We're musicians. We make music for a living. It's that simple. Nothing else matters.
I spent six years in Bible study because I needed to get grounded. People really need to spend time in the Bible getting to know the God they claim to love.
As the director of an opera, it is my responsibility to unify the style of the particular performance, but one can certainly approach the piece from different points of view. That's what makes it interesting and keeps it alive.