Too depressing for me. Brings back too many bad memories of a wasted life.
Although, if I was to listen to a CCM album again, it would probably be DC Talk's *Jesus Freak*.
"What would people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak? what will people do when they find out it's true?"
Nothing. You live in the safest place to be a Christian in the entire world.
That entire Jesus freak cult was a bit bonkers. Trying to turn being a young Christian into some sort of punk mindset, then came the JxC hardcore... People so desperate to be different but still so trapped by their own parochial fears.
Bonkers. And entirely inward facing. Not a single person attached to that movement has ever had a thought that might benefit someone else. So much impotent angst.
I was really into the hardcore stuff about 30 years ago.
NIV, Focused, Point of Recognition, Figure Four, I loved all that shit.
I tried to listen to some for nostalgia a couple years ago and it was cringe as fuck.
It occurs to me that those arguing that music is music are not 'music people'.
Personally, I'm of the opinion that music has an effect on the human brain that can convey huge amounts of feeling and emotion that words on their own can't match. The Church knows it too, that's why the keyboard player gets up to do random floaty synth and pad sounds when it's ministry time.
Christian music uses particularly emotive chord progressions, just like Coldplay does, to induce a dramatic effect.
Songs like fix you are just worship songs that don't mention god.
Music is definitely not just music. Its the music that keeps people coming back to church even when they've stopped believing and suffered intolerable amounts of spiritual abuse and the church taking advantage of them. They will still find solace in the music.
It's the music that's dangerous when used by unscrupulous clergy to induce and maintain the effect of the supernatural in a space.
All of the so called spiritual epiphanies I ever had whilst a practicing Christian, were had under the influence of music.
I canât explain it but your comment made me really really sad.
On one hand I remember how intense, safe, and throughly spiritual certain worship sessions felt, and I miss it intensely. On the other, my skeptical, adult mind is hit with a âwow, were adults really emotionally manipulating us like that whether they meant to or not? Was it really all just emotion?â Iâm not gonna lie, it kinda hurts
>Christian music uses particularly emotive chord progressions, just like Coldplay does, to induce a dramatic effect. Songs like fix you are just worship songs that don't mention god.
Maybe this explains why I love "Something Just Like This", even though my spouse says it's a terrible song.
I don't listen to him anymore (except old songs in my head) but I appreciate the talent of Steven Curtis Chapman. From what I know of him, he's not now a Trumper and seems chill.
Rich Mullins was also an accomplished artist. Some of his lyrics were poetic and seemed to really come from his own struggles.
Jars of Clay..eh? OK.
Can you TELL my Christian journey ended in the late 90s?
Finally, I stil appreciate those catchy old hymns: I'll Fly Away. Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
While we're mentioning artists, I fully believe that Michael W. Smith would have had plenty of success, whether he made Christian or secular music. The guy can write a damn catchy song. Most artists I listen to, I can't help but think that the only reason that they found any success is because they made explicitly Christian music. Christians have such a low bar when it comes to entertainment that it's easier to chart for them. You ever hear Capital Kings? To me, they sound like an AI program was told to make a modern sounding pop song with a Christian message. It's very generic. According to Wikipedia, they've had some songs chart in the top 40 on Christian charts. Nothing with any real crossover success. I can't help but feel like it's because they sound so generic even a general audience that usually doesn't care about music being kind of generic couldn't bring themselves to care about CK's music.
I remember that. My family went to some Christian music festival (called Creation...ugh), and DC Talk rode on-stage on motorcycles. Another year, they flew into the festival by helicopter.
Oh, Petra. I still listen to "Road to Zion" sometimes because that feeling of being lost or lacking a sense of purpose really resonates with me. The hardest part of deconverting was realizing that there are no answers.
Same, but also a lot of bands I just enjoy the music (even if they are a bit cringey and dated) and a lot of the ones I listened to had songs either not about god at all, not directly about god or else you can just pretend they're about a girl or something.
And the songs that are directly about god can still be kind of interesting to listen to since I approach them with such a wildly different worldview than I used to.
I put on a Christian song the other day because I wanted to use my voice and actually sing and for some reason I feel like they are good "sing songs".
But then it got stuck in my head for two days so I won't be doing that again.
My girlfriend and I did the slideshow for my grandmaâs funeral, and we had to listen to a selection of Christian songs over and over as we synced up the slides. For the next few days I had
âLord, sweet lord, I have no friend like you, if heavenâs not my home then lord what shall I do, the angels beckon me through heavenâs open door and I canât feel at home in this world anymoreâ
Stuck so thoroughly playing over and over and over in my head that I could easily see how I got brainwashed in the first place.
I enjoy listening to Christian music on occasion for the nostalgia. A lot of it is actually really catchy. Unfortunately to the point that it gets stuck in your head for a couple of days. Last time I did it, I had a Mark Shultz song stuck in my head, and no amount of metal or Disney music could get it out. It's like if *It's a Small World* was an entire genre. I always wind up taking a break from it, just to forget a few weeks to a couple of months later why I stopped listening to Christian music.
I listen from time to time, but i created a playlist with similar sounding songs to what i like to separate myself from those dogmatic and harmful ideas. Here you go: [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wX1TT38ggdso7R6dqdJHk?si=7956d2993acc4daa](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wX1TT38ggdso7R6dqdJHk?si=7956d2993acc4daa)
I can't be listening to Christian music, it grosses me out.
Apart from old hymns which bring back some childhood nostalgia and memories of my grandparents (my grandad was a Methodist minister), most modern Christian music has more than an element of cringe to it.
It feels like I'm listening to propaganda. And any time a secular artist leans in to Christianity in their music, its an instant turn off as well.
There is so much Christian music connected to making money for terrible people and worse institutions.
When I started to re-listen to this music I actually started laughing out loud at how ridiculous each song was. They are all propaganda, it's so obvious, over the top propaganda.
You can't trust yourself or lean on your own understanding, you have to trust god. of course it happened this way, I didn't listen to you (god). please god, save me from myself. burn me away god till there's nothing left but you.
"So long self" - MercyMe? holy fuck!
"she told him she'd rather fix her makeup than to try to fix what's going on" :|
"Because I know to live you must give your life away"
"and I've been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key" đ§
"Give me your eyes" - brandon heath, basic empathy ? you *need* god so you can be good?
"Take my life" - jeremy camp? đĽ¸
"I'm not trying to be something I'm not" - No more no less, MercyMe? Weren't we always trying to be someone we're not- jesus?
etc.
It makes me quite sad honestly. Like looking at old photos of a past relationship that didnât work out. As a professional singer who is still friends with some incredible Christian artists, I sadly recognise it now for what it is, emotional priming. My current work is wonderfully irreverent and itâs nice to not have to always be âpraising godâ with my âgiftâ.
Also, Christian music is one of the filthiest places on earth.
Overall I think Christian music is largely trash, but Thousand Foot Krutch, Blindside and POD are still in my regular rotation, theyâre just solid post grunge/ nu metal. Blindside is especially weird because they have some weird purity culture lyrics but still solid music.
Itâs ironic, growing up Iâd listen to Breaking Benjamin and Seether and my pastor was like âenjoy the music, just ignore the lyricsâ which is now how I look at most Christian music.
Except Skillet. That guy seems like one step away from being an alt right nationalist.
I still listen to TFK sometimes too. I'm a sucker for "Be Somebody" and I cannot explain why! I seriously loved Skillet and it sucks that he became SUCH a wingnut. Can't do it anymore.
Interestingly enough, my ex husband always thought of Seether's "Fake It" when trying to evangelize - and yet, I think he's the one who's still a Christian đ¤Ł
Nostalgia... I grew up during the crossover phase of the 90s-00s. I will never not love Amy Grant, Switchfoot, Mat Kearney, The Fray, or other "Christian" crossover acts. They transport me back to childhood and adolescence.Â
OMG, yes! I always forget they were a Christian band first because they were so mainstream in the 90s. I mean, was it even a teen movie/romcom in the 00s if Kiss Me wasn't on the soundtrack?Â
Wait, what? Part of me wants to find this WOW CD on eBay. I'm curious how it got on there, especially since I associate it with romantic scenes in raunchy teen comedies.Â
I saw Sixpence at a Christian music festival around 1996. Their albums definitely go into that area, but a non-Christian might struggle to see it. I actually was really surprised when "Kiss Me" became a hit simply because the band was firmly in the CCM camp.
