT IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING, THERE IS GOD IN IT. ANYTHING. But that doesnt make the Big Three subjective. It just makes them unrepresented in their fullest. And most fully represented by a saint. So you want beauty with the fewest drawbacks? Sans hangover? Keeping yourself fit for duty? Look to saints. Look to Mr. Fradd. Look to me. Emulation is not conformity. Your name on your white stone will be totally different from ours.
This is actually really stupid. Beauty is subjective and people find different things beautiful. Why would you put down artists like Beyonce just because YOU don’t like it? Beyonce is God’s creation and it doesn’t seem very Catholic of you to be calling her songs ugly. God wouldn’t appreciate you calling his creations ugly.
I think whatever someone poured their heart and soul into, through their God given ability, is inherently beautiful if done in a Godly manner. I think this includes some Netflix shows/movies, movies, modern music, and etc... I usually agree with everything you’ve spoken about. I do agree beauty is objective, but I think it stretches further then your argument allowed it to.
Beauty isn't (totally) objective as you (seem to) say. And I can't agree less on the part about Tolkien. I haven't 'accustomed myself' to ugly literature (you want to say Dante and Homerus made 'ugly literature'? Yes I read this kind of authors, I'm a literature student). I just don't like the fantasy genre and that doesn't mean that I am wrong about beauty. I think this kind of thinking (this (my) idea of beauty is 'THE good one') can also be very dangerous and put yourself, or a person/group of people, on a pedestal and put other people down. An important thing to say is that taste is also very depended on the people you surround yourself with. For example, if you become a professor it is very likely that your taste, in music, clothes, books, everything, will change to something more suiting for this position. A professor might start listening to classical music and might start reading Dante, even though he didn't before. Taste is very linked to social class and putting these, in some ways objectively better but in other ways just higher class, artforms on such a pedestal, will put down people with a somewhat lower social class. The times are changing, at least here in the west of Europe, and the differences between high and low taste seem to be dissolving/changing/growing towards each other a bit. I actually think this is a good thing.
I do want to say that in some ways some things can be more benevicient for you. It's important to be able to enjoy silence, for example. But this doesn't mean that beauty is totally objective and everyone has to like/love Tolkien, for example and that everyone who doesn't has 'bad' taste.
Truth: Accepting Science Good: Not allowing systematic child rape into your organization Beautiful: Living a fantasitic and beautiful life without a false celestial dictator
As an artist who loves and serves God , truth, goodness, and beauty is a life long quest in the deepest of ways.
I discovered in this past year that I crave beauty. Yours was the first comment I saw here. I smiled and appreciated seeing your comment. God's blessing to use you, and be working great things in your life and His plans for you.
The bit about silence is actually the most important point you make, you're not supposed to always be in noisy environments, puts your nervous system under siege
I found that focusing on true, good and beautiful relationships has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I used to be a “player” and it wasn’t until I found my beautiful, kind and loving girlfriend that I saw just how empty my life was before her. She has added a fullness to my life that I can only compare to a feeling of gods love and I just know that it’s right. This has in turn made me closer to god and I cannot thank her enough for adding so much fullness and warmth to my life. So I guess what I’m trying to say is work on your relationships and value them because they will bring so much value to your life. More than anything else will.
I get what ur saying. I use to listen to heavy mettle music, but the Lord convicted me and now I’m obsessed with Gregorian chant, and prefer classical music. It has truly changed me as a person. I’m no longer drawn to being depressed, my temper is no longer sporadic and out of control, and I am FAR LESS prone to irritability.
I highly recommend people trying to fast from music! It truly brings the heart closer to God
🙏🏼🕊🌹
Francis&Fawn /Catholic&Danish I definitely agree with that 🙏
Francis&Fawn /Catholic&Danish hi Francis. I am Catholic and Danish too. An unusual combination. On with the Good the True and the Beautiful. Finish the Bros. Karamazof Matt. Probably spelled the Bros wrong. 😊
Lois Denneno wow! Ur the first catholic Dane I met online! Thank u for commenting! 🙏🏼☺️🕊 we Catholic Danes must stick together 🇩🇰
Interesting story. Heavy metal can be fine as long as you're really searching for the beauty in it. Through the Fire and Flames, by Dragonforce for example, is a very beautiful metal song in my opinion.
Andrew Prahst yeah, I see where ur coming from. Often many lyrics of rock songs are far more wholesome and pure compared to modern pop music. Some of Black Veil Brides lyrics convey a good message. For example Savior makes me think of Jesus, and that He is always with me. One has to be carful with music these days. On the outside the melody will sound nice, but the lyrics r filled with objectifying garbage.
