Music and Religion

              There are many different types of music.  The different types of music can be listed in genres.  The list is endless and below this paragraph I will put a link of all of the different types.  Within the genres there are also different sections.  For example, Jazz is a genre and in that genre there are about 16 different types.  Below this is a list of genres and also sections within a genre are shown.  This link shows that there are a lot of different types of music that people don't even realize are out there.
http://www.musicgenreslist.com/
                In this post I will focus on one type of genre; inspirational – Christian and Gospel.  Music can be a way of communicating praise with one another.  In many ways Christian music also known as gospel music is soothing, saddening, and inspirational.  Music has a way of speaking to each person in a different way and sometimes music can trigger different emotions.   The gospel style of music is normally sung in unison and harmony with sometimes even having a lead singer.   Songs are performed with passionate enthusiasm and spiritual inspiration. 
                Within the gospel genre there are different types and many fit into the category of old gospel and new gospel.  Some of the old gospel songs can be found in church hymnals and considered to be traditional gospel and the new gospel songs are contemporary gospel.
                With this type of music playing with people’s emotions, each person may have a different view and understanding of the lyrics in the song.  For example “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” by Chris Tomlin might make someone sad because the song often relates to death and being sent to heaven while others may be inspired and feel happy because it means that they are being set free and God has ransomed them. 
                  Music has also been proven to stimulate memory and often times certain gospel songs are sung to make a point and have each person who hears it remember the message easier than reading the Bible.  Gospel messages in each song can tell a person that he/she is not alone, that God loves them and many more different inspirational messages.
                While emotions can affect the way someone comprehends the song, memories also play a major roll.  Has a memory ever been related to a song somehow and affected the way you listened to it?  For me it has.  A song that I love and have related to a memory is “Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars.  Every time I listen to it I remember having an awesome summer and wishing for a perpetual summer.