Music and Religion

From my experiences in various churches, the music highly reflects the overall tone of the community within that particular church.  When I was in a Baptist church choir, we wore matching clothes and stood still when we sang. All the songs were similar, with basically the same hymnal patterning and repeated verses. The instruments used were limited to an organ, piano and a few wind and string instruments. Other instruments like drums or electric guitars were unheard of in the church service. Everything expected by the congregation was sung, and nothing really ever changed or was taken to a contemporary level. It all had a quiet simplicity. Likewise, when we were in the worship service, everyone was reserved and silent. The preacher would speak excitedly from time to time, but his tone was basically the same all the way through. When the service ended, people left quietly as well.

When I was in high School, I attended a service at Jubilee!, a religious community located in downtown Asheville. Right away, I knew that I was out of my hometown Baptist element.  The service and the people were incredibly unique. They spoke multiple languages to honor the diversity and had about every instrument that was significance in their congregation’s different cultures. Everyone was loud and excited and the expanse of music was incredibly vast. People would shout and sing whatever they felt like singing. The energetic freedom was intoxicating. While there, I felt like they were using different instruments and cultural songs as a way to honor the differences among them.

In the Baptist church I feel that the people all strived to meet one purpose. They all wanted to be “good” Christians based on their church as guidelines and therefore ultimately strive to evolve into a single entity, or the embodiment of who they think they should be. That being said, the songs that are played are incredibly similar, and through that they can perhaps find comfort. In Jubilee!, the same type of  conclusion can be reached. They played all different instruments and songs from all different cultures to enhance their community’s individualism.  And the people that were there absolutely mimicked that aspect of a unique person and acceptation and honor regardless their culture or religion.

One other place that I have been where it was a little different was a Fellowship church that had a female pastor. The music was all on electric guitar, bass and drums. The attending people all wore jeans and t-shirts. I don't know if in that instance if service wasn't taken as seriously because a woman was the head of the church or if it was just progressive and they knew that they didn't need to dress up to worship. I genuinely hope that the reasoning was of the latter.