Tuesdays with Morrie is a good short book about life & death & all the good things in life that people take for granted everyday.. 10/10
It is so true how we feel uncomfortable in silence. I actually struggle at first and then my body settles into it. Kind of like a baby fighting to stay awake and the falls asleep.
Excellent talk. We are constantly assaulted with noise, excitement, and visual stimulation, that we have begun to need it, and we've begun to believe truth, beauty, and goodness are relative to us and our opinions. It's so hard to find moments of silence, even during Mass! Realizing this led me to start going to Adoration and to stop listening to the radio when driving. Now if I could just quit RUclips...
This guy is sharing such AWESOME stuff. I am going to share this with everyone I know. So clear,simple,,beautiful, good and true,
We always lay in bed with our kids before we tuck them in, sometimes we read, sometimes we sing hymns, and sometimes - I hate to admit it - we are so burnt out we just watch a video on the tablet with them. No more tablet - more beautiful things. Small steps. Thanks for this video!
Before I shun or fast from music, tv shows, or Netflix, I would try to establish if there is a center of gravity to what I am currently listening or viewing. Music is the easiest form of communication to gauge with your soul. Some would even call it a "mother's lullaby". Gregorian Chants are a good measure for how well you could find the center, or the holiness, in a song. You like them for their constancy. We get into trouble when we want to focus too much on adding the guitars or high-pitched tones that don't match a steady rhythm. It's why a woman wants a man with constancy to keep her safe.
Please Pray for the Restoration of Traditional Latin Mass
Thank you Matt for the pointers! Definitely agree! God bless ✝
At first I thought you were being extremely subjective and offensive . . . everything you seem to like is "objectively" beautiful and good. I thought you were going to make a point that these these are subjective, but no . . . you actually believe them to be objective. Could you perhaps explain further why the things you enjoy are objectively better?
Didn't expect to see you here. I was surprised too.
It is Christian doctrine that goodness is objective. This man may be wrong about exactly what is of Godly quality, but it wouldn't true to say that everything is of equal godliness. There is no perfect piece of art, and people can enjoy things differently, but certain types of enjoyment are harmful. Namely, things that merely distract and addict.
You have to actually see BEAUTY in what you're consuming, it should INSPIRE you and make you a better man.
It isnt that the things he enjoys are objectively better but that outside of what anyone enjoys the truth and goodness never change and we all have the voice of god (your conscience, you know the thoughts are good even if you resist them) and the voice of satan (temptation, think of the feeling of resisting a cigarette or any addiction; you know it is wrong even if you give in to them)
Lent is a good time to try out positive changes to see how they work for you, and learn if you want to take them on permanently.
Pray for The Restoration of Traditional Latin Mass
Forget HG Wells read GK Chesterton.
Love GK
well being Catholic it's ok to have both/and.. /:)
HG Wells Outline of History is a radical historist anti-Christian work and is why Chesterton wrote The Everlasting Man. People do not understand how radical Wells was.
if you have the cognitive reasoning enough to sit with Wells you have the potential for critical thought enough to reason with and discern against any arguments that arise. ...you don't see Aquinas cowering from opposition in his Suma do you?
If you read the Wells without Chesterton you are missing the whole debate including he Christian side of it. Which would be like reading the opponents to the Suma without reading the Suma!
I agree with you Mr Frad but I don’t think you defended yourself well enough. Maybe this will help: things (including music) either conform to the natural order of number and sound or they don’t. They are either proportionate according to the nature of magnitude and number or they’re not. They either have integrity, ie they have all their parts, according to their nature or they don’t. And their beauty is either easily seen and grasped (clarity) or its not. Also he doesn’t deny taste exists. Everyone has their taste but everything either does or doesn’t have beauty in the actual thing.
Luke Malanga sounds like you read Aquila’s Luke
Lois Denneno I’ve never heard of it?
Ideas in relation to their perfection: they are either clear or unclear, distinct or confused and/ or adequate or inadequate.
Excellent video! I can relate to this. I keep hearing the Lord telling me to turn off the television and start reading the bible. I need more peace in my life. Thank you for the video. It came at the perfect moment.
Amen thank you mate from down under in Melbourne OZ. I have started to read the Sunday readings with my breakfast each morning instead of the newspaper and am finding that I am more peaceful and happy in Jesus' God as I start the day.
Thank you I enjoyed listening to you
God bless you and your family.peace be with you.i look forward to watch you on you tube soon.
This is so true but so little known. Thanks for putting it out there.
Thanks Matt! Need this reminder. God bless you! A
Addendum on my post - just sharing my personal beautiful music tastes.