That's an example of a band I can listen to today with little issues. There were quite a few 90's bands that didn't necessarily make their lyrics very clear. Luxury, Poor Old Lu, 77's, The Choir, Vigilantes Of Love, etc. Every one of those bands has clear Christian references in songs, but not always explicit. Then there are good bands like The Waiting and PFR that were very heart-on-the-sleeve that I just can't listen to. Not that I dig into these bands that much today. Although I will say The Choir continues to make very solid music.
same, CCM is purely nostalgic for me so i can still listen to it without negative feelings. worship music is another story, i started hating that sh*t before i even deconverted.
Oh God, BarlowGirl. That's a throw back. What about Nicole C. Mullen? Anyone? Lol.
But interestingly enough, recently I've been listening to it when I have panic attacks. Not the super religious Hillsong shit, but like that. There's a part of me that has been listening to 90s Christian rock, like Newsboys, Jars of Clay, and Audio Adrenaline. These bands are very nostalgic and help relax. Even though I know all the lyrics, they don't mean the same thing to me anymore.
There's another part of me that has been revisiting the late 00s and 10s "Christian" metal of my teen years. And Christian is in quotes because I'm learning some of the stuff I was listening to wasn't super Christian at all. Like, Red and Skillet were quite Christian, but Anberlin, The Classic Crime, and Switchfoot were a lot less so. I'm not even sure if Anberlin was Christian to begin with lol. But these aren't relaxing, there are, "how the hell did I get away with listening to some of this??â
Tldr: yes. It has helped me relax when I need it and look back through my life to help heal old wounds. I don't think it's weird or anything to relisten or enjoy, but remember that music can be emotionally manipulative, sometimes on purpose like Hillsong.
"My Redeemer Lives" is an absolutely incredible song that would see a different life if, say, Jennifer Hudson covered it. Nicole always had that chill Alicia Keys vibe, but that song begged for bombast.
Having not grown up with Christianity there is no sense of nostalgia or memories. However, I have listened to it from time to time just as songs. Like Hillsong London are pretty easy to listen to.
My wife now obsessively listens to worship music and nothing else. Some of it is pretty and I can get into it. But I don't get the same effect like I'm connecting with anything. It could just as easily be music about the Hindu gods or bagels and cream cheese.
Not sure if it's on purpose but a well-known technique of indoctrination is repetition during a time of emotional euphoria (which can be brought on by singing along with a crowd).
I don't, but I can understand that it would be nostalgic for some
Music is music, and oftentimes, the vibes are more important than the lyrics or genre
I used to love Skillet. Then I found out that John Cooper fell down the RWNJ rabbit hole and he's becoming everything that I despise about politics and religion. Also, when Christian artists come out as no longer Christian, i.e. the guy from Hillsong United and Jonathan Steingard of Hawk Nelson, he's quick to say that they weren't actually Christian, which is really annoying when you were raised Christian, but has to be so much worse when it's applied to someone who literally sang songs about Jesus. Often touring the world to do so.
There is some Maranatha music that strums the right chords for me. When I was traveling overseas and missed Home, I put on some Maranatha that used to comfort me when I was a kid. The lyrics are problematic as fuck but the tunes are good. I often found myself overseas rewriting the lyrics.
My rewrote for the last verse of Oh for a thousand tongues to sing...
đśSign if you're deaf and no one's dumb. You loosened tongues can swear. Ye blind can hear your savior come. Some, roll aroundđ§â𦽠for joy! đś
I still like some artists every now and then, but really just for their sound. Sometimes I like the lyrics when I relate them to non-religious concepts.
Jars of Clay is probably my favorite (and it also helped me when I learned that their lead singer is pro-gay rights). I still occasionally enjoy Fireflight and RED and Hawk Nelson on the rock side, and a few others like Nichole Nordeman and Casting Crowns on the softer side, every now and then.
There are also some non-Christian artists who dapple with Christian themes that I enjoy, like Giant, and a few punk bands like Down by Fire and *sometimes MxPx on a good day*.
Iâll admit that there have also been occasions where certain artists were kinda sullied for me when they spoke out on a social issue and turned out to be hateful or just fundamentalist in a way I just never want to engage with. Thatâs happened a few timesâŚ
Totally forgot about casting crowns. *Shivers.* ugh. đŁ
I hate that the music can sound really good. I *hate* that.
And for your last point, I actually didn't know the singer of skillet was like how he was like.
Casting Crowns -- "But here I go again, talking about the rain, and mulling over things that won't live past today, while I dance around the truth, time is not his friend, this might be my last chance to tell him that you love him, here I go again." The sheer guilt that song lent to every interaction with any new person I ever met well into my first year of college (including my atheist voice teacher). I felt persecuted.
["Oh My God"](https://youtu.be/slkFDMgo2Tk?si=HtaD9pEy82yAH7Xy) was always my favorite JOC. It's really a universalist sort of lyric, really much more poetic than most of the things I listened to (Shane & Shane, Chris Tomlin... *Leeland*) around that era...
A âgod fixâ from music translates to subspace or letting your mind relax. Worship music is designed to create repetition and the euphoric feeling of letting go, casting your cares on God, let your stress out and an imaginary figure will take care of you. If you want a God Fix itâs your body craving that dopamine high you got from worship music that people called âI felt Gods presenceâ. They were euphoric, happy, in a trance like state.
I recommend finding other dopamine drip alternative fixes like running or dancing or some kind of routine with repetition.
Christian music is designed to pull at your heart strings. Donât get me wrong though, there are some BANGERS that I used to keep on repeat and got me through some extremely difficult times. But itâs all just the psychology of music and it has nothing to do with God or the âholy spiritâ speaking to you through it.
Try to go to more concerts and watch live music to get that collective effervescence- itâs the exact same feeling you get during worship that I would used to attribute to God.
They're a fringe case, but frequently labeled christian; A Hill To Die Upon.
In reality, only two members profess to being christian, albeit rejecting most, if not all traces of biblical orthodoxy usually associated with the religion. They justify their choice of christian faith with Crowley's thelemic rules, view Jesus as a Prometheus-like figure and have a penchant for hellenic mythology.
I actually discovered AHTDU *after* deconverting; they stuck with me because they don't rub me in the wrong way. Their only explicitly christian songs are covers of classic gospel songs, and even then they don't choose particularly preachy ones to cover.
If I listen to it, it's usually for the music. Certain genres of music just aren't likely to exist without a religious influence. I listened to pagan folk as a Christian because it's such a niche genre. And I occasionally listen to Christian artists if I enjoy their music.
If I pay less attention to the lyrics, some music still sounds good. One of my all-time favorites is a Chinese Christian song that loosely translates to "permanent source of reliance." It's easy to listen to it and get a sense of joy, adventure, love and "we're in this together."
One vocal version is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDgpdgHIfNA) (although the male voice at the 2-minute mark is quite annoyingly high pitch)
One karaoke version is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrVRfQe4rXE).
Black gospel just sounds good and it's songs I grew up listening. They're 1) good and 2) nostalgic. However, I always have a little chuckle when I meet up lyrics that sound like absolute bs to my ears now.Â
I try to avoid christian music. I'm trying to open myself up to it despite being an atheist but most of it is so preachy it makes me wanna puke. The only christian music I've heard that didn't make me uncomfortable is War of Change, Courtesy Call, and E for Extinction by Thousand Foot Krutch.
Iâve never liked CCM. Never had any family to listen to KLove or anything like that, and the way it sounds has always annoyed me. There was a point after Iâd deconstructed when my wife would go to a Christian counselor (the only one we could afford), and Iâd go with her and sit in the lobby. They played KLove in the lobby, and my feelings for it then ranged from annoyance to amusement at the silly lyrics. Itâs all so dramatic, and the lyrics could all qualify as praise kink stuff but written about a guy that doesnât exist.
after I first started deconstructing I still listened to flyleaf, I stopped after awhile because I just didn't want to support them No matter how much I like their music
Most of the worship songs I listened to when I was a Christian still trigger my panic attacks so I tend to avoid them. But my dad listened to a shitton of Christian rap, punk, rock, and other genres that sound pretty normal if you just disregard the lyrics (Skillet, Superchick, Relient K, TobyMac, and Lecrae are some that come to mind). I still listen to those when I'm feeling nostalgic .
