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I'm sure a lot of you have been to church at least once. What I can't really predict is the type of music you've listened to while you were in there.

I've personally been more traditional when it comes to church-going (despite not being a Christian, I actually like it) and prefer to sit in some sort of century-old building, listen to the sermon and have an actual choir sing. To give you a rather bloated idea of what I'm referring to, listen to Bach's Mass in B minor.

Then as you move along the timeline, there's Gospel music, the genre from which Ray Charles borrowed and transformed. That music was still choral but it had some catchier elements that make it MUCH easier to swallow than a full polyphonic choir singing different lyrics at different times.

Finally, Christian pop, rock, R&B, I-don't-know-what-else. My Christian cousins listen to this a lot, but I just can't swallow it at all. Mind you, I've never been a fan of pop or rock music. Anything in the metal genre gives me headaches. That's simply my preference, nothing more.

There may be other periods I've missed, but the question here is: Do you think it has any effect on Christianity? Is this effect good, bad or neutral?

And as a side question, what would you prefer if you're a Christian? And if your answer's any different, what would you prefer if you're just starting to get to know the religion... something of a first impression?

My church has an awful choir XD
Then again, there are three entire kids there.

I know some churches in the area with youth bands that perform and stuff.

I prefer the traditional as well.
That and the band sounds really really bad. sweatdrop

You know a good Christian group? The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And my favorite type of church music is Christmas songs. MTC Christmas songs? Absolutely the best thing I've ever put on my iPod. I don't think they sing my favorite song though, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." That's one I have to go to church or seminary to enjoy. That's OK though, I rather like making the music.
Let's see, which president was it... I think Spencer W. Kimball mentioned that music is hugely important. I dunno. Lemme look it up, and I'll get back to you later. Maybe tomorrow; probably not.

My response takes the form of an msn convo with a friend. I'm "chilling at the Buddah Bar"

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~ chilling at the Buddah Bar: hey, question
~ chilling at the Buddah Bar: what do u think about new gendres of gospel

... taken out so we can get to the point faster ...

~ chilling at the Buddah Bar: have u ever wondered if God doesnt want them, maybe only certain types or ways would be ok, like the traditional hymns since those were specifilly there for praise, not just an adaptation

Ҝen:剣 | I will play my song for You, my Yahweh... for Your glory, forever: so, i'm asking you, what types came abt for the purpose of praise? the psalms in the bible, the music for that's gone, we don't know how they sounded originally; it was lost with the exiles the fact is, all established "genres" of gospel music, from the earliest country n western is born out of secular stuff; ppl jus don't want to admit it. it seems to me that a genre of music is neutral; it is HOW it is used that determines whether it is gospel or now. for e.g., the psalms often have a note saying they're to the tune of another song; we dunno if that song was a gospel song or a secular song in many of the cases, amazing grace's tune apparently came out of a song drunken men used to sing


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So if you accept what my friend Ken said then it doesn't really matter what we use as long as the purpose is to praise God, because we can't do any better because we don't know how the psalms would have been sung.

we have christian music in most genres, recently i got into Antestor a black-styled metal band with christian beliefs. there is no genre of Christan music there is only lyrical content that makes the music christian

I would say the effect in has on Christians shouldn't be too great, especially if the lyrics are made to fit their tastes.

Even if it's something nontraditional as heavy metal [I'm not sure if there are Christian songs out there...just making an assumption!] , it's mostly the lyrical content that would affect the individual.