Oh, thank God I have eclectic taste in beautiful things like music. And long ago, with the exception of needing to be purged of songs expressing too much longing for earthly emotional love - since that was something I needed to repent of (putting too high in contrast to agape - Ahava - Covenant Chesed); --- way back when the Grace of God had me develop an aversion to loud noisy yelling or innuendo or explicit disordered things in music and arts. Yes sometimes I have gone overboard - but mostly good judgment. And I do enjoy Christian, Gospel, and other Inspirational music along with classical, easy listening, ballads, even romantic ballads if I can filter my own desires from getting extreme for earthly happiness over Godly happiness. Some smooth jazz. I've enjoyed Raggae. There is a beautiful album by The Agape Children's Choir with very little English that I enjoy. Lately, I have been listening a lot to the Soundtrack of Catholicism put out by Word on Fire. Very beautiful, and inspirational, and Christ centered especially when taking note of the titles of the songs.
Sometimes in personal singing, I alter lyrics.... for example, Moon River.
Two homesteaders, off to save the world,
there's such a lot of world to save.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
wait'n 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
moon river and us.
I grew to love that song, because Audrey Hepburn exhausted herself as ambassador for starving children in the world at the end of her life. It's kind of like I like Cool Hand Luke more now because Paul Newman started 'Hole in The Wall Gang,' summer camps for severely disabled children, to get a real camp experience.
I agree! I actually realized it myself a few months ago. I realized that the beauty is objective. How wonderful to hear someone confirming it! What you like and consider beautiful, reflects the state of your soul. If you like sleazy and lousy music like Beyonce then there is a disorder in your soul.
this is something I've been struggling with. I want and I pray that beauty is objective, but I can't find a single proof. If anyone has one, please do share!
Great ideas Matt! Dostoyevsky! Good!
Ideas for the purgation of my and all of our Churches failures and faults? For myself the path is absolutely attainable. Or at least giving it a go of it as follows-
Prayer
Penance
And Silence
Lived in Solitude and Simplicity
Only seeking the truth just like you said Matt.
Thank you for keeping me centered on the possibility of achieving a state of grace.
Pax Vobiscum
Shalom
Beauty is indeed not subjective but it is present in many more things than we would like to think. It is hidden in some things and obvious in others that's why we think it's "subjective"
That being said - it is certainly not present in everything. I agree with your point.
No, I can't stop watching your videos and others like it at least while getting ready in the morning! Lol, but I do avoid tv and turn the radio off for silence.
Its essence is its being. Being is not exactly the same as existing. to be expresses an act, the most intimate perfection of a thing, while to exist only indicates that a thing is given in fact.
Wonderful! I'm going to have my teens watch this. Thanks!
Great video. I’d like to recommend Bruckner and Brahms as well for those seeking good music.
Let Beauty bring you to the Good, and the Good bring you to the Truth.
Thanks for the reminder, Matt! Peace
I've recently found a real gem. Bieber's Rosary Sonatas, absolutely gorgeous.
Lol . . . I think have grown up with the beautiful. I grew up reading Pride and Prejudice, Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Pan, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, and so many others. I will always prefer Lord of the Rings to 24. I couldn only watch one season when my family was watching it. There was too much stimulation for me. And, unfortunately, Netflix is getting rid of the beautiful movies and shows, but at least Father Brown is still available. Lord of the Rings is now on it too (Fellowship is, at least).
I'm not sure that calling people 'stupid' and 'the problem' over and over is revealing beauty, truth or goodness.
Thanks for this vcast! I'm happy to hear someone speak to this! I believe it takes time to discover beauty, objetively, but starting with your suggestions is the right place. I see some want the criteria for "objective" beauty and that's another vcast!
Those things are a bit more complicated from where I sit.
Goodness, justice, beauty and freedom are what we ought to make true the most out of all for all.
Those fundamental things are distinguished from others by their special mechanic of mutual reinforcement i.e. good act is even better when it is also an enactment of justice, it is better if it is also beautiful, an act out of free will rather than coerced, for example by a strict law and threat of punishment if unexecuted etc etc.
Likewise a just decision is even more when it is also good, a beautiful decision even more beautiful when it is an act of justice -like, the interplay goes on and on with such examples and we could imagine all sorts of different scenarioes that show this at large -this is besides the point though.
It also sometimes happenes that those values within particular options for our choices and paths collide against each other -sometimes, but it could occur.
What we choose is those moments is what truly determines our character and I do sincerely believe, that to make the most of them to coincide with each other and further mutually reinforce each ought to be the goal.
Dunno.
Stay healthy! 💜
That was true, good, and beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you for a great video Matt. God bless you
"The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings." --Plato
Thank you for recommending a book ❤️
Beautiful message
Very good advice. Thank you and God bless!
