So I've been thinking a lot about Christian rock, and both the chapter in the book and the last post talked about this, but hopefully I'll be able to put a slightly different spin on it.
I have a friend who I grew up with in the Church, but this year she married an evangelical Christian guy and has been going to his church. His church is different from most Christian churches I'm aware of: the women wear white cloths on their heads at church, when people commit major sins they confess it front of the entire congregation, they don't celebrate Halloween, and don't even like to include Santa in Christmas and instead of stockings they have "wise men baskets." These are just a few of the things I've picked up on in conversations with her. Over Christmas break I was visiting her at their apartment and her husband was listening to this heavy metal music--the kind where the majority of the singing is more like screaming. It seemed odd in this otherwise very conservative Christian household. Then when her husband left to go to the store, my friend told me he had been listening to a Christian band. Apparently they throw in messages about salvation through Jesus in between screams. My friend seemed embarrassed talking about it, as if she new what my reaction would be, and as if she kind of agreed. She had after all grown up Mormon, and Christian heavy metal was just as foreign to her as it was to me.
I think the general feeling among members of our church is that this industry that combines wordly music with gospel lyrics is not the way to go--an attempt to worship God and mammon as the book put it. We definitely aren't into including that sort of thing in our worship sessions, the church actually has a list of instruments not allowed to be played in sacrament meeting, among them the guitar and drums. For the most part, we stick to our set traditional hymns and rarely deviate.
But then as I was thinking about it more, I started to realize that maybe we aren't so separate from this phenomenon as we'd like to think. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, like Amy Grant who the book talked about, sings plenty of non-gospel-related music and is huge (often number one) on the classical music charts. And what about EFY music? What about all the many artists sold at Deseret Book? Compare their Web site with a Christian bookstore. Don't most of these musicians make money because they are combing LDS themes and lyrics with more contemporary music? Sure, I haven't heard of a LDS heavy metal band as of yet, but is our LDS music industry really so different from the Christian rock one? Aren't we basically doing the same thing?
That was a lot of rhetorical questions in a row, sorry about that. The book talked about how worldly it was that they almost used religion as an excuse to get big in the music industry, but I just think if we don't consider our own contemporary music industry such a bad thing maybe we should think again about how we view the Christian rock world.
My response to your question would be that many people want something more in their lives. They know what they should be doing and desire to be closer to God during the week. Since listening to music is something that most of do at various times other than Sunday it is a way we can incorporate our Christian values into our everyday lives. However, a lot of the traditional Christian music out there, like The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, does not appeal to every person, especially teenager or young adults. So when other "uplifting" music is created using music that we are familiar with I think many people find that appealing. So whether or not I agree with the idea of Christian Rock I think people view it as a more "fun" way to express worship all during the week.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Wiser
I think that, because we have a set forum for spirituality and religion, we may limit our spirituality and religion to that forum alone. Just because we haven't yet associated the gospel with heavy metal doesn't mean that it couldn't be or shouldn't be. I don't think that every facet of our lives should be spiritualized (there's certainly PLENTY of room for healthy secularity), but I see no reason to draw lines precluding us or someone else from further referencing religion.
ReplyDeleteCurrent pop culture embraces many forms and tastes of music. We now have genres that didn't even exist ten years ago. However, the songs that we sing today in the LDS church are based on the intsruments and genres of music that were widely popular at the time of the restoration and during the early years of the church. In fact, many of the hymns we sing today weren't even written by LDS composers. Throughout history people have been putting gospel themes with their contemporary music.
ReplyDeleteMy point, though a little hard to interpret, is that putting gospel themes with contemporary music is a very natural occurence. As musical tastes progress, so too does the manner in which we prefer to express our feelings about the things that matter most to us. For Christian or Gospel singers, this means that they will try to convey their message in the way that most pleases them. If rap music is the style that resonates most with someone, it's clear to see how they could use that to most effectively portray their feelings. In contrast, if they were to create a song based on a style that is no longer popular, it may not have the same level of reach.
Good question. Personally, I don't see it as popular, or even successful. However, there are many who don't see it that way.
