Music and Christians Essay

     Rock ‘n’ roll music came of age in the sixties which was a period in the nation’s history when a young generation expressed their anguish and sense of alienation to the country’s social establishments by searching for new answers to the age-old questions concerning the meaning of life, the value of the individual, and the nature of truth and spirituality (Harris 306). The classic rock music which was created during this period gave form and substance to this search. Songs such as “My Generation” by the Who recorded the keen sense of alienation that young people felt from the past and the “Establishment” and it also showed the keen sense of community they felt among themselves.      Classic albums such as the Beatles’ “White Album,” the Who’s “Who’s Next,” Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited, and Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” capture what was essential about the time because they were both a result of that time and because they helped to produce it by reinforcing the younger generation’s feelings of alienation and separation.      Although

Rock and roll helped break many people out of the pre-war mindset and into a new, fresh one. Although many adults detested rock, the younger generation felt that it symbolized a break from the war and the “age of anxiety” that the previous World War had caused. In addition, it promoted a promiscuous lifestyle that celebrated sex and drugs. Rock and roll seemed to be associated with this because many of the “rock stars” endorsed in a loose and laidback standard of living. Because many of the performers practiced recreational drug use, followers felt compelled to do so as well, feeling that that way of life was acceptable. Rock and roll was thought to be outlandish, primarily because of the performers’ gyrating and grinding of their hips, their suggestive lyrics, and rebellious undertones that provoked erotic senses in teenagers and upset parents. Rock and roll was said to establish a sense of identity and power in teenagers, mostly because of the new energy that came from the new style of music. Rock music was seen as satanic by the older generation because it seemed to lead to the

Music plays a big role in my life. I listen to it everyday. Music helps me process what emotions I am feeling that day. Emotions such as anger, happiness, depression and anxiety. For example in 2011 my commanding officer for young marines died. Then three month later my grandfather passed away. Everything felt hopeless, I was depressed and

Rock ‘n’ roll presented us with the emergence of a cultural phenomenon, which the book lays out for us. Altschuler sees rock as a “metaphor for integration, as the focal point for anxiety that cultural life in the U.S. had become “sexualized”, a catalyst

Smashing anything from pumpkins to instruments, Rock & Roll is a form of art with flare. Generations of people from the 50’s to modern day have enjoyed a little bit of rebellion in their life. But while the rebels continue to rage against the machine of society, that society is constantly changing. Different issues become highlighted and more relevant as others fall to the wayside, but Rock music does not stand by jovially. With constant adapting and innovating, Rock & Roll always finds something to scream about.

Rock and roll has developed a long way throughout the years from a dance craze in the 1950’s to a political and cultural landscape that is recognized worldwide. Rock and roll has come to define the roots of teenage rebellion, people who don’t follow the norms, and have disrespect for authority. The style of rock and roll itself is a melting pot of music, a combination of sounds that include jazz, country, blues, ragtime, gospel, swing, classical, and ethnic music. It can be a simple variation of three chords to a complex chromatic scale combination. It can convey emotions such as love, hate, fear, lust, sadness, joy, disillusion, or a strong sense of reality. Many things can be said about rock but the fact is that it is the most widely

The emergence of Rock and Roll was one of the most pivotal moments of our nation’s history. The impact that this genre of music made is still evident in our culture. However, before this genre was able to gain momentum, it faced many cultural conflicts. The book, All Shook Up: How Rock ‘N’ Roll Changed America by Glenn C. Altschuler analyzes the impact that rock and roll music has made on American culture. It explores how the Rock and Roll culture was able to roughly integrate and later conflict with preceding cultural values. This is especially apparent in chapters regarding race and sexuality. Overall, Rock and Roll was extremely controversial amongst parents and educators. This new music genre was condemned by the previous generation as

Jimi Hendrix summed up the meaning of life with his quote, “Music is my religion.” With this, every person can recognize the experience that music gives them. Music is a sense of entertainment that brings feelings that listeners know to the table. Each aspect of the listener’s favorite song brings emotions that they can relate to and know. Over the generations, music has evolved into what we wanted it to be. Now, society has conformed to the effects of different types of music and how it has transformed the world of entertainment. Yet, the beauty of metal music can appeal to traditional music listeners by the creation of both sounds, by the sense of feeling that both types of music arise, and by having the same similarity of influence that

Music is often considered “the universal language.” Throughout history, it has symbolized love, brought people together, and mobilized millions. In the 1950s, a new form of music entered the American music industry that drastically changed the culture of the United States (U.S.): rock music. In the U.S., it began as rock ‘n’ roll, an originally “black” music genre that was then taken and promulgated by white Americans. After World War II (WWII), many Americans—especially teenagers—struggled with the newfound societal conformity and normalcy, and rock provided them with a form of rebellion.

Music is the only medium that blesses both man and God at the same time and as such to see it as an entertainment factor within our worship services is a gross misunderstanding of its purpose. Music is made up of three elements: melody, harmony, and rhythm. Mankind is also made up of three parts: spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23). It can be argued that music and the triune, or trichotomy, of mankind are intrinsically linked i.e. melody is likened to the spirit, harmony to the soul and rhythm to the body.

As a way to fight against such evils, evangelical groups began to create alternative choices to the satanic unholy offensive music. The cultural phenomenon known as “Contemporary Christian Music” features Christian rock music, which includes Christian heavy metal, among many other styles of music that reintroduce themes that reinforce the five fundamentals. With songs of Christ’s divine forgiveness and personal salvation that are backed up by similar musical accompaniment that their secular counterparts sing but minus all the sex, drugs, parties, and other worldly activities. However, the music industry has made newer developments that tone down they blatant Christian themes.

Music has always been a big part of our culture. People sing and listen to songs for entertainment and for encouragement. Explore folk songs or Negro spirituals for instance. Many slaves sang spirituals for encouragement and hope to carry them through the rough times they experienced. Even today, most people enjoy listening to music because they can relate to the things about which the artists sing. Often artists sing about things that either upset or please them. These days, much of American music exposes problems in our society. In a song entitled, Can’t Take God Away, the Christian rock group Audio Adrenaline sings about how God is

There is no disputing that society is influenced by its choices of entertainment. Some ways in which people are influenced are positive, but others are harmful. In the society we live in, the harmful ways always outnumber the positive. If we gravitated toward the positive forms of entertainment a little more often than the negative, then our society would have fewer problems. Popular music has a negative effect on society and endorses a lack of creativity.

Each year, new books declare rock and roll to be an active force in the moral collapse of American culture. To many, rock and roll has come to be seen as a social menace (Pattison 175-77).

Praise, Worship, Singing to God... Christian music is a way to talk to our God. It can be rap, pop, country Or just about any genre. Christian music can get you in your feels or get you pumped up. Like I believe that Christian music is the best music because it is clean, it is real, and because it brings us closer to God.