Would this be ok? (Jesus, ritual, morals, Creator, Earth)

[des]

Well that depends. You say yourself you are opposed to any music.
I think that Christianity has many "sides" and some Christians would not at all be opposed to this drum. I doubt I am too much Christian anymore but when I was music was probably the most important thing in celebration. We know how essential the music of black Americans has been. The Spirituals were a form of "native" African music translated to Christianity.

Think of these things in a different way and you could see that it would be meaningful:
I am not Native (that's what the kids say at school-- "I'm Native", so excuse if this is a regional thing or something), but the drum to me is a powerful thing: the drum as heartbeat, the drum as a "caller", the drum as bringing together of voices; the drum as the most bass voice. You translate this all to Christianity-- Christ as the heartbeat of the world, Christ as the "caller", etc. etc.

I think the neighbors, etc. lacked spiritual imagination that this was a controversial thing. Is there something inherently "Christian" about organ music?

BTW, the idea that "we need salvation and a savior" (in the typical sense that people think) is NOT universally shared by all Christians, in the sense that not everybody believes in original sin. This is a common belief, but not one that every single Christian believes. I think that Christianity is a lot more diverse than it is given credit for, largely due to the vocalness of a part of the church that this is what everyone is supposed to believe. (BTw, my reason for not thinking I am much of a Christian is because I am agnostic. It has nothing to do with my views on original sin.)

--des

Originally Posted by smoky*mountain*starlight

Yes, that's why I don't think one could successfully mix Christianity with Native American indigenous religions. I believe you could use the drum outside of your worship to the Christian God, but not actually in the church...