Bon Jovi a Christian oriented band?
 

To start with, i just thought i'd mention that i'm from Lebanon a country in the Middle East, Lebanon's population is at almost 50/50 Christian-Muslem; the Lebanese population is pretty much into religion, more than what western populations might be.

I'm actualy Catholic, Bon Jovi was very popular in Lebanon around the These Days era, it was more like you'd be considered as a loser if you didn't have the These Days album or didn't consider it as a masterpeice of rock music.

Anyway, with time since the 90's, the world got more into extremes religion wise; so the other day i was listenning to Bang a Drum from Blaze of Glory, a muslem friend of mine was like non-interested, i figured he got less interested in Bon Jovi; i personaly couldn't careless; but it came to me then that many Jovi songs had like a Christian indication to them;

Take 'Somethin to Believe in' for instance... if i don't believe in Jesus how can i believe the pope?

or 'Hey God'... i'd get down on my knees , I'm gonna try this thing your way.

or 'Santa Fe'... i'd save a prayer when i needed most for the father son and the holy ghost
and sign it from a sinner with no name.

or 'Bang a Drum'... I went to see a preacher to teach me how to pray.

and many others that wouldn't come to mind

So my question is how would it feel for a Jewish or a Muslem individual, or of whatsoever other confession, to listen to Bon Jovi music? knowing that Bon Jovi are of Christian basis.

I always thought Bon Jovi's religious references were pretty cliched and used more as an artistic tool to drive the overall point of the lyric (if I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope?) rather than to stir religious emotion.

They're hardly a Christian rock band so I'd be very surprised if a person chose not to listen to them because they perceived them as representing religion.

Bad medicine is about a priest, allegedly.

I think Bon Jovi refer to religion but aren't overtly promoting it. What religion is JBJ anyway?

The band are all catholic, except Dave who is Jewish.

Jovi were popular here TD era?!! God, did I come to live here too late (well, born too late, too I suppose XD) Most everyone at my school really, really hate 'em. I'm a loner I tell ya!

As for the question, well, I don't think the guys' music is particularly religiously oriented in any way; God for sure is something mentioned repeatedly but I think it's for the sake of the theme, depending on the message that's supposed to be conveyed. Stuff with preachers and church and Hallelujah Amen is used in the religious context but not for Christianity in particular, ya know? But nothing to suggest that they're a Christian band or anything. They're not picky in the religious department.

For the record, I'm a Muslim and it don't affect the way I perceive or enjoy the music...in the end, you'd just think, why should I?

So am not the only one around here from Lebanon? gd to know

Well dear, during my days Bon Jovi was considered as a hard rocker band, with real heart felt music, around highschool days, evreyone had the These Days album, it was like a must have...

Nowadays the new generation has barely heard of Bon Jovi, its about some few little girls, that happen to love two or three poptunes of Jovi, no offense dear.

Around Gemmeyze, if any Bon Jovi is played, its either Its my Life or any song from These Days, i once heard ''If thats what it Takes'' played at a pub.

Yea, but to make it clearer to you, a Shiite friend of mine, heard the ''if i don't believe in Jesus'' line, he was like whats with those rock bands and Jesus? and then turned for some arabic music.

Its not to say that Jovi are a Christian rock band, no way; but just to say that mentionning Christian symbols in their songs is not very appealing to non-Christian listenners.

Christianity, especially in Italian Americans is a huge part of their lives, you can't expect Jon or Richie to rid their songs of any reference to their religion know can you?

Most of the time it's not even a positive reference anyway.

If it upsets non Christians then it's their problem, not the artists.

I got no problem with that; was just trying to make a point.

I think that like anyone else the band references God, or their spiritual influences in the context that they know, for them it's going to be from a Catholic based point of view since that is what they grew up with.
I get what you are trying to say, that a non christian person might not enjoy the references, but in the case of BJ those references are small, usually fairly general and I can't see why it would be a make or break when it comes to liking or not liking their music. I