2008 Woodie Awards
A rock for the ages
Discussion educates people about music, religion
By: Heather Hammons
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: News
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And when it comes to reaching out to young people, many are using rock music, Gregory Spinner told students Friday.
"Certain people who make rock music want it to overlap with religion," Spinner said.
Spinner, an assistant philosophy and religion professor, spoke about the role of religion in modern rock music during an open forum in Anspach 153.
Scholars Exploring Cultures, Religious Experiences and Tradition, also called SECRET, hosted the event.
Howell senior Vanessa Brown founded SECRET last semester. The student group discusses religious academia, she said.
"We're trying to hopefully spark interest in religious studies," Brown said.
The discussion Friday started by viewing musical performances then discussing their religious significance.
Clips included songs by Pete Townsend and George Harrison.
"People are telling you, 'I have devotion,' through song," Spinner said.
Brown said the song "Bargain" by Pete Townsend is a good example of religious reference in music. Brown said in the song, Townsend is not refering to a girlfriend of his, but to Meher Baba, a spiritual master from India who helped the poor and mentally ill while remaining completely silent.
Ashley Taylor, St. Joseph junior and SECRET secretary, said the group discussed drugs and sex and their relationship to religion during the group's last meeting.
"We decided to talk about music and religion because there are a lot of groups and religious background in songs," Taylor said.
For example, Brown said, there are many Christian rock bands.
Brown said the purpose of the discussion was to educate people about music and religion. She said she wanted to have discussion about the influence of rock and roll on people's religious experience.
"Any music can be religious music if it transports people out of regular thinking," Spinner said.
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