The Vatican's Top Ten Albums of All Time
Some Catholic officials have posted objections to the content of list, in some cases jokingly criticizing the merits of some of the albums.
Here's their picks in order:
The Beatles' "Revolver"
Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon"
Oasis' "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?"
Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
U2's "Achtung Baby"
Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours"
Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly"
Carlos Santana's "Supernatural"
Paul Simon's "Graceland"
David Crosby's "If I Could Only Remember My Name."
Many bloggers have pointed out the snubbing of Bob Dylan, whom the paper said inspired too many other moaning singer/songwriters (though they did applaud his poetic achievements).
Obviously, The Vatican's list has had its desired intent—to stir up conversation. Recently, through L'Osservatore Romano, the Catholic Church has posted thoughts about other cultural talking points, including the film Avatar, the Harry Potter books and the resurgence of The Lord of the Rings.
Aside from my own thoughts about the critical merits of The Vatican's list, I do think it's a good thing when Christians can find common ground to engage with culture. Sure, not everyone will agree with a list like this (which is understandable), but by approaching a topic like pop-music with a "semi" serious attitude, it can help to disarm conversations with people who don't see-eye-to on more personal issues.
What do you think? Do you think a list like this is appropriate? Do you think it's all in good fun, or do you think a list of artists with such different social and religious leanings can cause confusion?