Music and Religion

Music and religion is such a weird subject for me to talk about because I am not a religious person. I would not categorize myself in a religion but I am spiritual person. Before I decided what my place was with religion I was forced to go to church when I was little. I grew up in a Baptist church and my Grandma thought it was an abomination because she grew up as a Jehovah’s witness. So I was kind of in a tug of war when it came to believing in what.

                Going to a Baptist Church was bitter sweet to me because first of all, I was getting up early like I was going to school. Secondly I did not understand everything the pastor was saying because it was too difficult for a 4year old to understand. Lastly I do not know if it was just black churches but we got out SUPER late in the afternoon. However, when I was sitting out in the congregation and the choir started to sing it was like angels telling a story.  The choir made me want to attend to church because of their singing.

                The first song I remembered till this day is called “Total Praise”. (By the way it took me FOREVER to find this song). I think in every religion music is used to send a message out to people or to whomever you praise. I know when I was little, people usually sung for God and was thanking him and even sung to people when they are going through bad or good times. At my old church when the choir comes out on the balcony they sing a hymn for the hymnal book. Nothing out the ordinary and then sometimes the congregation will sing also and then the ushers will come down and get tithes. But as soon as giving tithe ends the choir gets up and sing. Majority of the church will “feel the spirit” or “catch the holy ghost” while the choir is singing.  I find this fascinating considering that as soon as the Choir sings people begin to catch the holy ghost and this is a normal thing. Out of everything in the schedule in church, people feel the spirit as soon as the choir sings something uplifting or relatable. There are no rules, no guidelines when it comes to giving praise to God. I think the only rule my old church had was to give praise to God in your own way.

                Growing up in a Baptist church I fully believe my old church had a part in my musical choices.  I love listening to slow songs and within the songs everything starts to build and at the end it’s like fireworks. I think music in my church was not only built it was also based off of experienced. I know almost every black gospel song there is always somebody that starts off saying a statement about life. Either It is good or bad or even if you are having a good day. I do not think music and religion is not just built, the music is built from the experience.