Fundamentalist Christian

Image shows podcast cover with text: Music and the Church with Sarah Bereza. At sarah-bereza.com

Showing Off or Glorifying God? Musical Virtuosity in Fundamentalist Christianity, on Music and the Church Ep. 19

Should you play or sing virtuosic music in church?  Many fundamentalist Christians don’t think so. This week’s episode is the second in our series on musical virtuosity. Last week, Joshua Kalin Busman discussed how evangelical musicians might tone down the difficulty of their music—balancing their churches’ need for musical “amateurism” with the reality the “amateurish” …

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Writing Process: Book Progress

Since the summer, I’ve had a book outline up on the wall in my son’s bedroom. Little snips of index cards, stuck to the wall with blue painter’s tape. I often think about this book project (it’s one of two I’m working on—this one is based in my doctoral research on music in fundamentalist Christianity). …

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Fundamentalist Christianity’s Philosophical Roots: An Infographic

Growing up in independent, fundamental Baptist churches, I couldn’t figure out why things made sense to the people in charge. Why did the preacher think his explanation of a biblical text made sense? Why did fundamentalist authors say their conclusions were obvious from a bunch of (random to me) “facts”? Didn’t they realize how illogical …

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Composer Profile: Brian Büda

During my doctoral research, I interviewed many composers of church music. This week, I’m delighted to feature music by several of the people I interviewed: Faye Lopez, Molly Ijames, and Brian Büda! 

Composer Profile: Molly Ijames

During my doctoral research, I interviewed many composers of church music. This week, I’m delighted to feature music by several of the people I interviewed: Faye Lopez, Molly Ijames, and Brian Büda! If you’d like to read more about my research, click here! 

Composer Profile: Faye Lopez

During my doctoral research, I interviewed many composers of church music. This week, I’m delighted to feature music by several of the people I interviewed: Faye Lopez, Molly Ijames, and Brian Büda!  If you’d like to read more about my research, click here! 

The Right Kind of Music: Should Church Services Include Classical Music?

This is the last post in my series about puzzling things in my doctoral research on fundamentalist Christianity. Read the others here: Can Hymns Be Prayers?, Why May Women Sing If They May Not Preach?, and Musical Form in Piano Hymn Arrangements. When fundamentalist authors and musicians describe the elements of good music, they list attributes …

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