A thought on the word "ugly" as it relates to the arts (music, movies, books). Since there are so many different expressions of the arts appealing to a variety of tastes, there might be some clarity if thought about like this. While my 7 year old might not enjoy Bach, they won't be offended by it. While my teenager might not enjoy "A man for all seasons", they wouldn't be uncomfortable watching it. So with that in mind, if a song, a movie or story is shared with our whole family from our youngest to our grandparents all in an open room in eye contact with everyone, are there elements where there is discomfort between the people in the room? Does the music, movie or story bring our imaginations to places we wouldn't share with the whole family? Or does the artistic expression elevate our mind to what is good in us? Might it be that "ugly" is more closely aligned with doing harm to human dignity? Does the music, movie or story raise our mind to the dignity of every human person or does it debase it? This would leave room for a wide variety of artistic expression and style, but keep us on track with the powerful potential influence of the arts in our lives.
Other thoughts?
I think Tolkien was a great awesome writer, but the lord of the rings movies are not boring 🙂 love your work Matt
And this is why my children are taught in the Classical Catholic method. ❤️✏️✝️
Oh I could talk about this method of school all day! Its also known as Liberal Arts method...its teaching kids HOW to think not just WHAT to think! And right now in our society we need strong independent thinkers who will stand up for God! So excited that you're interested! This video and article gives a great description.
ruclips.net/video/uRLxvptCuzw/видео.html
classicalacademicpress.com/what-is-classical-education/
Excellent video Matt! I loved the references to good books to read.
This has to be one of your finest talks.
"Beauty is the emotions recognizing the emotion's true purpose." Recognition. Learning how to recognize beauty is a lifelong endeavor. Matt's slipped into a practical recommendation instead of a logical proof. If you want to learn beauty the fastest, experience ANYTHING that survived time up to this point. It's obviously laced with the eternal. And when you get done curing yourself of temporal provincialism turn around and watch 24 again. Then tell me what parts of it were beautiful and help me discard all that was ugly in it. That is the rubber meets the road of how someone can say Puccini trumps Beyonce.
Good comment.
i think he is underestimating beyonce. well not underestimating her, but underestimating the concept of pop music. her specific songs might not be eternal, but the harmonies, melodies, chord progressions etc are, and continue to reappear in different songs continuously.
awesome....thanks for sharing 😊
I recount my experience listening to Nella Fantasia, nothing better
Thanks for the great advice! I was just about to put Netflix on when I watched this.. think I'll pick up a book instead! 🙏😄
#askmattfradd Hey Matt, I love your videos and your podcast Pints With Aquinas. I've heard you talk a lot about the Eastern Church and was wondering what experience you've had with Eastern Catholicism and Easten Orthodoxy? Were you raised the Eastern Church or introduced to it later on? Thanks so much for all you do.
“The problem isn’t Tolkien, it’s you”
I loved this. God has been transforming me from the outside in and the inside out in a number of ways. I do love the "silent" time with God.
I've been led to believe that wanting to like and enjoy nice, beautiful things is wrong, so I've just ignored it. Recently I've realized that I crave beauty. I've been starved for beauty (in my environment, apartment, and myself.)
As I sit with God, and his word daily-I'm being transformed. ❤🩹Finally getting the message this isn't just ok, it's what I'm to be pursuing, the highest good. Thank you!
For me to learn more and create the environment and things for the best. That way, becoming the best me I can be and then be able to help others and possibly the community. Be an agent for good, to transpire and inspire to rise above the muck, and go forward to create the good and beautiful. ❤Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
I mean I get what you’re saying but as humans, we are seekers of information to squirrel away and use later. And I think God made us that way on purpose. So even if a mass is perfect and beautiful - I’m not boring if I find it boring after sitting through it 500 times. I need to hear something *new*.
And classics (music, books, etc) are classics because they did something wildly new and interesting in their time - such that it gave us all a new foundation to step up onto and create more new things from.
And so we *did*. And those new things are often just as good if not better than the classics because the new things are standing on the shoulders of the old things. But that doesn’t mean the old things are more beautiful that the new things (Beyoncé or whatever. I’m not a huge fan but you get my point I think.)
I really think human beings are explorers and we get bored when there isn’t something fresh and relevant to explore. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that seein’ as how God made this here infinite universe to go right along with our explorative, restless nature.
Geez I mean seriously you’ve got such a good point here but you’re just murdering it under condescension. Bach is not more holy or better than techno. The creative spark is actually a holy thing, IMO. And once you go try to make a thing or do a music yourself, you might appreciate the creative spark in others a bit more even if they made music that isn’t your taste.
Techno helps me get my house clean and that is no small feat. Just sayin’.
