And there's that "Live" song, Heaven. It used to make me think of William James, but now it makes me think of Jacobi. Erin TO ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Stone To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2005 11:21 AM Subject: [lit-ideas] Religious Music >A.A. Religion could be fun if it weren't so deadly serious. On the other >hand, if it were fun, it wouldn't be religion. I saw a segment on CNN >where rappers were doing religion and it drew inner city kids by the >hundreds (Detroit?). How many people aren't aghast at that idea? Even >there, it isn't the religion that was the draw, it was the loud music and >party atmosphere. In the mid '80s there was a heavy metal group called "Stryper". Stryper stands for Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement and Righteousness. The Isaiah 53:5 under their logo refers to a bible verse "by His stripes we are healed". They wore yellow and black striped spandex (like wasps/bees) and had one radio hit with "Soldiers Under Command". Their first album was called "the yellow and black attack". Here are the lyrics: Soldiers Under Command [Verse 1] We are the soldiers under God's command We hold His two-edged sword within our hands We're not ashamed to stand up for what's right We win without sin, it's not by our might And we're fighting all the sin And the good book -- it says we'll win! [Chorus] Soldiers, Soldiers, under command Soldiers, Soldiers, fighting the Lords battle plan [Verse 2] Are you a soldier under God's command Help fight the good fight, join us while you can The battle that's waiting is fought so easily Through Him, without sin there is victory And were fighting all the sin And the good book -- it says we'll win! [Repeat Chorus] Now... sung along to screeching guitars and amped up drums, this was a pretty catchy tune for 18 year old males in the midst of the power guitar, glam rock '80s. And... all of us dirty pagan teens who apparently [according to the PMRC etc.] listened to 'the devil's music' proudly sang out "soldiers.... soo ooo oooldiers, fighting the LOooooooord's Battle Plan" every time the chorus came up. We didn't really care what we were singing, but maybe the message got through to some. The brothers Sweet (founding members) are STILL together preaching (in their own inimitable way) the good word and their band has announced a new studio album for 2005. If you ask me... they are definitely doing something to reach out to youth in a positive and yet 'relatable' manner. We HAD shirts that had the bible verse mentioned on it. As a kid, the thing that turned me off specifically about Christianity (other than the fairy tales) was the method of delivery. The "sermon" is just too stone boring to appeal to anyone [under 30] who lives in today's fast-paced society. Surely, the juxtaposition of RAP and religion is better than a lot of the gangsta rap out there. Perhaps some people are just trying to do anything they can to 'reach' people. On that note, there was another tune, by another metal band (Iron Maiden) right around the same time called "Reach Out". Iron Maiden - Reach Out ======================= It's over your head And you don't seem to understand One word I say And you can't live your life Trying to run away You're fighting your friends You're wearing everybody out But it never ends You're wearing me out (chorus) Come on Reach out And let somebody into your life Don't get me wrong You always apologize It's just your way Of making a scene You need to be loved It's not such a crime (repeat chorus) Over your head You just don't seem to understand One word I say And you can't live your life You got so much love It's burning inside No mention of God... no commandments, but preaching a "positive" message all the same. Proud Metal-Head of yore, P ########## Paul Stone pas@xxxxxxxx Kingsville, ON, Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html