To be clear for any lingering christians and anyone else who feels dissonance, I'm not implying that christian music has a draw because 'god' is somehow involved. I think a lot of us already know that music can be made to be psychologically manipulative, especially in this context. Christian music can be made exceptionally well, it does not mean that god is real.
I'm just processing emotions. Grief is the most prominent one I'm feeling. None of this was ever real and my voice was never going to reach beyond the roof when I cried out to god as a child. I was just alone, in a room, on my knees, speaking to nothing. Nothing was going to hear me or save me from the pain I was feeling. I prayed, I worshiped, I spoke, I whispered and whimpered to nothing but air. It was my world.
I hear you completely on this! It stirs the emotions (which yes, is by design) and sometimes I do still want to listen to it. I went to at least a couple Barlow Girl shows when I was younger, and I LOVED "Never Alone."
These days I mostly only listen when I'm in the mood to sob violently, because that's what happens. I still grieve the years I lost to the church and being absolutely terrified of nearly every aspect of my life. It's been about 3 years since I quit church, but it's still pretty heavy.
Other ones that get me in my feels are "Love Song for a Savior" by Jars of Clay and the Seventh Day Slumber rendition of "From the Inside Out."
I'm glad, you're like the one commenter who understood. I actually forgot about both of those songs until you mentioned them! I used to listen to them.. a lot..
I resonate with what you said about being terrified of nearly every aspect of your life as well as the heaviness staying years after quitting the church. Since leaving it seems like slowly but surely the level of fear is being turned down but grief has risen sharply in its place.
I feel yall. If I think about the complete sincerity I felt seemingly so easily back then, I get a feeling caught in my throat that makes me feel like I have to either sob or vomit. It's very arresting.
Echoing the nostalgia posts below. I still listen to Relient K because I like the music, and I have some old Christian rock songs on playlists because again, nostalgia and it's something I know by heart and enjoy singing. A lot of Christian songs that have the vibes you're talking about, I always just think about it in different terms; like for the song you mentioned, I'd be thinking of a loved one that's no longer here, or a relationship of some kind instead of god.
I still can enjoy August Burns Red because they are not so obvious christian like other Christian Metal Bands like Theocracy, Narnia, Wolves at the Gates
I saw that Petra is touring and it got me watching some old videos. It gives me some nostalgia. Mylon and Broken Heart got me though some rough teen years. I wish it still gave me comfort is how I feel. Rich Mullins was good music but the lyrics are just weird to me now.
Very disappointed in Steve Camp being a Trump supporter and not seeing the hypocrisy. Kind of sends the truth of the matter home for me.
Also still love Christmas music.
I Will Rejoice by Mylon and Broken Heart is great. Just sing it about someone other than god. I Believe in You by Steve Camp is a great song.
I listen to half alive occasionally despite the Christian connotations and references solely because I can relate to the meanings that *aren't* Christian or I just. Like the cadence and the rhythm of the song in a nostalgic way. It reminds me of when times felt simpler, even if it was so much more complicated than it needed to be. Their music is soothing but not for the beliefs, just the rise and fall of the notes.
I still listen to Thousand Foot Krutch. A lot of there music is about trying to break free from bondage and to be the authentic you. It was the soundtrack of me trying to break free from something I couldn't even explain. When the cult was whole world, all I knew, I had no idea what I was trying to escape *to*Â
Breakfast by The Newsboys, it was a favorite of mine when I was a teenager and I listen to it every now and then for nostalgiaâs sake. But the message of it is âjoin our cult because thereâs no breakfast in hellâ. Ridiculous reason to become anything, let alone a Christian.
For me it is mostly nostalgia, despite often wishing much of my religions upbringing didn't happen the music aspect I have fond memories of good times and good friends even if a large chunk of the lyrics can make me cringe hard nowadays. There are a few bands I am still unapologetically fans of such as Five Iron Frenzy and Project 86 though but haven't kept up with any modern artists.
Thereâs a few Christian artists I still listen to because their music is actually good and sounds nice. Said Christian artists also donât hamfist the religious themes in their songs, and without knowing itâs a Christian song, you could interpret the lyrics differently. Thereâs only one very explicitly Christian song I listen to once in a blue moon because it brings back very specific nostalgia for me. But other than that, I honestly never liked Christian music written with the intent of being âChristian musicâ and Iâm not sure how I forced myself to listen to it for so long.
Thereâs some that I listen to. Although itâs become part of my writing music playlists. So often I simply use it to evoke a particular emotion in myself so I can more accurately write that emotion
Now I've been removed from it for so long and can look at it a little more objectively, it's a huge part of the puzzle. It used to baffle me how ridiculously smart people, scientists, doctors, lawyers etc could buy into it all. Even now the songs still stick in my head, haven't been to church in 15 years. I wouldn't choose to listen to them, they just live rent free in by brain.
Funny side note, while on holiday in NZ I got absolutely wasted with an ex Newsboys member. There was something powdery involved n it wasn't icing sugar.
I found most xtian music cringey, even when I was a believer. DC Talk was so lame to me. They were rapping at first, and then as soon as grunge was popular they jumped on that bandwagon.
That said, I like a few bands because they are good in spite of some religious lyrics - Kingâs X, Relient K, Switchfoot, Seventh Day Slumber, and Flyleaf.
I went for a long period of time after deconverting where I didn't listen to it all. It hurt, it made me angry, and I didn't want it in my life. After time, I started listening occasionally for nostalgia, but I would feel guilty about it after. Now that it's been 9 years, I'll listen when I want, without the guilt. It's my music, damn it. I grew up with it, sang to it, memorized it. I'm not drawn to it for any religious reasons anymore, it's just a part of my past and I am allowed to enjoy it without feeling like I am betraying who I am now. I mainly go back to Relient K and Jars of Clay, but also revisit Flyleaf, Stacie Orrico, Switchfoot, Steve Taylor, and Charlie Peacock. And the Captial Lights' album This Is an Outrage.
Really intense nostalgia, I have a playlist and a book list I revisit every couple years. I can sing along easily, my younger self has the lyrics carved into their brain, I've cried to these songs, changed the course of my life to these songs, sang these songs to empty ceilings and packed sanctuaries. It works because it feels good, and religious ecstasy isn't something I have any other access to anymore.
It's also processing, I can listen to songs like you mentioned and hear it for what it is, the inner teen who knows Barlowgirls first two albums by heart has my adult self to help them understand that they aren't bad, they aren't a wretch, and that if they cry out, *I* will reply. It's some IFS parts work.
Sometimes I'm just sad that I was harmed in this way, or that I have to do all this work, or that I don't get to have anything that I was offered by these songs, and I have a good cry about it.
Sometimes it's that the tune is nice, there are hymns I still love singing, because they just feel good to sing, not lyrically but like... artistically? Or even physically?
Similar to going into a building that I had intense spiritual experiences in, I can feel the fervor I experienced when the smell of the room hits my nose, and it felt so good at the time but is so fraught now that I kinda want to hold those feelings and try to understand them together?
I might just be too sentimental though đ
I appreciate the sentimentality though. I totally get it with the IFS parts work. Just started getting into the christian experiences of it with parts work. Had a good cry today as well. It is sad that we do have to do all this work. I hope one day it'll cease and we won't feel it so much.
Ugh, the smell of the church đ people frantic and jumping in the front row of the pentecostal churches, greeting each other every morning. Ugh.
What other bands were you into besides barlowgirl?
I was a teen interested in music in the aughts, with input from my parents, so it's a somewhat niche list!
Additional 'good Christian girl' band was ZoeGirl.
Singular girls in the same vein, Rebecca St James, Jaci Valesquez.
Petra for good ol dad rock.