I totally agree. Plus, I get bored like the rest of the church when a father reads his Godknows howmany pagesof Latin meanings during his homily, etc. People want to see creativity. And so many fathers in the past (that are mentioned in the biographies of saints) said that you can't use the Latin or for today's generation let's say you can't use an encyclopedic language (terminology, etc.) while talking to the locals who didn't study what you did at all. Because including all the other fathers as well, everyone will sleep. I'm telling you Matt, I want you to read this please please please, it's not to scold you or judge, I want to make it clear. Fathers should talk, explain, tell stories during the homily, make it look attractive. So you see yes some masses are boring. I know all the people in my cathedral and I assure you of what I am talking about. Thanks. Sorry @rooftops renegade for writing so long. God bless.
mary teimourova yeah, and I might have felt it as a bit of a kick to the gut to hear him call out music (which is definitely an art form) as basically trash just because it’s not Bach or whatever. Because I’m really pouring my heart into my own art right now and ugh. I (like most artists) self criticize more than is probably healthy. We need to be able to love what we make while we are learning. Or we will freeze up and stop being able to tinker and play which is so desperately important to creation. But once you are an adult who is also trying to nourish your creative side (because if you’re a creative person and you don’t, you’ll just die inside... ask me how I know 👀) it is SO HARD to hold onto faith that you’re not doing something foolish and stupid and time wasting. The last thing I need is to hear someone else’s art criticized as trash based on the plum line of it not measuring up in comparison to one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Rooftops Renegade This is about consuming, not producing. Do you think a doctor would prescribe new, novice-made medication just because it would make that developer feel good?
It's not about just feeling good, that's his whole point.
I liked all your videos until you critized techno music as "ugly". There might be things you don't approve but it doesn't mean that they are ugly. I know really good techno music makers (and yes they are educated musicians) who are really talented and trying their best to come up with a good beat and musical elegance. And the words they use do not contain any sensual meaning. So let's not generalize all of them. Because I am sure there were some people in the past called the classical music "ugly". Thanks for reading. God bless.. :)
P. S: I extremely agree about the books. I enjoy books more than their movies. Because I learn more and I read beyond the book while reading it.
PREACH!
mary teimourova maybe he shouldn’t have generalized all techno but things (including music) either conform to the natural order of number and sound or they don’t. They are either proportionate according to the nature of magnitude and number or they’re not. They either have integrity, ie they have all their parts, according to their nature or they don’t. And their beauty is either easily seen and grasped (clarity) or its not. Also he doesn’t deny taste exists. Everyone has their taste but everything either does or doesn’t have beauty in the actual thing.
Yeah and there are things like looks ugly but they are not.
I adore this channel!. I fear I'm avoiding God's true call.. but I'll keep tip toeing along. You're so funny :) thank you for all you do
If beauty is objective, then one ought to be able to define it with objective criteria. In the comments here, I've seen a couple of attempts to do so but, in reality, they just kick an ultimate subjective judgement a couple of steps down further in their assessment process. It's hard to escape the conclusion that what is actually happening is that apologists use a moralistic definition of beauty to imbue their own tastes with virtue at the expense of other's tastes.
i don't think beauty can be objective, because our experience of the world occurs through the lens of our own sense organs and the substrate of our own consciousness. the objectivity of beauty might be something like 'perceived harmony, perceived profundity, perceived excellence' but because this is all the result of our own perception, its possible to have one person see these qualities in a puddle on the ground after a storm or something mundane like that. And i dont think it is necessarily correct to tell them they are wrong, because if beauty is a God, then all things should possess a potential for beauty.
#askMattFradd can God be in something that isn't true, good, AND beautiful? As in, can God be in what is true, good, yet ugly? Good, beautiful, yet false? True, beautiful, yet bad? What if only one of the three applies? Can God still be there?
Very good !
I have a question about the point on silence. How do you spent a silence moment with GOD with a busy mind?
By busy mind, I mean being most of the time in your thoughts.
Amen. Beautiful, oh you said that... please make a video on tying the *Benevolent* uncaused Cause, making us with transcendent desires for *objective* truth, beauty, peace, *justice*, and the virtues.
That God let the freewill of some of The Angels - Fallen Angels, and humanity bring such pain and sorrow to the world.
What am I asking? Connecting trust in God's Benevolence with our desire for perfect truth, goodness (justice), and beauty. More to the point, we obviously have a transcendent desire for perfect truth, peace, justice, and beauty. This differs from creatures like monkeys who are biologically, instinctually motivated.
From my understanding of Creation, The Garden of Eden is a story of teaching us that we have a freewill toward true freedom that always existed *or* freewill to choose the converse desires that magnify creation or feelings with above or differently then there benevolent purpose. So it is obvious that while we say we are being re-created, God is Creating us to enter into the Eternal Sabbath, where we no long have strife, pain, war - because God's Grace and our cooperation with that Grace let God transform our desires to benevolent desires always tempered for the purpose for which they were intended. Every rationalization carried out in reality in our plane of existence, causes some kind of disharmony - obvious to our limited perception or not.
