Music and Religion
As a custom to all southern traditions and culture, I was born and raised as a bonafide southern baptist lady(please enjoy the sarcasm). I am of course kidding, the church I attended as a teenager was an escape for me at times when I felt low and I have had experiences I would not trade for anything. Although I have changed there are still some parts of the church that I enjoy like the music they play. Whenever songs would play it is like something takes over and becomes more spiritual and less like a meeting and more like real praise we hear about in the bible.
Of course, all the songs are very spiritual and teach us to rely on the church and God. I really like how religions give people peace of mind and support in a hard time.
Another religion I have studied is Buddism very a religion class and I went to a meditation ceremony. Buddism is less on glorifying a God but more finding your own peace and being one with the universe. I went to the local Buddhist temple to immerse myself in the culture. They played traditional Buddhist meditation music during the ceremony and its a lot of chanting as a way to calm and relax the meditation ceremony.
As a custom to all southern traditions and culture, I was born and raised as a bonafide southern baptist lady(please enjoy the sarcasm). I am of course kidding, the church I attended as a teenager was an escape for me at times when I felt low and I have had experiences I would not trade for anything. Although I have changed there are still some parts of the church that I enjoy like the music they play. Whenever songs would play it is like something takes over and becomes more spiritual and less like a meeting and more like real praise we hear about in the bible.
In my high school years, I attended a church that had a set in stone type of schedule for the service. When you come in, the pastor says to start greeting people and music starts playing and for the first thirty minutes of service is just music. There would always be a piano playing and at least 2 singers while the rest of the congregation sang along. They were not hymns and they sounded more like secular music in comparison, but there was sometimes a hymn or two played. Harmony was a big thing for the music leader and she always had to have an alto and a soprano part or she would start yanking people from the congregation who she knew could sing. The music was always a praise to God and the mercy and forgiveness He gives us and to remind us that in our struggles He is there to protect and comfort. One of my favorite songs to hear was “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” by Hillsong UNITED. Its a song as sort of a reminder that when we have no idea which way is up that God is there to guide us.
Another religion I have studied is Buddism very a religion class and I went to a meditation ceremony. Buddism is less on glorifying a God but more finding your own peace and being one with the universe. I went to the local Buddhist temple to immerse myself in the culture. They played traditional Buddhist meditation music during the ceremony and its a lot of chanting as a way to calm and relax the meditation ceremony.
Hi Courtney!
ReplyDeleteI love the song "Oceans" by UNITED as well. It is a very uplifting worship song. Our church sings it too sometimes. Does your church often preform contemporary songs like "Oceans?"
I've never visited a meditation ceremony, but I feel like that would be good for college students to attend to de-stress and find peace while trying to figure out school and the daily life struggles!
I love that church was a place where you could escape to because I have heard many people talk about church feeling like a place that they were just forced to go to. It is wonderful to hear about good experiences in relation to religion, especially when they are younger. I also enjoy the fact that the music leader would just grab whoever knew how to sing and got them to perform!
ReplyDeleteCourtney! I love the song Oceans too, it is one of my favorites! I learned how to sign it many years ago. I can relate to you with the music aspect of the church you went to in high school. The church I attend now is very similar with the opening is all about the music.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your bottom paragraph, all songs are different but they all talk about god and praise god and even if they are sung low and slow or upbeat and fast they all are about god.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I want to mention that I’m glad you were able to find something to lean on when you were struggling. Secondly, I’ve never been to a service in which the first 30 minutes was only dedicated to music. I think that it’s pretty neat that your church did that. It’s just amazing seeing how each church has there own way of presenting music but still have the same reason behind it.
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