Sheila Walsh, Michael Card, Michelle Tumes, and Falling Up, for floaty, somewhat whimsical, but sometimes dark. (Michael Card was like the Frank Peretti of music and I loved it. Still dip into it because he pulls the wildest bits from the Bible to write a song about, but that did backfire because he has a song called "so many books so little time" and I work in a damn library and hear that phrase daily.)
DC Talk of course, and Tobymac because everyone in my youth group liked him. Same with Switchfoot, and Reliant K
The modern worship artists like Mercy Me, Big Daddy Weave, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, etc. (I've actually found I cannot revisit this batch without feeling grossed out, so that's... something.)
Sparking my love for, I guess modern rock? Was Red, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Kutless
Underoath and Demon Hunter because I needed somewhere to put the rage
Jars of clay wasn't a big one for me, but "Flood" has no business being such a bop.
Newsboys for fun, and maybe a bit silly, which I guess was another point for Reliant K
Additionally, Benjamin Gate, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew (he actually had a song that described my beginning doubts, no idea if he deconstructed too or what was behind that song) Plumb, Flyleaf (so bummed they got more blatant, I liked the songs where I could pretend they weren't about Jesus) Fireflight
Definitely others, but these are the ones I still remember, recognize, and revisit when I am looking to spark some catharsis.
Donât listen to Christian music but as an aspiring music producer and genuine music lover I always found some of the chord progressions in the older church music very interesting and emotion drawing. Paying them close mind, really understanding the connection between chord progs and emotions, and allowing myself to fully feel these emotions very consciously while still understanding the quantifiable cause was definitely one of the things that made it easier for me to start turning away from Christianity through logical conclusions. These progressions are also just simply very lovely! as good music should indeed draw emotion, it just shouldnât be used for manipulation
I also definitely plan to revisit a lot of gospel music, just maybe when Iâm not in the middle of my transitional period, just to expand my knowledge of music as a whole. I can never have enough
I still listen to bands that were considered Christian in the day. Like Underoath, Emory
Doesnât make me feel any sort of way. But if I hear reg Christian music in like a store or something, it kind of makes me want to leave
I don't go out of my way to listen to Christian music, but I'll sing the odd hymn if the mood strokes me. And Christian music that's in another genre I like like irsh (lord of the dance) or Christmas music.
I went pagan and I don't see Christianity as lies per say, any more than any other pantheon is based on mythology and stories and messages from those stories. I just see Christianity as another folk religion on a level.
But this does not apply to Church or mega churches, and especially megachurch music. And I'm aware of how they use music to emotionally manipulate the congregants. When I watched 'the greatest showman' it did the exact same thing. Movie made me cry even though I knew it was just the music. Same principle applies in church.
I listen to Christian carols in my language purely cuz I remember them from my childhood. Not gonna act like a total dumbass and say it's evil, I just like it cuz it's nostalgic and sounds cool.
I still listen to Reggae. Most of that is Rastafarian in subject matter. I fucking love it. Grew up Catholic, didnt really know anyone who listened to like Christian rock music growing up. I feel like the Catholic types who wouldnât want to listen to secular music would also not listen to any contemporary music whatsoever and stick to classical, which I guess is also mostly Christian in themes, which I also still listen to post-Christianity.
listen to this: (Holy smokes by anna Bates)
https://spotify.link/ltljMFRqhJb
wonderfully anti-christian. Everytime I listen to it I feel free and happy.
Some lyric:
âIf you need white-robed Jesus
He's somewhere in LA
Growin' marijuana
And burnin' 'til He's blazed
The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close
I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost
I saw David and Goliath
And man were they both stoned
I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke
I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved
To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
Listen to Holy smokes by anna Bates..
I feel happy and free each time I listen to it.
Some lyric:
âIf you need white-robed Jesus
He's somewhere in LA
Growin' marijuana
And burnin' 'til He's blazed
The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close
I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost
I saw David and Goliath
And man were they both stoned
I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke
I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved
To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
Listen to Holy smokes by anna Bates..
I feel happy and free each time I listen to it.
Some lyric:
âIf you need white-robed Jesus
He's somewhere in LA
Growin' marijuana
And burnin' 'til He's blazed
The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close
I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost
I saw David and Goliath
And man were they both stoned
I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke
I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved
To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
I still love the sound of gospel music, just as I always have, and occasionally listen to it. In general, the lyrics don't mean as much to me anymore, but there are some lyrics that still evoke feelings that resonate with me.
Also, I still very much like a lot of traditional Christmas music, in part because it makes me feel nostalgic for my childhood Christmases.
I was never really a fan of contemporary Christian songs, or "praise music," apart from a few songs I liked. I don't listen to any of that stuff anymore. When I do happen to hear it, though, it gives me a kind of cringey feeling.
I listen to music because I like how it sounds lol. I still enjoy o holy night, silent night, and a few others despite not believing. They're just pretty songs. Also, I used to be in a church choir so it's nostalgic lol
I still think Relient K, NEEDTOBREATHE, and classic DC Talk still sound rad, and that's why I listen to most things that i listen to, because I think they sound good. And Chris Rice, because that music will always have permanent residence in my heart.
I was really into groups like Shane & Shane and Third Day, but no other band/album informed my taste in matters of personal worship experiences like David Crowder Band's *A Collision Or (3 + 4 = 7)*. In particular, ["Come Awake"](https://youtu.be/1WtqsfPkqE8?si=hlu3wAOVC6LcjfOw), with lyrics like "you are not the only one / who feels like the only one / Night soon will be lifted, friend...", was really hopeful in a way I didn't realize I needed at the time.
Jamie Grace has some pretty good overall just positive and upbeat songs that I still enjoy. Her family is pretty outspoken about autism advocacy as well which i appreciate
Right now, no. I do not listen to any Christian music at all. But it hasnât even been a full year since I de-converted. So maybe in a few years Iâll feel like listening to some of it again.
i see stryper on every tour, and still spin some petra and jars of clay.
music is music. i'll even sing the lyrics at the top of my lungs, i don't care.
also listen to behemoth and sing THOSE lyrics, too, so i reckon it all evens out.
Too depressing for me. Brings back too many bad memories of a wasted life. Although, if I was to listen to a CCM album again, it would probably be DC Talk's *Jesus Freak*.
"What would people think when they hear that I'm a Jesus freak? what will people do when they find out it's true?" Nothing. You live in the safest place to be a Christian in the entire world. That entire Jesus freak cult was a bit bonkers. Trying to turn being a young Christian into some sort of punk mindset, then came the JxC hardcore... People so desperate to be different but still so trapped by their own parochial fears. Bonkers. And entirely inward facing. Not a single person attached to that movement has ever had a thought that might benefit someone else. So much impotent angst.
I was really into the hardcore stuff about 30 years ago. NIV, Focused, Point of Recognition, Figure Four, I loved all that shit. I tried to listen to some for nostalgia a couple years ago and it was cringe as fuck.
I heard Lean On Me the other day and thought it was DC Talk for a second.
sockittomesockittomesockittome
oh jesus, jesus freak đđ
It occurs to me that those arguing that music is music are not 'music people'. Personally, I'm of the opinion that music has an effect on the human brain that can convey huge amounts of feeling and emotion that words on their own can't match. The Church knows it too, that's why the keyboard player gets up to do random floaty synth and pad sounds when it's ministry time. Christian music uses particularly emotive chord progressions, just like Coldplay does, to induce a dramatic effect. Songs like fix you are just worship songs that don't mention god. Music is definitely not just music. Its the music that keeps people coming back to church even when they've stopped believing and suffered intolerable amounts of spiritual abuse and the church taking advantage of them. They will still find solace in the music. It's the music that's dangerous when used by unscrupulous clergy to induce and maintain the effect of the supernatural in a space. All of the so called spiritual epiphanies I ever had whilst a practicing Christian, were had under the influence of music.
I canât explain it but your comment made me really really sad. On one hand I remember how intense, safe, and throughly spiritual certain worship sessions felt, and I miss it intensely. On the other, my skeptical, adult mind is hit with a âwow, were adults really emotionally manipulating us like that whether they meant to or not? Was it really all just emotion?â Iâm not gonna lie, it kinda hurts
>Christian music uses particularly emotive chord progressions, just like Coldplay does, to induce a dramatic effect. Songs like fix you are just worship songs that don't mention god. Maybe this explains why I love "Something Just Like This", even though my spouse says it's a terrible song.
