[Neon Genesis]

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of Christian music is aimed at conservative Christians? The only Christian song I can think of that isn't is a song Ray Boltz made after he came out of the closet that's a pro-gay marriage song from a Christian perspective called Don't Tell Me Who To Love, but is there any other Christian music out there with more of a progressive slant to it?

[grampawombat]

There is a composer named Brian Wren. I'll try googling him and see what I get. I belong to a More Light Presbyterian (open to all) congregation, and though we are seen by many as on the far "progressive" end of the spectrum, we still sing and enjoy many of the hymns from the Presbyterian hymnal.

[billmc]

Neon Genesis, on 29 September 2009 - 05:51 PM, said:

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of Christian music is aimed at conservative Christians? The only Christian song I can think of that isn't is a song Ray Boltz made after he came out of the closet that's a pro-gay marriage song from a Christian perspective called Don't Tell Me Who To Love, but is there any other Christian music out there with more of a progressive slant to it?

I didn't know that Ray Boltz came out as being gay! Cool! I was really into his music in the late eighties. The theology in most of it is a little too conservative for me now, but Ray had a good voice and definately knew how to put a song together.

PS - Sorry, but I don't know of an contemporary progressive Christian music/artists. There are individual songs, of course, that have a progressive slant. But to get airplay, Christian music has to rely on the fallen mankind/blood of Jesus formula.

[billmc]

Neon Genesis, on 29 September 2009 - 05:51 PM, said:

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of Christian music is aimed at conservative Christians? The only Christian song I can think of that isn't is a song Ray Boltz made after he came out of the closet that's a pro-gay marriage song from a Christian perspective called Don't Tell Me Who To Love, but is there any other Christian music out there with more of a progressive slant to it?

I didn't know that Ray Boltz came out as being gay! Cool! I was really into his music in the late eighties. The theology in most of it is a little too conservative for me now, but Ray had a good voice and definately knew how to put a song together.

PS - Sorry, but I don't know of an contemporary progressive Christian music/artists. There are individual songs, of course, that have a progressive slant. But to get airplay, Christian music has to rely on the fallen mankind/blood of Jesus formula.

[billmc]

Neon Genesis, on 29 September 2009 - 05:51 PM, said:

Is it just me or does it seem like the majority of Christian music is aimed at conservative Christians? The only Christian song I can think of that isn't is a song Ray Boltz made after he came out of the closet that's a pro-gay marriage song from a Christian perspective called Don't Tell Me Who To Love, but is there any other Christian music out there with more of a progressive slant to it?

I didn't know that Ray Boltz came out as being gay! Cool! I was really into his music in the late eighties. The theology in most of it is a little too conservative for me now, but Ray had a good voice and definately knew how to put a song together.

PS - Sorry, but I don't know of an contemporary progressive Christian music/artists. There are individual songs, of course, that have a progressive slant. But to get airplay, Christian music has to rely on the fallen mankind/blood of Jesus formula.

[JosephM]

You can find some really progressive music here.
from the TCPC.org site and by possibly googling on that artist for other albums.

Joseph

[AllInTheNameOfProgress]

I handpick music off the Christian pop charts that isn't too Calvanistic. Some of the Casting Crowns stuff that is critical of the church works or "Lifesong". Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes," Sanctus Real's "Face of Love" and "Deeds".

Also, I've written one... For some reason this is not letting me attach the file....
Janet

[AllInTheNameOfProgress]

http://tcpc.ipbhost....__fromsearch__1

This is a link to the song I was thinking of from a post back in April 2008.

I'd love to swap ideas for songs with anyone who listens to "Christian pop/rock" about what songs are progressive. I'm SO glad to get the Ray Boltz tune reference, because we are going to do a service about who's in/who's out that involves some of the church's past/current embarassing stances regarding homosexuality.

God's timing?

Janet

[Neon Genesis]

Thanks for all the recommendations! I'll have to check them out! And Ray Boltz has his pro-gay marriage song to listen to free from his official site and if I'm not mistaken, I think Ray Boltz now performs concerts at Metropolitan Community churches: http://rayboltzblog....the-new-single/

This post has been edited by Neon Genesis: 30 September 2009 - 05:06 PM

[AllInTheNameOfProgress]

"The Motions" by Matthew West, "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot, "Brave" or "Legacy" by Nichole Nordemann, "Voice of Truth" by Casting Crowns...

