Music and Religion

Throughout my lifetime I've attended many churches of varying denominations, each with their own flavor of worship. Because of this, my perception of what role music plays in church/religion is probably somewhat skewed from the average church attendee's. I also tend to ascribe religious value to much of the music I listen to on a daily basis, since I believe that one of the gifts God has given us is the beauty and joy that is music.

Having gone to a private Christian school for undergrad, I was certainly exposed to a vast amount of music in a church or worship setting. The large majority of this came in the form of a worship band, which would generally consist of an acoustic guitarist or two, a bassist, a djembe or drumset for accompaniment, and several vocalists. Most often, this form of worship appeared in the Southern Baptist or Non-Denominational services. For a year or so, I attended a church where I played drumset (though selfishly so, I suppose; I was paid) for a praise band. The music in this particular church didn't appear to have a huge deal of importance to the service, similar to most of the churches I have attended. It seems that the music is played and then the sermon begins, a seperate entity entirely. My preference would be for a much more integrated approach, similiar to the Catholic Church, where music is used throughout the service and is given more meaning than just worship; perhaps a union of religion and music on a level similar to that of the old Bach-style services - or any that used the masses of the composing greats of eras past - where the music, architecture, etc... and work together to create an atmosphere of otherworldiness and deep appreciation for God's creation.

It seems highly likely that for many people the music of their churches does effect what they find aesthetically pleasing in music. I, personally, don't see a connection between the aesthetic of the music in my church and the music I listen to on a daily basis. However, I do connect what I listen to on a daily basis with my spiritual life. Exploring the sounds that we are capable of hearing, and feeling, I feel one can grasp a much deeper understanding of God. Surely with the vast number of references to music within the Bible, there seems to be a small emphasis placed on its importance. Whether listening to my favorite drum corps recordings, my old metal favorites, or easy listening, I find a deep connection between religion and music alone (often driving down the road; a perfect time for deep thought and contemplation, I'm sure).