Gotta agree with Joe!

When you consider that some of the world's most glorious music is religion-based (Handel, Bach, Mozart, ye gods, the whole pantheon of composers!), the idea that music and religion are inimical to each other is ridiculous on the face of it. Music is a major part of every religious event or rite that I have ever attended, and many churches of my acquaintance have children's choruses and/or special musical events for and with children in the congregation.

Throughout its history, singing (chanting) has been an integral part of the Christian church, as it always has in the Jewish religion. True, in medieval times, the use of musical instruments in churches was discouraged, but that got quickly rescinded and rare is the church that isn't equipped with an organ, some of which are downright monstrous (some of the huge cathedral organs in Europe).

So the idea that "Religion denies music to children" is simply not true. Some religious groups, yes. But very few in comparison to denominations in which music is an integral part of worship.

The thread title is misleading in that it's simply not true. "Religion" does not deny music to anyone. In the main, it supports and promotes it (Who paid Bach's salary all those years?)

And some folks here are being downright disingenuous.

Don Firth

P. S. Same holds for the graphic arts. Islam forbids the depiction of Mohammed in paintings or drawings. But think of the thousands, if not millions, of paintings and statues of Jesus and other religious figures (saints, martyrs, etc.) turned out by Renaissance artists. And how many statues of the Buddha are there out there?