Teen Gothic

Exactly as the title says! I’m someone who’s both goth and religious (Catholic) and I’m curious about other religious people’s experiences, both of being religious in goth spaces and being goth in religious spaces. I’ve always found being simultaneously religious and involved in subculture to be a really unique experience because there’s an expectation that the two are mutually exclusive and when you’re both that breaks a lot of stereotypes that both outsiders and many people within those groups hold. My experience is ultimately my own though and I’m incredibly curious as to what other goths from all different backgrounds and faiths think and feel. This could also be a good place to ask (respectful) questions and try to build a bit of mutual understanding between each other.

If you read this far, thank you for giving your time! Have a nice day 🙂

I've noticed in the past a lot of mentions religious deities and terms like God, Lord, and Jesus within Post-Punk and Gothic songs. A few memorable ones include;

"I know that God lives in everybody's soul and the only Devil in your world lives in the human heart" -Good Morning Beautiful by The The

"Is my creator a God or a man? (Yes, yours too)" -Monkeyland by The Chameleons

"Moving along in our God-given ways safety is sat by the fire" -Passover by Joy Division

"Jesus christ, i am bleached by the heat but i feel fine in my filthy skin" -Bleach by Lowlife

I also notice that religion symbols like the cross can be within gothic fashion as well. Aside from artistic expression, why do you think religious symbols and language are used so often in the goth and post-punk scenes?

Dearest Goths,

I am looking for Gothic (or Post-Punk & Wave) songs with religious or spiritual lyrics (not critics, more like gospels and prayers). Please note to which religion the song belongs. Thank you very much!

i know that this is a topic pertaining more to fashion/themes rather than music, so i understand if it's not allowed. but i think it is more fitting on here rather than the fashion subreddit, because iconography is something used in the subculture since its inception, including with bands, batcave clothing, and gothic themes. i want to hear thoughts and opinions on this from people who are involved in the scene and close to the subculture, but let me know if i need to post this tomorrow instead:).

the other night at an event, i was wearing a necklace with an oversized cross. most of the people i'm close with and spend time with are involved in the punk scene or are generally irreligious, so i've never run into any issues before. but an acquaintance came up to me and told me that she was disappointed because i was "appropriating christian culture". i'm curious to hear you guys' thoughts on this? i know that a lot of religious iconography is used within the subculture and others (like metal), and within goth music (i have no idea how she would have reacted to "spiritual cramp").

my rule of thumb is that it's important to know the meaning of anything you're going to wear. i wear ankhs all the time, and i know what they mean and that they belong to an ancient culture. i don't wear crosses to disrespect the symbol, but instead to dress in line with an established aesthetic. i don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but christianity is the world's largest religion, and it's themes, architecture, and ideals, are everywhere and ingrained in cultures across the world. i don't see christianity as an oppressed group. however, from the other POV, i'm jewish, and i would be uncomfortable seeing someone wear the star of david. thoughts?

Can anyone suggest some "religious trauma"/ anti-purity culture anthems for my "religious trauma" playlist on Spotify? The more blasphemous, the better! So far, I have about thirty songs on it, and plenty of songs from Inkubus Sukkubus, Christian Death, and Two Witches. I would ideally prefer suggestions from bands other than the three I just mentioned so I can round out my playlist with some diversity.

I'm looking forward to seeing what y'all come up with!

Give me your favorite songs with religious themes!

Any religious/ spiritual goths here? If so, what’s your faith? I myself am a non- dominantional Christian Goth