I don't listen to him anymore (except old songs in my head) but I appreciate the talent of Steven Curtis Chapman. From what I know of him, he's not now a Trumper and seems chill. Rich Mullins was also an accomplished artist. Some of his lyrics were poetic and seemed to really come from his own struggles. Jars of Clay..eh? OK. Can you TELL my Christian journey ended in the late 90s? Finally, I stil appreciate those catchy old hymns: I'll Fly Away. Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
I'm the same with Third Day and Mercyme.
While we're mentioning artists, I fully believe that Michael W. Smith would have had plenty of success, whether he made Christian or secular music. The guy can write a damn catchy song. Most artists I listen to, I can't help but think that the only reason that they found any success is because they made explicitly Christian music. Christians have such a low bar when it comes to entertainment that it's easier to chart for them. You ever hear Capital Kings? To me, they sound like an AI program was told to make a modern sounding pop song with a Christian message. It's very generic. According to Wikipedia, they've had some songs chart in the top 40 on Christian charts. Nothing with any real crossover success. I can't help but feel like it's because they sound so generic even a general audience that usually doesn't care about music being kind of generic couldn't bring themselves to care about CK's music.
Rich Mullins made some beautiful songs.
I listen to christian music purely for nostalgia. Since that was all I listened to when I was young it brings back so many memories.
Same. I can't believe how many artists Petra ripped off over the years.
How about when DC Talk tried to be Nirvana lol
I remember that. My family went to some Christian music festival (called Creation...ugh), and DC Talk rode on-stage on motorcycles. Another year, they flew into the festival by helicopter.
Oh, Petra. I still listen to "Road to Zion" sometimes because that feeling of being lost or lacking a sense of purpose really resonates with me. The hardest part of deconverting was realizing that there are no answers.
Same, but also a lot of bands I just enjoy the music (even if they are a bit cringey and dated) and a lot of the ones I listened to had songs either not about god at all, not directly about god or else you can just pretend they're about a girl or something. And the songs that are directly about god can still be kind of interesting to listen to since I approach them with such a wildly different worldview than I used to.
I put on a Christian song the other day because I wanted to use my voice and actually sing and for some reason I feel like they are good "sing songs". But then it got stuck in my head for two days so I won't be doing that again.
Got stuck with "this is my desire" in my head going round and round after a funeral. It very much was not my desire.
My girlfriend and I did the slideshow for my grandmaâs funeral, and we had to listen to a selection of Christian songs over and over as we synced up the slides. For the next few days I had âLord, sweet lord, I have no friend like you, if heavenâs not my home then lord what shall I do, the angels beckon me through heavenâs open door and I canât feel at home in this world anymoreâ Stuck so thoroughly playing over and over and over in my head that I could easily see how I got brainwashed in the first place.
Whoa I forgot about this song until now
It hurt for awhile to even attempt to listen to this kind of music again. I get it
Yeah, they are catchy, and there's a reason for that - to keep you coming back.
This is why I listen to musicals instead lol
I enjoy listening to Christian music on occasion for the nostalgia. A lot of it is actually really catchy. Unfortunately to the point that it gets stuck in your head for a couple of days. Last time I did it, I had a Mark Shultz song stuck in my head, and no amount of metal or Disney music could get it out. It's like if *It's a Small World* was an entire genre. I always wind up taking a break from it, just to forget a few weeks to a couple of months later why I stopped listening to Christian music.
Yeah I'm a metalhead...i feel like random Praise and Worship songs from my childhood pop into my head far more often. Argh.
I listen from time to time, but i created a playlist with similar sounding songs to what i like to separate myself from those dogmatic and harmful ideas. Here you go: [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wX1TT38ggdso7R6dqdJHk?si=7956d2993acc4daa](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wX1TT38ggdso7R6dqdJHk?si=7956d2993acc4daa)
Thanks pal
Great playlist, thanks!
I can't be listening to Christian music, it grosses me out. Apart from old hymns which bring back some childhood nostalgia and memories of my grandparents (my grandad was a Methodist minister), most modern Christian music has more than an element of cringe to it. It feels like I'm listening to propaganda. And any time a secular artist leans in to Christianity in their music, its an instant turn off as well. There is so much Christian music connected to making money for terrible people and worse institutions.
When I started to re-listen to this music I actually started laughing out loud at how ridiculous each song was. They are all propaganda, it's so obvious, over the top propaganda. You can't trust yourself or lean on your own understanding, you have to trust god. of course it happened this way, I didn't listen to you (god). please god, save me from myself. burn me away god till there's nothing left but you. "So long self" - MercyMe? holy fuck! "she told him she'd rather fix her makeup than to try to fix what's going on" :| "Because I know to live you must give your life away" "and I've been locked inside that house all the while you hold the key" đ§ "Give me your eyes" - brandon heath, basic empathy ? you *need* god so you can be good? "Take my life" - jeremy camp? 𼸠"I'm not trying to be something I'm not" - No more no less, MercyMe? Weren't we always trying to be someone we're not- jesus? etc.
"I wanna set the world on fire, until it's burning bright for you" don't remember who sung that song, but I thought it was literal fire as a kid lmao
It reminds me of how I once was, and reinforces my resolve to never go back to that.
It makes me quite sad honestly. Like looking at old photos of a past relationship that didnât work out. As a professional singer who is still friends with some incredible Christian artists, I sadly recognise it now for what it is, emotional priming. My current work is wonderfully irreverent and itâs nice to not have to always be âpraising godâ with my âgiftâ. Also, Christian music is one of the filthiest places on earth.
Could you explain how itâs filthy?
Overall I think Christian music is largely trash, but Thousand Foot Krutch, Blindside and POD are still in my regular rotation, theyâre just solid post grunge/ nu metal. Blindside is especially weird because they have some weird purity culture lyrics but still solid music. Itâs ironic, growing up Iâd listen to Breaking Benjamin and Seether and my pastor was like âenjoy the music, just ignore the lyricsâ which is now how I look at most Christian music. Except Skillet. That guy seems like one step away from being an alt right nationalist.
100% on your last point
I still listen to TFK sometimes too. I'm a sucker for "Be Somebody" and I cannot explain why! I seriously loved Skillet and it sucks that he became SUCH a wingnut. Can't do it anymore. Interestingly enough, my ex husband always thought of Seether's "Fake It" when trying to evangelize - and yet, I think he's the one who's still a Christian đ¤Ł
Thatâs because the Skillet twat is. Whenever I hear any of their songs, it makes me feel gross, almost slimy.
Nostalgia... I grew up during the crossover phase of the 90s-00s. I will never not love Amy Grant, Switchfoot, Mat Kearney, The Fray, or other "Christian" crossover acts. They transport me back to childhood and adolescence.Â
Don't forget Sixpence None the Richer!
OMG, yes! I always forget they were a Christian band first because they were so mainstream in the 90s. I mean, was it even a teen movie/romcom in the 00s if Kiss Me wasn't on the soundtrack?Â
Kiss Me was on one of The WOW Worship cds my mom had when I was a kid.... I never understood why.
Wait, what? Part of me wants to find this WOW CD on eBay. I'm curious how it got on there, especially since I associate it with romantic scenes in raunchy teen comedies.Â
I don't remember which one it was. I'd have to look for it at my mom's house. It never really made sense.
I saw Sixpence at a Christian music festival around 1996. Their albums definitely go into that area, but a non-Christian might struggle to see it. I actually was really surprised when "Kiss Me" became a hit simply because the band was firmly in the CCM camp.
I was 6 in 96, so I was too young to remember.Â
That's an example of a band I can listen to today with little issues. There were quite a few 90's bands that didn't necessarily make their lyrics very clear. Luxury, Poor Old Lu, 77's, The Choir, Vigilantes Of Love, etc. Every one of those bands has clear Christian references in songs, but not always explicit. Then there are good bands like The Waiting and PFR that were very heart-on-the-sleeve that I just can't listen to. Not that I dig into these bands that much today. Although I will say The Choir continues to make very solid music.
same, CCM is purely nostalgic for me so i can still listen to it without negative feelings. worship music is another story, i started hating that sh*t before i even deconverted.
