~Of Birthstones and Gelatin~

You know what bothers me greatly? Christian rock. My roommate listens to it so freaking much it isn't even funny. Though, my distaste for it does not stem from her obsession. I disliked it before I met her. I have plenty of reasons why I don't like it, either. No, it's definitely not due to the fact that it contains religious themes. If I said that that were the reason, I would be a hypocrite. I definitely don’t mind church hymns; most of them are pitched ridiculously high, but I don’t mind them otherwise. I always thought that gospel was nice, too. Most of it is so meaningful and upbeat. And, hey, I listen to rock songs with religious themes. Geesh, I love George Harrison’s music and many of his songs are of the religious light.

Christian rock comes across to me as being insincere. Most of the Christian rock I’ve heard seems to lack deep emotion and thrown together. In many ways, it seems so poser-esque. I look at my roommate’s posters of Christian rock bands…All of the people pictured on them seem as if they’re either going for a punk or an emo look. None of them seem to go by an identity that they could call their own. Their music seems to have the same flavor. Most of the songs I’ve heard my roommate listen to try to knock-off the sound of ska or punk. For example, one of the songs she listens to makes me think, “Gee, a Mighty Mighty Bosstones rip-off…” because of its trumpet solo and rhythm. Uh, maybe I’m not so bothered that their sounds are of different rock genres, but none of the groups I’ve heard have their own, distinctive sound. I can’t distinguish whenever my roommate is listening to, say, The Elms or Relient K.*

I think Christian rock comes across as commercializing religion. To be honest, that bugs me. Whenever I first saw those “WWJD?” shirts and related merchandise, I felt uneasy. I constantly thought, “Why do you need something like that? Can’t you try to follow Jesus’ rationalization without merchandise?” Whenever I heard of Christian rock, I felt worse. It upsets me to think that many aren’t bothered how Christianity and materialism are so intertwined. I mean, are you telling me that one becomes “better” if he or she has a bunch of stuff that is supposedly of the religious persuasion? What about those that don’t possess this stuff? Somehow, I get the impression that many think those without such “goods” are impure, evil, or of the negative mindset. That doesn’t settle with me at all.--This thought reminds me of the one Christmas episode of “The Simpsons” where Lisa converts to Buddhism because of her church’s leap into commercialization. Boy, I understood her feelings one-hundred percent!

Also can’t help to feel that Christian rock is a way of altering one’s social status. Many of those who listen to it seem as if they’re telling you, “Hey! I’m listening to Christian rock and that makes me a Christian. Aren’t I special? Aren’t I better than you?” Uh, are you trying to tell me that I’m going to Hell because I don’t like it?† Are you telling me that I’m a bad American? Okey-dokey then…

If I have offended anyone, I am seriously sorry. I do realize that everyone is free to think and like what they want, so please do not deny me that right. I will not deny your right.


*By the by, why is “Relient” spelled like that, not “Reliant”? Is there something I don’t get? I mean, it doesn’t take a knuckle-head to figure out why “The Beatles” is spelled the way it is…but “Relient”?

†While I think about it, let me recall something I told my mom a while ago: I recall saying that if there is a concept of Heaven and Hell that follows the “rules” of conservative Christianity, then I would rather go to Hell because it’s open to more schools of thought, whereas Heaven only accepts certain people. Seriously, this is one of the reasons why Hell seems like an invalid concept to me.

Current Mood/State: frazzled