Spaz

Lol, christian metal? I used to listen to christian rock, which embarrasses me to think about also, but metal? I don't think I've heard christian metal, I guess it would be...interesting

lpetrich

Stryper is one of the better-known Xian heavy-metal bands, but I've never cared much for heavy metal, Xian or otherwise.

tribalbeeyatch

I don't think it is only Christians that hold this belief. I recall reading in a short biography of Cat Stevens (now Yoseph Islam? or something like that) that he swore off music entirely due to some passages in the Koran when he embraced Islam. Apparently some of the leaders of his mosque encourage him to re-embrace his talents as a way of spreading the good news or whatever. So he did begin singing again, but as instrumental music is apparently forbidden, he sang with only a percussionist as accompaniment. (Apparently percussion is in some way excepted from the prohibition of instrumental music)

The Lone Ranger

I went to a Quaker college, and they definitely had a problem with instrumental music. The Music Department consisted of exactly one professor.

Some musically-inclined friends and I tried for some time to get the college's permission to put together a band to play at football and basketball games and whatnot. The Trustees were very strongly against the idea, and gave us quite a lot of grief. Eventually, we got permission to put together a band, and they grudgingly gave us a bit of money to buy music, but they made it very clear that they didn't approve, and kept threatening to cut our funding entirely.

My understanding of the situation is that they believed the only "instrument" that should be used to praise God is the human voice, and that secular music was right out. Such was the argument that we were given, anyway.

***

I think it was Bishop Shelby Spong who I once heard on Politically Incorrect make a very telling point. His argument was that many religious traditions deliberately made certain popular behaviors "sins."

The reasoning went like this: If you can convince people that pretty-much everything they enjoy -- sex, eating, music, etc. are sinful, you'll make them feel guilty for wanting to engage in these activities. How do they alleviate this guilt? Why, by going to Church, of course! (And contributing generously to the collection plate while there.)


Cheers,

Michael

Radorth

Not that Quakers have as much to praise God for as they once did, when the Spirit made them quake.

Rad

BeansRBad

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AdamWho
[B]The Church of Christ Disciples allows music but this might be a totally different branch.

BEANSRBAD
That which is known as the Restoration Movement which began on the Western Reserve (US) in the early 19th century split into two separate camps in 1859 when Dr. L.L. Pinkerton introduced the Melodian into the worship of the congregation at Midway, KY. These two groups (which also had a few other differences such as attitudes concerning Missionary Societys) were listed separately for the first time in the US Census of 1906 (I think that is correct). The one which was predominantly in the Southern States tended to call themselves the Church of Christ whereas those in the Northern States were known as The Christian Church, or, the Independent Christian Church (although many congregations also utilized the term "Church of Christ").

The Christian Church branch of the Restoration Movement split again in the 1960's due to issues involving "liberalism". The liberal wing became known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Thus, there are three main branches in the Movement styling itself, the Restoration Movement but within each of these are literally dozens of other splits, schisms, rifts, and other gooey things.

BeansRBad

BEANSRBAD
The Church of Christ does have music. It is just accapella.

Attitudes are changing however and it is getting increasingly more difficult to find them who hold the old hardline stance. Some have even tried to cleverly circumvent the opposition. How so? I recall a singing group calling itself "Accapella". They did not use mechanical instruments when they toured different congregations. What they did, however, was to make instrumental noises, so, one guy would make drum sounds with his voice and the other would make guitar sounds, etc. Hehe, THAT really drew the ire of some in certain quarters I can tell you!

spacedOut

IMO, accapella singing can be either the most beautiful or the most horrendous. From my experience in most CoC's, it tends to be the latter.

A lot of CoC's are adopting the concept of "Praise Teams" which are similar to choirs (except they are NOT "choirs ) i.e. having a group of people (who can hopefully carry a tune) mic'ed and amplified. Hopefully, the Praise Team singing drowns out the rest.

However, I suspect with the continuing emphasis on "Contemporary Worship" (whatever that means), instrumental music won't be far behind.

Opera Nut

I saw the Tallis Scholars a few weeks ago at my local MegaMethodist church. They are among the heavenly "acapulco" singers, as are Chanticleer and The King's Singers.