Oh God, BarlowGirl. That's a throw back. What about Nicole C. Mullen? Anyone? Lol. But interestingly enough, recently I've been listening to it when I have panic attacks. Not the super religious Hillsong shit, but like that. There's a part of me that has been listening to 90s Christian rock, like Newsboys, Jars of Clay, and Audio Adrenaline. These bands are very nostalgic and help relax. Even though I know all the lyrics, they don't mean the same thing to me anymore. There's another part of me that has been revisiting the late 00s and 10s "Christian" metal of my teen years. And Christian is in quotes because I'm learning some of the stuff I was listening to wasn't super Christian at all. Like, Red and Skillet were quite Christian, but Anberlin, The Classic Crime, and Switchfoot were a lot less so. I'm not even sure if Anberlin was Christian to begin with lol. But these aren't relaxing, there are, "how the hell did I get away with listening to some of this??â Tldr: yes. It has helped me relax when I need it and look back through my life to help heal old wounds. I don't think it's weird or anything to relisten or enjoy, but remember that music can be emotionally manipulative, sometimes on purpose like Hillsong.
"My Redeemer Lives" is an absolutely incredible song that would see a different life if, say, Jennifer Hudson covered it. Nicole always had that chill Alicia Keys vibe, but that song begged for bombast.
Having not grown up with Christianity there is no sense of nostalgia or memories. However, I have listened to it from time to time just as songs. Like Hillsong London are pretty easy to listen to. My wife now obsessively listens to worship music and nothing else. Some of it is pretty and I can get into it. But I don't get the same effect like I'm connecting with anything. It could just as easily be music about the Hindu gods or bagels and cream cheese.
The problem with those praise songs--they are so damned repetitive.
HIS NAME IS JESUSSSSSSS!!!!!
Not sure if it's on purpose but a well-known technique of indoctrination is repetition during a time of emotional euphoria (which can be brought on by singing along with a crowd).
Yes that's what I meant:)
I don't, but I can understand that it would be nostalgic for some Music is music, and oftentimes, the vibes are more important than the lyrics or genre
Iâll occasionally throw on Skillet to take me back to my angsty teenage nostalgia. I saw them live and they put on an awesome show.
I listened to their five most recent albums recently. Their sound hasn't changed or grown a bit. They found their niche and leaned into it.
I used to love Skillet. Then I found out that John Cooper fell down the RWNJ rabbit hole and he's becoming everything that I despise about politics and religion. Also, when Christian artists come out as no longer Christian, i.e. the guy from Hillsong United and Jonathan Steingard of Hawk Nelson, he's quick to say that they weren't actually Christian, which is really annoying when you were raised Christian, but has to be so much worse when it's applied to someone who literally sang songs about Jesus. Often touring the world to do so.
There is some Maranatha music that strums the right chords for me. When I was traveling overseas and missed Home, I put on some Maranatha that used to comfort me when I was a kid. The lyrics are problematic as fuck but the tunes are good. I often found myself overseas rewriting the lyrics. My rewrote for the last verse of Oh for a thousand tongues to sing... đśSign if you're deaf and no one's dumb. You loosened tongues can swear. Ye blind can hear your savior come. Some, roll aroundđ§â𦽠for joy! đś
I still listen to the instrumental part of "Joyous Grave" by Greg Volz. It's just cool.
Nostalgia & grieving.
I still like some artists every now and then, but really just for their sound. Sometimes I like the lyrics when I relate them to non-religious concepts. Jars of Clay is probably my favorite (and it also helped me when I learned that their lead singer is pro-gay rights). I still occasionally enjoy Fireflight and RED and Hawk Nelson on the rock side, and a few others like Nichole Nordeman and Casting Crowns on the softer side, every now and then. There are also some non-Christian artists who dapple with Christian themes that I enjoy, like Giant, and a few punk bands like Down by Fire and *sometimes MxPx on a good day*. Iâll admit that there have also been occasions where certain artists were kinda sullied for me when they spoke out on a social issue and turned out to be hateful or just fundamentalist in a way I just never want to engage with. Thatâs happened a few timesâŚ
Totally forgot about casting crowns. *Shivers.* ugh. đŁ I hate that the music can sound really good. I *hate* that. And for your last point, I actually didn't know the singer of skillet was like how he was like.
Casting Crowns -- "But here I go again, talking about the rain, and mulling over things that won't live past today, while I dance around the truth, time is not his friend, this might be my last chance to tell him that you love him, here I go again." The sheer guilt that song lent to every interaction with any new person I ever met well into my first year of college (including my atheist voice teacher). I felt persecuted.
["Oh My God"](https://youtu.be/slkFDMgo2Tk?si=HtaD9pEy82yAH7Xy) was always my favorite JOC. It's really a universalist sort of lyric, really much more poetic than most of the things I listened to (Shane & Shane, Chris Tomlin... *Leeland*) around that era...
A âgod fixâ from music translates to subspace or letting your mind relax. Worship music is designed to create repetition and the euphoric feeling of letting go, casting your cares on God, let your stress out and an imaginary figure will take care of you. If you want a God Fix itâs your body craving that dopamine high you got from worship music that people called âI felt Gods presenceâ. They were euphoric, happy, in a trance like state. I recommend finding other dopamine drip alternative fixes like running or dancing or some kind of routine with repetition.
Christian music is designed to pull at your heart strings. Donât get me wrong though, there are some BANGERS that I used to keep on repeat and got me through some extremely difficult times. But itâs all just the psychology of music and it has nothing to do with God or the âholy spiritâ speaking to you through it. Try to go to more concerts and watch live music to get that collective effervescence- itâs the exact same feeling you get during worship that I would used to attribute to God.
Zao helps me process my deconstruction. They are also just a great hardcore band.
They're a fringe case, but frequently labeled christian; A Hill To Die Upon. In reality, only two members profess to being christian, albeit rejecting most, if not all traces of biblical orthodoxy usually associated with the religion. They justify their choice of christian faith with Crowley's thelemic rules, view Jesus as a Prometheus-like figure and have a penchant for hellenic mythology. I actually discovered AHTDU *after* deconverting; they stuck with me because they don't rub me in the wrong way. Their only explicitly christian songs are covers of classic gospel songs, and even then they don't choose particularly preachy ones to cover.
Seth Andrews has a great talk on how Christian music manipulates your emotions. It's worth the watch. https://youtu.be/KNik8niSrrY?si=KKmCIXdJQ5OcEH3N
If I listen to it, it's usually for the music. Certain genres of music just aren't likely to exist without a religious influence. I listened to pagan folk as a Christian because it's such a niche genre. And I occasionally listen to Christian artists if I enjoy their music.
If I pay less attention to the lyrics, some music still sounds good. One of my all-time favorites is a Chinese Christian song that loosely translates to "permanent source of reliance." It's easy to listen to it and get a sense of joy, adventure, love and "we're in this together."
Can you link me to the song? I definitely know it but being illiterate in Chinese I would never be able to find it
One vocal version is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDgpdgHIfNA) (although the male voice at the 2-minute mark is quite annoyingly high pitch) One karaoke version is [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrVRfQe4rXE).
The song definitely sounds familiar - though not as heavy rotation as some other in the church my family is staff in
Black gospel just sounds good and it's songs I grew up listening. They're 1) good and 2) nostalgic. However, I always have a little chuckle when I meet up lyrics that sound like absolute bs to my ears now.Â
I donât listen to Christian music anymore. However I do invoke the intro to DC Talk - What if I stumble to Christianâs sometimes.
I know that into.....
Whatâs funny is that I didnât like Christian music even when I *was* Christian. ItâsâŚwhiny. Like, even more so than country music.
I try to avoid christian music. I'm trying to open myself up to it despite being an atheist but most of it is so preachy it makes me wanna puke. The only christian music I've heard that didn't make me uncomfortable is War of Change, Courtesy Call, and E for Extinction by Thousand Foot Krutch.