Isn't our goal, to trust God in God's Always Existing Benevolence - to let God transform our hearts, minds, and soul - our whole being, no matter the suffering we may have to endure in this hurtful world by Grace filled Godly courage;
to avoid being part of the problem, but be part of the solution. 'The narrow and difficult way' by the easy, humble yoke of Christ, which He is yoked with us. God patiently endures all the unearned suffering in every moment of a long and arduous history from our point of view - for our Salvation; but God sees the end from a perspective that a thousand years pass in God's sight as a day - and pain last for a night, but joy is in the morning forever more.
War no more, pain no more, every tear wiped away. A time and place much more fun than anything conceived of in this hurting world. Charity, justice, peace - always doing good for one another --- there is a rhyme and reason for the calamities, slings and arrows of so long a journey --- to shamelessly rob Shakespearean and other's descriptions. T'is a consummation devoutly to be wished at the end of this journey. Yes?
Perfect thanksgiving to God, perfect music, perfect art, perfect performances, perfect family bonds, perfect togetherness, love, warmth and acceptance - all of the time. And none of the challenges will be stress-fully endured by the sweat of our brows every again. Rivers of living water, flowing into Living Stones of God's Temple, each have the Bread and Wine of Life - always participating in The Life of God.
But ultimately indescribable since the human heart has not conceived what God has prepared for those who have Covenant Love for God. I suppose that is why Thomas Aquinas was prompted, after some type of near death experience or enveloped ecstasy of Heaven, - 'all I have written is straw.' It is so true, good, and beautiful.
Peace.
#askmattfradd What're some good books to read that are about saints? I'd love to read more about them, but don't know where to start! Thanks Matt!
#askmattfradd is there a reading list you have of books that novices like me can begin to read without diving into the deep end? I’m going to pick up Flannery O’Connor. Thanks!
Thanks. Prof. Matt.
God bless, Revelations 21:4
I got introduced to Bach because of Patrick Coffin's podcast :D
The orchestra version is indeed better IMHO.
Help! I want to write a thesis on this topic. Can you please give me some good philosophers???
Be alone with God. Practice the presence of God
4:02 Amen! Tolkien! Tolkien! Tolkien! 6:18 I tend to think the LoTR movies are kind of bad, but they're worlds better than the "Hobbit" movies... I sure hope they do a good job with the LoTR Amazon series and keep that hack Peter Jackson miles and miles away from it...
Is eating a lot due to being in the stages of body development gluttony?
Amen.
Wasn't H. G Wells devoutly anti-Catholic and this reflected in some of his later stories though?
i am trying to decide whether or not to matt fradd wants me to watch his videos or not? lol
Can anyone suggest some beautiful films? So many contain horrific scenes and swearing. Also I'd like to recommend Hill top hoods restrung for a combination of classical instruments and hip hop for something different.
as techno head, I'm triggered to death thats a 3 out of 3. 😂
God bless
Why don’t you let people live their own lives, decide what they find beautiful and how to spend their time
Hey, Matt. Interesting video. Indeed, I agree that we habituate ourselves to things we believe may be good but are ultimately not good in developing our intellectual selves...
However, where I feel your argument lacks merit is in the examples you provide to justify this notion of ‘The Universal Truth’, namely artistic works.
As I pondered on this idea of ‘The Universal Truth’, I came to realise that if you do wish to view the world from this lens, to me, at least, ‘The Universal Truth’ should be defined as something that tangibly affects everyone in the world in a way that can be imperially measured. This not only makes it universal (as it can clearly affect everyone) but also truthful (as it can be proven using evidence).
Saying that Beethoven is better than Beyoncé or that Tolkien is better than Netflix has no basis in rationality because it would be impossible to measure whether one or the other is more intellectually stimulating. Therefore, these examples cannot be seen as ‘universal truths’ based on my definition.
There are many examples of ‘universal truths’ based on my definition but which also fit into your idea of our habituation to problematic behaviours as well. These could include: consumerism and its adverse effects on our emotional wellbeing and environmental conservation, and users of drugs who use them to alleviate stress and other issues. They align with both of our definitions of ‘universal truths’ as there exists readily accessible information out there highlighting society’s excusal of these behaviours, despite how objectively damaging they can be to society.
But despite all that I have said, I actually do not subscribe to the idea of ‘The Universal Truth’ for a variety of reasons. Namely, the angle in which you chose to explore this concept shows to me that it can stem from an incredibly dogmatic place, which is not something I personally stand by. Your point about Beethoven being the only artist anyone should listen to for intellectual stimulation exemplifies this. The beauty someone derives from the arts of their culture might not be viewed as beautiful by someone of a different culture. Ultimately, our differences do not lend credence to any type of universal consensus. What you are trying to pass off as ‘truth’ is merely your opinion, which is incredibly dangerous.