[Mike]

Katy Taylor has a lot of beautiful interfatih sacred music. Many of her songs reflect the Christian tradition while others pull from Pagan. However her music is not very marketable since it is not rock/pop music. Loreena McKennitt too has a lot of good sacred music, more or less under the label 'new age.'

But JJ Heller is a Christian artist whose music can easily appeal to the religious and non-religious alike. Songs I like from her include 'Small', 'Love Me', 'Only Love Remains', 'Garden Variety'.

If you've been following the 'emergent church' at all, it's a post-modern church movement that has moved away from the thought-world of fundamentalism. Solomon's Porch, led by Doug Pagitt, has a lot of in-house music from their own members. Their songs may seem more or less conservative though, but I appreciate their music more knowing where they're coming from.

Generally I enjoy music that reflects traditional Christian spirituality, songs that either capture the ancient mysticism or that hold special meaning for me. For me music doesn't have to be particularly 'progressive.' As such I enjoy many traditional church hymns, and also Gregorian chants. I also tend to like homegrown folk or blues style religious music, exemplified in, say, Kelly Joe Phelps (folk blues, probably my favorite living artist) and Connie Dover (folk, but also with a strong Celtic tendency).

This post has been edited by Mike: 03 October 2009 - 12:10 PM

[Neon Genesis]

Mike, on 03 October 2009 - 12:07 PM, said:

Generally I enjoy music that reflects traditional Christian spirituality, songs that either capture the ancient mysticism or that hold special meaning for me. For me music doesn't have to be particularly 'progressive.'

I do still like a lot of classic Christian hymns, like I still love Amazing Grace although I don't care for those new modern versions of the song that youth groups love to sing for some reason. But some of the lyrics in conservative church hymns are kind of creepy to me with the obsession they place on the torture of Jesus and being Christian martyrs. I think the most creepy song I've heard has been "There's A Fountain Filled With Blood" and then there's that song "Wonderful Cross." And I didn't know Casting Crowns were PC. Their song "What If His People Prayed" sounded more conservative to me but then that was their debut album.

This post has been edited by Neon Genesis: 03 October 2009 - 12:19 PM

[Mike]

Neon Genesis, on 03 October 2009 - 01:17 PM, said:

I do still like a lot of classic Christian hymns, like I still love Amazing Grace although I don't care for those new modern versions of the song that youth groups love to sing for some reason. But some of the lyrics in conservative church hymns are kind of creepy to me with the obsession they place on the torture of Jesus and being Christian martyrs. I think the most creepy song I've heard has been "There's A Fountain Filled With Blood" and then there's that song "Wonderful Cross." And I didn't know Casting Crowns were PC. Their song "What If His People Prayed" sounded more conservative to me but then that was their debut album.

Ha I suppose a lot of hymns can be considered 'creepy' if you sit down and think about what the words are literally saying. Though to be fair, at this point the cross and sacrifice of Jesus have taken on a cosmic or metaphysical significance in Christian theology and I doubt very many Christians are really thinking the historical, factual, visceral torture of Jesus when singing songs like that. At least, I never was. To be honest though I do shy away from songs that explicitly state or promote that theory of atonement.
I know very little about Casting Crowns but they seem conservative to me too.
I do recommend JJ Heller though, like I said I think she has a general appeal, not just to the religious.

Peace to you,
Mike

[AllInTheNameOfProgress]

Casting Crowns is not PC. I'm certain that if their writer/lead singer (Mark Hall) and I had dinner, we'd have much to disagree about. However, they have a LOT of songs that work for us in worship.

The songs I have suggested are in the pop/rock or adult contemporary genre.

Janet

[soma]

The group is called Masters of Chant. They sing modern pop songs in a Gregorian Chant mode. Traditional Gregorian Chant is also nice if you like that kind of thing.

[Neon Genesis]

Another PC song I like is God Help The Outcasts from Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame: http://www.youtube.c...feature=related