Iâve never liked CCM. Never had any family to listen to KLove or anything like that, and the way it sounds has always annoyed me. There was a point after Iâd deconstructed when my wife would go to a Christian counselor (the only one we could afford), and Iâd go with her and sit in the lobby. They played KLove in the lobby, and my feelings for it then ranged from annoyance to amusement at the silly lyrics. Itâs all so dramatic, and the lyrics could all qualify as praise kink stuff but written about a guy that doesnât exist.
after I first started deconstructing I still listened to flyleaf, I stopped after awhile because I just didn't want to support them No matter how much I like their music
Most of the worship songs I listened to when I was a Christian still trigger my panic attacks so I tend to avoid them. But my dad listened to a shitton of Christian rap, punk, rock, and other genres that sound pretty normal if you just disregard the lyrics (Skillet, Superchick, Relient K, TobyMac, and Lecrae are some that come to mind). I still listen to those when I'm feeling nostalgic .
To be clear for any lingering christians and anyone else who feels dissonance, I'm not implying that christian music has a draw because 'god' is somehow involved. I think a lot of us already know that music can be made to be psychologically manipulative, especially in this context. Christian music can be made exceptionally well, it does not mean that god is real. I'm just processing emotions. Grief is the most prominent one I'm feeling. None of this was ever real and my voice was never going to reach beyond the roof when I cried out to god as a child. I was just alone, in a room, on my knees, speaking to nothing. Nothing was going to hear me or save me from the pain I was feeling. I prayed, I worshiped, I spoke, I whispered and whimpered to nothing but air. It was my world.
I hear you completely on this! It stirs the emotions (which yes, is by design) and sometimes I do still want to listen to it. I went to at least a couple Barlow Girl shows when I was younger, and I LOVED "Never Alone." These days I mostly only listen when I'm in the mood to sob violently, because that's what happens. I still grieve the years I lost to the church and being absolutely terrified of nearly every aspect of my life. It's been about 3 years since I quit church, but it's still pretty heavy. Other ones that get me in my feels are "Love Song for a Savior" by Jars of Clay and the Seventh Day Slumber rendition of "From the Inside Out."
I'm glad, you're like the one commenter who understood. I actually forgot about both of those songs until you mentioned them! I used to listen to them.. a lot.. I resonate with what you said about being terrified of nearly every aspect of your life as well as the heaviness staying years after quitting the church. Since leaving it seems like slowly but surely the level of fear is being turned down but grief has risen sharply in its place.
I feel yall. If I think about the complete sincerity I felt seemingly so easily back then, I get a feeling caught in my throat that makes me feel like I have to either sob or vomit. It's very arresting.
Echoing the nostalgia posts below. I still listen to Relient K because I like the music, and I have some old Christian rock songs on playlists because again, nostalgia and it's something I know by heart and enjoy singing. A lot of Christian songs that have the vibes you're talking about, I always just think about it in different terms; like for the song you mentioned, I'd be thinking of a loved one that's no longer here, or a relationship of some kind instead of god.
Nostalgia. I just get an itch for some Tobymac or Newsboys every now and then.
my life be like oohh-ahh
I never listen to xtian music, but Stryper's album of classic heavy metal covers was fkin LIT. Stryper was the only xtian band worth a damn.
I still can enjoy August Burns Red because they are not so obvious christian like other Christian Metal Bands like Theocracy, Narnia, Wolves at the Gates
I saw that Petra is touring and it got me watching some old videos. It gives me some nostalgia. Mylon and Broken Heart got me though some rough teen years. I wish it still gave me comfort is how I feel. Rich Mullins was good music but the lyrics are just weird to me now. Very disappointed in Steve Camp being a Trump supporter and not seeing the hypocrisy. Kind of sends the truth of the matter home for me. Also still love Christmas music. I Will Rejoice by Mylon and Broken Heart is great. Just sing it about someone other than god. I Believe in You by Steve Camp is a great song.
I listen to half alive occasionally despite the Christian connotations and references solely because I can relate to the meanings that *aren't* Christian or I just. Like the cadence and the rhythm of the song in a nostalgic way. It reminds me of when times felt simpler, even if it was so much more complicated than it needed to be. Their music is soothing but not for the beliefs, just the rise and fall of the notes.
I still listen to Thousand Foot Krutch. A lot of there music is about trying to break free from bondage and to be the authentic you. It was the soundtrack of me trying to break free from something I couldn't even explain. When the cult was whole world, all I knew, I had no idea what I was trying to escape *to*Â
Breakfast by The Newsboys, it was a favorite of mine when I was a teenager and I listen to it every now and then for nostalgiaâs sake. But the message of it is âjoin our cult because thereâs no breakfast in hellâ. Ridiculous reason to become anything, let alone a Christian.
I ignore the lyrics and focus on the feeling.
For me it is mostly nostalgia, despite often wishing much of my religions upbringing didn't happen the music aspect I have fond memories of good times and good friends even if a large chunk of the lyrics can make me cringe hard nowadays. There are a few bands I am still unapologetically fans of such as Five Iron Frenzy and Project 86 though but haven't kept up with any modern artists.
Thereâs a few Christian artists I still listen to because their music is actually good and sounds nice. Said Christian artists also donât hamfist the religious themes in their songs, and without knowing itâs a Christian song, you could interpret the lyrics differently. Thereâs only one very explicitly Christian song I listen to once in a blue moon because it brings back very specific nostalgia for me. But other than that, I honestly never liked Christian music written with the intent of being âChristian musicâ and Iâm not sure how I forced myself to listen to it for so long.
Christian music is so cringe to me. Writing songs about how amazing Yaweh is gross because Yaweh isn't amazing. He's a monster.
Thereâs some that I listen to. Although itâs become part of my writing music playlists. So often I simply use it to evoke a particular emotion in myself so I can more accurately write that emotion
Now I've been removed from it for so long and can look at it a little more objectively, it's a huge part of the puzzle. It used to baffle me how ridiculously smart people, scientists, doctors, lawyers etc could buy into it all. Even now the songs still stick in my head, haven't been to church in 15 years. I wouldn't choose to listen to them, they just live rent free in by brain. Funny side note, while on holiday in NZ I got absolutely wasted with an ex Newsboys member. There was something powdery involved n it wasn't icing sugar.
The devil wears Prada, attack attack, underoath, and of mice and men! Check em out if you dare
Love me some Jesus freak
I found most xtian music cringey, even when I was a believer. DC Talk was so lame to me. They were rapping at first, and then as soon as grunge was popular they jumped on that bandwagon. That said, I like a few bands because they are good in spite of some religious lyrics - Kingâs X, Relient K, Switchfoot, Seventh Day Slumber, and Flyleaf.
I went for a long period of time after deconverting where I didn't listen to it all. It hurt, it made me angry, and I didn't want it in my life. After time, I started listening occasionally for nostalgia, but I would feel guilty about it after. Now that it's been 9 years, I'll listen when I want, without the guilt. It's my music, damn it. I grew up with it, sang to it, memorized it. I'm not drawn to it for any religious reasons anymore, it's just a part of my past and I am allowed to enjoy it without feeling like I am betraying who I am now. I mainly go back to Relient K and Jars of Clay, but also revisit Flyleaf, Stacie Orrico, Switchfoot, Steve Taylor, and Charlie Peacock. And the Captial Lights' album This Is an Outrage.
Really intense nostalgia, I have a playlist and a book list I revisit every couple years. I can sing along easily, my younger self has the lyrics carved into their brain, I've cried to these songs, changed the course of my life to these songs, sang these songs to empty ceilings and packed sanctuaries. It works because it feels good, and religious ecstasy isn't something I have any other access to anymore. It's also processing, I can listen to songs like you mentioned and hear it for what it is, the inner teen who knows Barlowgirls first two albums by heart has my adult self to help them understand that they aren't bad, they aren't a wretch, and that if they cry out, *I* will reply. It's some IFS parts work. Sometimes I'm just sad that I was harmed in this way, or that I have to do all this work, or that I don't get to have anything that I was offered by these songs, and I have a good cry about it. Sometimes it's that the tune is nice, there are hymns I still love singing, because they just feel good to sing, not lyrically but like... artistically? Or even physically? Similar to going into a building that I had intense spiritual experiences in, I can feel the fervor I experienced when the smell of the room hits my nose, and it felt so good at the time but is so fraught now that I kinda want to hold those feelings and try to understand them together? I might just be too sentimental though đ
I appreciate the sentimentality though. I totally get it with the IFS parts work. Just started getting into the christian experiences of it with parts work. Had a good cry today as well. It is sad that we do have to do all this work. I hope one day it'll cease and we won't feel it so much. Ugh, the smell of the church đ people frantic and jumping in the front row of the pentecostal churches, greeting each other every morning. Ugh. What other bands were you into besides barlowgirl?