Also, your point about how people see things as not beautiful not because they aren’t beautiful, but because it’s their problem for not seeing it as beautiful is borderline gaslighting if I’ve ever seen it.
But all this is just my opinion. And I will claim it as such.
What would the criteria for objective beauty then? Idk if I lost the explanation somewhere in the video
I think it’s best to look for beauty in everything. The fact that God lets us walk the Earth is something to admire forever.
Beyonce speaks to some people more than the myriad of Italian composers. I, for one, try to find what makes my daily commute route nice, unique, and dare I say beautiful.
As a musician, I can’t disagree more with blinding yourself to the beauty of music. Who can say what’s beautiful or ugly than God? And I’m sure that Jesus saw beauty in broken, “ugly” people. I’ll just enjoy the beauty here on Earth and look forward to the infinite beauty of Heaven.
The criteria might be subjective, but I think objective beauty can be reasoned out. Maybe asking yourself, "does this glorify God?" will help you decern what objective beauty is. The generic pop song on the radio probably doesn't glorify God quite like Bach does.
@@hitthefries Maybe think about the instrumentals. Years of practice on a stinged instrument is objectively more praise worthy than beats on a laptop meant to be easily consumable.
@Chromatic Swing I, as a fellow musician, was thinking the exact same thing as he was talking. The points people have made about something glorifying God to find objective beauty make sense, but what REALLY makes Puccini more beautiful than Beyonce?
The point is true but the examples come off as snobery. There are things on netflix that are beautiful and types of music written after 1840 that are beautiful. God is in all things if we look for him.
Very good. But take it a bit further. Philosophy is good; theology is better. The Scriptures say, " Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you." James 4:8. He IS Truth; He IS Beauty; He IS goodness! He says in His Word, " Be STILL and know that I am God." We need to purpose to "be still." When we put HIM FIRST (Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Matt. 6:33) HE surrounds us like a shield with Truth, Goodness and Beauty. He is faithful to perform His Word.
☝❤☝❤☝❤
I love listening to Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush, and I think a lot of their music is beautiful. Just because you love Tolkien, Back, and so on, does not mean that we all have to love it too!!!!
Ordering us to listen to what you love comes across as condescending and patronising!!!!!
And calling your viewers "boring", just because they don't agree with you??!!.....
Anyway, this video gets my thumbs down!!!
It's not a matter of what he thinks, it's a matter of what God thinks.
God is an objective God. Certain things naturally come closer to Godliness, even if they aren't exactly what he is prescribing here.
Thanks for the encouraging me to stop watching you!
Beauty is deceit.
Truth is horrifying.
i think you are too strongly emphasizing the objectivity of the transcendentals without much basis. beauty is at least partially in the eye of the beholder. not everyone has the same tastes and i think it is sort of dehumanising to say we ought to all enjoy the same things, and if we don't it means someones 'beauty detector' is faulty and its their problem
This video was so weird.
I disagree that books are better than videos.
Aquinas is such a genius it's mind boggling. He makes my brain hurt.
"Haych G Wells"? (Sorry I couldn't resist x3)
Jordan Mielbrecht well, he IS Australian...
Chopin is the best
I KNOW you love Metallica, do you think their music is beautiful?
Beauty is totally subjective, it has to do with taste. Suggesting people with different tastes are in the wrong because they like stuff you don't makes you look like an absolutist. You are trying to force people like things you like and think the way you think, why? Don't you know God loves diversity (true diversity not the forced one by the way) that's why he created us different from one another, that's beauty, goodness and truth. The world would be a very bad and sad place (or even badder or sadder from what it already is) if people were entirely the same, listened to the same music, watched the same shows, did the same things, etc. This video is an example of cognitive dissonance and maybe you thought you were doing good but you are flawed this time around, brother. Have a nice day everyone and be safe. God bless you all brothers and sisters!
This video does emphasize the objective aspect of the three Transcendentals (though he briefly, albeit simply negatively, mentions their subjective aspect). Be careful not to just pick the opposite extreme. Truth, goodness, and beauty make up our complex subjective and objective relation to things, ideas, etc. It is the case, I think, that the objective aspects of truth and goodness are easier to see. If the Transcendental perfections in things (and ourselves) are to lead us to the world, each other, and God, then they must pull us out of ourselves through both their subjectivity and their objectivity.
The kind of music/art Matt refers to can induce a powerful passionate or intellectual response. Yet such art participates so little in the existentially rich character of beauty (taken by the Tradition referenced in this video as what is whole/integral, balanced/harmonious, and bright/clear/radiant) or even fights these characteristics in certain ways.
