The Use and Performance of Hymnody, Spirituals, and Gospels in the Black Church

Since the 17th century, Black Americans have participated in two culturally distinct religious traditions. The first tradition represents that associated with white Protestant denominations. The second was independently developed by Blacks, utilizing the concepts and practices retained from their West African heritage. These two traditions are easily distinguished by ideology, worship style, and musical practices. The musical repertoire of Black congregations that adhered to white Protestant doctrines is derived from official hymnals which include psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Conversely, the repertoire of churches, whose religious ideology is uniquely Black, consists of Black folk spirituals and gospels. Songs of these two idioms are derived from several sources: 1) West African musical traditions; 2) Black secular idioms; 3) original Black compositions; and 4) white Protestant psalms, hymns, and spiritualsongs.1 The music, which characterizes autonomous Black congregations, differs in function and performance style from that of Black congregations that adhere to the doctrines of the white Protestant church. Music performed by the former group constitutes an integral and intrinstic part of the liturgy. The manner in which this music is performed is based on the aesthetic principles and social norms that have evolved from West African cultures. Whereas spirituals and gospels are the dominant musical forms found in autonomous Black churches, white Protestant hymns, especially those of Isaac Watts and the Wesley brothers, continue to be mainstays of the repertoire even today. When performed, however, these songs either conform to the dictates of Western European traditions or congregations may choose to modify them in accordance with Afro American aesthetic principles. The use and performance of music in the Black church will be explored in this discussion through an examination of 1) the events that led to the conversion of Blacks to Christianity; 2) the formation of independent Black religious groups, and 3) the social and cultural milieu which fostered the development of a unique Black religious music

Contemporary Christian Music: Where Rock Meets Religion

...In the midst of this controversial relationship between rock music and religious messages, and as a response to a feeling of being locked out of the secular music industry, there has been a burgeoning Christian recording industry using rock music, known as Contemporary Christian Music (CCM). CCM involves the pairing of a Gospel message or Christian worldview with popular forms of rock music..

Paul, Black Theology and Hermeneutics

In his now classic work, Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism, Franz Cumont wrote:"... it is a fault common to all scholars, to all imbued with book learning, that they are better acquainted with the opinions of ancient authors than with the sentiments of their contemporaries and that they prefer o live in the past rather than in the world surrounding them.1" If one takes Cumont’s statement as being somewhat reflective of the truth it would seem justified then to use the insights and results of critical, biblico-historical research and theological thinking to further illuminate the world and problems of contemporary man; to use the insights and “opinions” of the past to enlighten the present. What can one say, or for that matter, what does the biblical witness say, if anything, about the contemporary problems of: Racism; the position of women in the world; the economic and international balances of power, etc.? If, for example, it says nothing about “racism” per se, but still witnesses, one might contend, to new possibilities for existence; what are the elements or means of, the hermeneutic? That is, what contemporary analogues or terms does one use to produce an effective “translation”? Can, for example, Paul and his view of: the world, life, and Christian experience, help us at all in our contemporary life-situation vis-a-vis, let us say, Racism

KSU Symphony Orchestra

SKU School of Music presents KSU Symphony Orchestra.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1144/thumbnail.jp

How does gender influence the recognition of cardiovascular risk and adherence to self-care recommendations? : a study in polish primary care

Background: Studies have shown a correlation between gender and an ability to change lifestyle to reduce the risk of disease. However, the results of these studies are ambiguous, especially where a healthy lifestyle is concerned. Additionally, health behaviors are strongly modified by culture and the environment. Psychological factors also substantially affect engagement with disease-related lifestyle interventions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences between men and women in the frequency of health care behavior for the purpose of reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR), as well as cognitive appraisal of this type of risk. We also aimed to identify the psychological predictors of engaging in recommended behavior for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease after providing information about this risk in men and women. Methods: A total of 134 consecutive eligible patients in a family practice entered a longitudinal study. At initial consultation, the individual’s CVR and associated health burden was examined, and preventive measures were recommended by the physician. Self-care behavior, cognitive appraisal of risk, and coping styles were then assessed using psychological questionnaires. Six months after the initial data collection, the frequency of subjects’ self-care behavior was examined. Results: We found an increase in health care behavior after providing information regarding the rate of CVR in both sexes; this increase was greater for women than for men. Women followed self-care guidelines more often than men, particularly for preventive measures and dietary advice. Women were more inclined to recognize their CVR as a challenge. Coping style, cognitive appraisal, age, level of health behaviors at baseline and CVR values accounted for 48% of the variance in adherence to self-care guidelines in women and it was 52% in men. In women, total risk of CVD values were most important, while in men, cognitive appraisal of harm/loss was most important. Conclusions: Different predictors of acquisition of health behavior are encountered in men and women. Our results suggest that gender-adjusted motivation models influencing the recognition process need to be considered to optimize compliance in patients with CVR

The geometry of radial states in nonlinear elliptic problems

In this dissertation we present a geometric approach to the study of nonlinear elliptic problems. In particular, we analyze radial solutions using techniques from dynamical systems. These techniques include a thorough study of the invariant manifolds that arise from the union of the solutions to the elliptic PDE in phase space, as well as computations involving two vector fields which are tangent to the invariant manifolds.Doctor of Philosoph

ABCDE - parempia tunteita ja toimintoja

Kirja-arvostelu: Parempia tunteita : rationaalisen itse-erittelyn opas. Maxie C. Maultsb