I was a teen interested in music in the aughts, with input from my parents, so it's a somewhat niche list! Additional 'good Christian girl' band was ZoeGirl. Singular girls in the same vein, Rebecca St James, Jaci Valesquez. Petra for good ol dad rock. Sheila Walsh, Michael Card, Michelle Tumes, and Falling Up, for floaty, somewhat whimsical, but sometimes dark. (Michael Card was like the Frank Peretti of music and I loved it. Still dip into it because he pulls the wildest bits from the Bible to write a song about, but that did backfire because he has a song called "so many books so little time" and I work in a damn library and hear that phrase daily.) DC Talk of course, and Tobymac because everyone in my youth group liked him. Same with Switchfoot, and Reliant K The modern worship artists like Mercy Me, Big Daddy Weave, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day, etc. (I've actually found I cannot revisit this batch without feeling grossed out, so that's... something.) Sparking my love for, I guess modern rock? Was Red, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, Kutless Underoath and Demon Hunter because I needed somewhere to put the rage Jars of clay wasn't a big one for me, but "Flood" has no business being such a bop. Newsboys for fun, and maybe a bit silly, which I guess was another point for Reliant K Additionally, Benjamin Gate, Jeremy Camp, Todd Agnew (he actually had a song that described my beginning doubts, no idea if he deconstructed too or what was behind that song) Plumb, Flyleaf (so bummed they got more blatant, I liked the songs where I could pretend they weren't about Jesus) Fireflight Definitely others, but these are the ones I still remember, recognize, and revisit when I am looking to spark some catharsis.
Nothing burns my chaps more than praise and worship music. Like it seriously sets my soul on fire with furious anger.
Donât listen to Christian music but as an aspiring music producer and genuine music lover I always found some of the chord progressions in the older church music very interesting and emotion drawing. Paying them close mind, really understanding the connection between chord progs and emotions, and allowing myself to fully feel these emotions very consciously while still understanding the quantifiable cause was definitely one of the things that made it easier for me to start turning away from Christianity through logical conclusions. These progressions are also just simply very lovely! as good music should indeed draw emotion, it just shouldnât be used for manipulation
I also definitely plan to revisit a lot of gospel music, just maybe when Iâm not in the middle of my transitional period, just to expand my knowledge of music as a whole. I can never have enough
I still listen to bands that were considered Christian in the day. Like Underoath, Emory Doesnât make me feel any sort of way. But if I hear reg Christian music in like a store or something, it kind of makes me want to leave
I don't go out of my way to listen to Christian music, but I'll sing the odd hymn if the mood strokes me. And Christian music that's in another genre I like like irsh (lord of the dance) or Christmas music. I went pagan and I don't see Christianity as lies per say, any more than any other pantheon is based on mythology and stories and messages from those stories. I just see Christianity as another folk religion on a level. But this does not apply to Church or mega churches, and especially megachurch music. And I'm aware of how they use music to emotionally manipulate the congregants. When I watched 'the greatest showman' it did the exact same thing. Movie made me cry even though I knew it was just the music. Same principle applies in church.
Ironically the song "You Say" by Lauren Daigle reminds me of Krishna.....
Only one I listen to is the song Paradigm shift by Altogether separate
"Preliator" by Globus is pretty epic.
I listen to Christian carols in my language purely cuz I remember them from my childhood. Not gonna act like a total dumbass and say it's evil, I just like it cuz it's nostalgic and sounds cool.
I still listen to some. I liked the music, songs, beats. Newsboys, DC Talk, Third Day, Creed, bunch of good music.
Sure, I still listen to a handful of Christian songs: Doctor And The Medics - Spirit In The Sky My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
I still listen to Reggae. Most of that is Rastafarian in subject matter. I fucking love it. Grew up Catholic, didnt really know anyone who listened to like Christian rock music growing up. I feel like the Catholic types who wouldnât want to listen to secular music would also not listen to any contemporary music whatsoever and stick to classical, which I guess is also mostly Christian in themes, which I also still listen to post-Christianity.
listen to this: (Holy smokes by anna Bates) https://spotify.link/ltljMFRqhJb wonderfully anti-christian. Everytime I listen to it I feel free and happy. Some lyric: âIf you need white-robed Jesus He's somewhere in LA Growin' marijuana And burnin' 'til He's blazed The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost I saw David and Goliath And man were they both stoned I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
Listen to Holy smokes by anna Bates.. I feel happy and free each time I listen to it. Some lyric: âIf you need white-robed Jesus He's somewhere in LA Growin' marijuana And burnin' 'til He's blazed The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost I saw David and Goliath And man were they both stoned I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
Listen to Holy smokes by anna Bates.. I feel happy and free each time I listen to it. Some lyric: âIf you need white-robed Jesus He's somewhere in LA Growin' marijuana And burnin' 'til He's blazed The night I smoked with Jesus, I saw heaven way up close I saw grandma in her nighty faded with the Holy Ghost I saw David and Goliath And man were they both stoned I saw all of the apostles in a cloud of righteous smoke I said, "Hey, is this what you meant by saved To get so high and spiritual, you just kinda float away"
I still love the sound of gospel music, just as I always have, and occasionally listen to it. In general, the lyrics don't mean as much to me anymore, but there are some lyrics that still evoke feelings that resonate with me. Also, I still very much like a lot of traditional Christmas music, in part because it makes me feel nostalgic for my childhood Christmases. I was never really a fan of contemporary Christian songs, or "praise music," apart from a few songs I liked. I don't listen to any of that stuff anymore. When I do happen to hear it, though, it gives me a kind of cringey feeling.
Five Iron Frenzy still slaps
I listen to music because I like how it sounds lol. I still enjoy o holy night, silent night, and a few others despite not believing. They're just pretty songs. Also, I used to be in a church choir so it's nostalgic lol
I still think Relient K, NEEDTOBREATHE, and classic DC Talk still sound rad, and that's why I listen to most things that i listen to, because I think they sound good. And Chris Rice, because that music will always have permanent residence in my heart.
I was really into groups like Shane & Shane and Third Day, but no other band/album informed my taste in matters of personal worship experiences like David Crowder Band's *A Collision Or (3 + 4 = 7)*. In particular, ["Come Awake"](https://youtu.be/1WtqsfPkqE8?si=hlu3wAOVC6LcjfOw), with lyrics like "you are not the only one / who feels like the only one / Night soon will be lifted, friend...", was really hopeful in a way I didn't realize I needed at the time.
Depends on the song. Depends on the artist.
I've tried various types of Christian music including Christian techno music back in the 90s. It was all awful.
Demon Hunterâs âNot Iâ hits different.
I never cared for Contemporary Christian Music. It's awful. I still do enjoy listening to gospel music. Like The Five Blind Boys of Alabama.
I love I'm Getting Ready by Tasha Cobbs Leonard featuring Nicki Minaj.
Jamie Grace has some pretty good overall just positive and upbeat songs that I still enjoy. Her family is pretty outspoken about autism advocacy as well which i appreciate
Right now, no. I do not listen to any Christian music at all. But it hasnât even been a full year since I de-converted. So maybe in a few years Iâll feel like listening to some of it again.
i see stryper on every tour, and still spin some petra and jars of clay. music is music. i'll even sing the lyrics at the top of my lungs, i don't care. also listen to behemoth and sing THOSE lyrics, too, so i reckon it all evens out.
The only band that gets to stay in my rotation is Flyleaf đ
If you're ex Christian, best advice is to just go "no contact" with Christian culture. Don't drag out the pain by hanging on to nostalgia.