Is it ok to impose ideas, tastes, beliefs (political, social), etc to other people and call them "ugly" and/or "wrong" if the don't agree with what (in this case) Matt percieve is right? What makes a person's tastes the absolute truth/beauty/goodness? Is Beyoncé's music inherently evil or unworthy just because some people don't like it (i don't listen to her by the way)? Is watching Netflix of the devil? I personally get a powerful passionate and intellectual response while listening to alt.rock, am i being evil or ugly for listening the stuff i like? Does my soul belong to the evil one for the things i like and enjoy (not the sinful ones but good ones, like the paintings i paint, the food i eat, the teams i support, the movies i watch, etc)? What is soul if not tastes? His entire attitude seems so judgemental to me and it's a shame because until this point i liked his videos. It's such a turn off.
The moment something turns you off is the moment when you need to listen the hardest. If Fradd is making you uncomfortable then he's bringing an idea that you hadnt considered before. An idea you are not accustomed too. An ugly idea. But maybe we are like he says. Accustomed to the ugly. Diversity may not be inherently beautiful. Ever been to a pawn shop?
That being said one important aspect that I believe Matt left out is the infinite and unknowable magnitude of God's beauty (more than a universe-sized diamond with atom-sized facets) and the contaminated nature of all our artifice. And that the beauty of one work of man may emphasize another aspect of God's beauty than another person's work or contain some beauty but to a lesser degree so we can not enter into it fully. Tolkien's work is better than Jack Bower (objective) but Tolkien could have taken a few minutes off of philology to make his journey to Rivendell pop just a little more with excitement (tough sell but I could do it). Puccini does have more to offer us when you go deep and turn off the spotify than Motley Crue but you'll never convince me that there isn't echoes of the greatest tragedy in Queen's "I want it all."
One of the weird things about the 4 temporal or instrumental virtues is that existing in time (possibly because they exist in time) and translated by us fallen creatures their results will always be flawed. Some youTube videos will bring us great strength like this one. And sometimes our own quiet will not help us find the Silence of the throne room because we are content gluttons. BUT IF YOU LIKE SOMETHING, THERE IS GOD IN IT. ANYTHING. But that doesnt make the Big Three subjective. It just makes them unrepresented in their fullest. And most fully represented by a saint. So you want beauty with the fewest drawbacks? Sans hangover? Keeping yourself fit for duty? Look to saints. Look to Mr. Fradd. Look to me. Emulation is not conformity. Your name on your white stone will be totally different from ours.
@@redwizard192 Lots of Beyonce's music has disgusting sexual references
Beauty is objective. But not all can see it. Maybe confusion of sin.
This is actually really stupid. Beauty is subjective and people find different things beautiful. Why would you put down artists like Beyonce just because YOU don’t like it? Beyonce is God’s creation and it doesn’t seem very Catholic of you to be calling her songs ugly. God wouldn’t appreciate you calling his creations ugly.
I think whatever someone poured their heart and soul into, through their God given ability, is inherently beautiful if done in a Godly manner. I think this includes some Netflix shows/movies, movies, modern music, and etc... I usually agree with everything you’ve spoken about. I do agree beauty is objective, but I think it stretches further then your argument allowed it to.
Beyoncé has beautiful music what you mean 😭
Evil people choose evil. Don't fool yourself!
Is God form? Not matter I know. Is God pure form?
C
Beauty isn't (totally) objective as you (seem to) say. And I can't agree less on the part about Tolkien. I haven't 'accustomed myself' to ugly literature (you want to say Dante and Homerus made 'ugly literature'? Yes I read this kind of authors, I'm a literature student). I just don't like the fantasy genre and that doesn't mean that I am wrong about beauty. I think this kind of thinking (this (my) idea of beauty is 'THE good one') can also be very dangerous and put yourself, or a person/group of people, on a pedestal and put other people down.
An important thing to say is that taste is also very depended on the people you surround yourself with. For example, if you become a professor it is very likely that your taste, in music, clothes, books, everything, will change to something more suiting for this position. A professor might start listening to classical music and might start reading Dante, even though he didn't before. Taste is very linked to social class and putting these, in some ways objectively better but in other ways just higher class, artforms on such a pedestal, will put down people with a somewhat lower social class. The times are changing, at least here in the west of Europe, and the differences between high and low taste seem to be dissolving/changing/growing towards each other a bit. I actually think this is a good thing.
I do want to say that in some ways some things can be more benevicient for you. It's important to be able to enjoy silence, for example. But this doesn't mean that beauty is totally objective and everyone has to like/love Tolkien, for example and that everyone who doesn't has 'bad' taste.
I expected too much from you old sport
Truth: Accepting Science
Good: Not allowing systematic child rape into your organization
Beautiful: Living a fantasitic and beautiful life without a false celestial dictator
Beautiful: Not condemning those for who they love