ReplyDeleteFor those who do listen to the contemporary style combined with spiritual themes obviously see it as a successful venture, and enjoy it very much.
I think that part of that reason is it makes a guilty pleasure less 'guilty'. For example, perhaps this guy who listens to Screamo Christian would normally feel bad about listening to such a rough and irreverent style of music. But if the lyrics are about Jesus,well then it must be okay. Same goes with suggestive R&B beats with 'Christian' themes. Although the beats may suggest sexuality, the words 180 it back to gospel roots.
Man's spirit naturally wants to seek God, whereas the body seeks more carnal fulfillment. I think we as people are in a continual struggle between the body and the soul. Most of us try to have our cake and eat it too... and maybe for these people it's about as close as it comes.
Now on the chance that I make it sound like contemporary gospel music is bad, let me reiterate that I'm not of that opinion. I just don't particularly enjoy it.
At the end of the day, maybe people just think it's something risque, and that's appealing to them; regardless to if it actually is or not. Perhaps people just feel like they are tricking their body while pleasing their soul.
Sarah Wett
I am reminded of what Karl Marx said that religion is the opiate of the masses.
ReplyDeleteSince so many people have ruined their lives over their stupidity, they like to think that if they have religion in any form then they will have something to compensate them for their pains in another life.
However, the same mindset that has caused so many people to ruin their lives--for instance, seeking instant gratification, wanting something in exchange for nothing, shifting responsibility for self to government or society--has caused people to want their religion the same way. They want it free, without cost, and without disrupting the tale told by an idiot that is their life.
Thus, to listen to "religious music" fulfills the token need of being religious for many. At least in the minds of those who listen to it, they are spiritual people, ahead of the spirituality curve, and thereby entitled to a very generous afterlife.
J. Guest
All you have to do is walk down the isle at any music retailer to see "Punk goes Pop" or "Rock goes Pop" series of CD's. These types of CD series have become popular because they cross the gap between what is hot at the time and what has traditionally been popular. Christian rock bands are merely an attempt at "Rock goes Religious." If people weren't buying the stuff, the genre wouldn't exist in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhile many Christian rock bands may be just that, Christian, that doesn't necessarily mean that the music they create is going to be Christian. Just because they may mention Christ or God in a song doesn't classify music as spiritual in my opinion. Its all about the feelings that are invoked when listening to the music. There are numerous songs that don't mention a single word about God or religion that I consider to be spiritual.
Josh Scott
O papa e pop. One of the great songs on an album from the Brazilian musician "Engenheiros do Hawaii". Although all the lyrics save a English name or two are in Portuguese, the song goes along well with the reading and this blog post.
ReplyDeleteIt talks about how there is all this success of "christian rock" and how it's becoming more and more popular but it doesn't really save you. "O pop nao poupa ninguem.'
Chrisian bands become popular becuase of the secular elements. How many times to we listen to a song and sing the lyrics without even paying attention to them? If the lyrics are what make these songs christian then they aren't being as effective as the artists would have hoped.
Take Skillet and Saliva for example - each claim to be christian, harder rock christian. I personally feel emotion when I hear songs from these bands but it's far from spiritual. Secularity makes them popular. Having religious lyrics makes you feel better about listening to it.
I think that the LDS culture does the same thing as other religious cultures, we produce music, movies, pictures etc.. to try and make a buck. There isn't much difference in the business plan on economic strategy of these artists then other artists of other faiths. Hopefully what would set LDS artists apart is that their work would portray Christ and his attributes in their artwork whether it be music, or otherwise. The Book of Mormon teaches that all good things come from Christ and testify of him. So it doesn't matter so much if the music rhythm or other techniques are viewed as mainstream or not, but what matters is if the spirit can be present while listening to the music. That is what the higher law is, if the spirit can be there it is good and testifies of Christ, if the spirit cannot be present due to the lyrics, rhythm etc.. then it is not of Christ. So we should not be persuaded by others and what other Christian religions are listening to, instead we should follow the Holy Ghost its influence.
ReplyDelete