Public school controversy over singing Muslim worship song.

[Coito ergo sum]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... Allah.html

Christian student quits school choir in protest at song 'praising Allah'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1n294SI8g

I think I would quit because the song is disturbing.

[apophenia]

As noted, both particular songs and the choir itself are voluntary, so the young man is simply trying to draw attention to himself. I'm not sure what pedagogic purpose is served by singing multicultural religious songs, but the director seems to think there is some. Having worshipped at a Unitarian Universalist church, where singing the hymns made me feel like I was being brain washed, I'm inclined toward putting religious music (with religious lyrical content) in the same category as prayer and have it be off limits. However, I doubt you would find support uniformly against religious music from all religions, and namely from Christianity, so it reveals once again, the religious double standard.

I don't find the song disturbing so much as dull, monotonous and grating. I believe my musical education started in the fourth grade. Each Friday, it would be student choice day, and in order, people would get to pick a song they wanted to hear. Whenever it came my time to pick, everybody groaned, because I always picked African drum music. They hated it.

[Jesus_of_Nazareth]

But next week it will be compulsory to sing the song when at a Council Meeting.

Anyone can walk out - but they risk getting killed.

FACT.

[laklak]

I'm fine with them singing religious songs, as long as they also sing songs important to me, like The Timewarp and The Horst-Wessel-Lied

[eXcommunicate]

I see no reason to prohibit the singing of religious music, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, even in a public school choir. As Dawkins himself has said, our culture has a religious heritage and it is right to learn about it. In choir you learn about vocal music and how to sing. Religiously-themed music is a huge part of our musical heritage. Likewise, where is the harm in learning the musical heritage of another culture? This whole "controversy" is rather silly.

As an aside, I find it hilarious that the Daily Wail's website is just crawling with American fundamentalists.

[apophenia]

The difference, I think, is between studying something that is a part of religious ritual and performing the ritual itself. Song isn't an entirely rational practice and there is room for undue influence, usually in favor of the particular religion. I personally love religious music, but having it practiced in schools leaves me uncomfortable. We wouldn't endorse a class in comparative praying, or incense swinging rituals of the world wherein all that is done, mainly, is performing the ritual. I have no objection to teaching appreciation of religious music, but performing it walks a fine line, especially given how little we know about the effect on the brain of this form of ritual.

[Coito ergo sum]

As noted, both particular songs and the choir itself are voluntary, so the young man is simply trying to draw attention to himself. I'm not sure what pedagogic purpose is served by singing multicultural religious songs, but the director seems to think there is some. Having worshipped at a Unitarian Universalist church, where singing the hymns made me feel like I was being brain washed, I'm inclined toward putting religious music (with religious lyrical content) in the same category as prayer and have it be off limits. However, I doubt you would find support uniformly against religious music from all religions, and namely from Christianity, so it reveals once again, the religious double standard.

What would be your view if the song was "Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching As to War?"

I don't find the song disturbing so much as dull, monotonous and grating. I believe my musical education started in the fourth grade. Each Friday, it would be student choice day, and in order, people would get to pick a song they wanted to hear. Whenever it came my time to pick, everybody groaned, because I always picked African drum music. They hated it.

I find it disturbing. It sounds like it would have fit in perfectly with the Lord of the Rings - any scene when the orcs are marching or preparing to do battle against the forces of good.

[Coito ergo sum]

I see no reason to prohibit the singing of religious music, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, even in a public school choir. As Dawkins himself has said, our culture has a religious heritage and it is right to learn about it. In choir you learn about vocal music and how to sing. Religiously-themed music is a huge part of our musical heritage. Likewise, where is the harm in learning the musical heritage of another culture? This whole "controversy" is rather silly.

As an aside, I find it hilarious that the Daily Wail's website is just crawling with American fundamentalists.

The problem with that, is that if this Muslim song declaring that Allah is the only God and all others are to be destroyed, etc., is that it will be considered license for school boards throughout the Bible belt to include fundamentalist Christian hymns from the local church concordance to be sung in school Why not? it's our religious heritage.

[charlou]

I've been noticing an increasingly multicultural mix in the small city I live in .. I like it.

The supermarket where I work played wall to wall christian songs over the two weeks leading up to december 25 ... and it occurred to me, while noticing the many, varied people going about their business of shopping, how very arrogant and insensitive it is to play such overtly value laden and monotonously themed religious music in a supermarket where everyone shops. The music belongs in the churches, along with prayers and other rituals of belief. I talked with the manager about it and to my surprise (and gratitude), he turned the thing off.

I've noticed a distinct slant to the music the supermarket chooses to play, in general. While it's not usually as obvious as the christian christmas songs, there is a conservative theme of "good christian values and morality" woven among them. Ick.

[Coito ergo sum]

I'm torn between "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and the song, Fikr, in the OP. They are both so emblematic of the cultures from which they arise... which to choose, which to choose....

[klr]

But next week it will be compulsory to sing the song when at a Council Meeting.

Anyone can walk out - but they risk getting killed.

FACT.

My first reaction as well.

Not so clever now, are we Mr. Pickles?

[Animavore]

I like it. It has a nice vibe. Not disturbing at all. I can imagine them dancing to that around a fire in loose silk clothing.

MUCH better than those sexless, soul-less, stiff, timid and droning songs I had to endure in Mass.

ETA - Oh yeah! Just hit 3:20. Lovin' these beats. It really elevates you. It's like Irish music in some ways.

I guess you tight-arsed white folk wouldn't understand.

[eXcommunicate]

I see no reason to prohibit the singing of religious music, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, even in a public school choir. As Dawkins himself has said, our culture has a religious heritage and it is right to learn about it. In choir you learn about vocal music and how to sing. Religiously-themed music is a huge part of our musical heritage. Likewise, where is the harm in learning the musical heritage of another culture? This whole "controversy" is rather silly.

As an aside, I find it hilarious that the Daily Wail's website is just crawling with American fundamentalists.

The problem with that, is that if this Muslim song declaring that Allah is the only God and all others are to be destroyed, etc., is that it will be considered license for school boards throughout the Bible belt to include fundamentalist Christian hymns from the local church concordance to be sung in school Why not? it's our religious heritage.

Religious music is a part of our heritage as a nation, and many nations. So are unions, Marxism, and any number of things. If the majority of the choir's repertoire was Islamic, or Christian, or religious, then I would have a problem with it, but this is not the case. You will never have a comprehensive musical education, especially choral, without performing some religiously-themed music. I couldn't imagine you objecting to the school orchestra performing Beethoven's Ode to Joy or the concert band playing Holsinger's Ballet Sacra. If you do, then we have zero common ground here.

[Animavore]

I see no reason to prohibit the singing of religious music, Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, even in a public school choir. As Dawkins himself has said, our culture has a religious heritage and it is right to learn about it. In choir you learn about vocal music and how to sing. Religiously-themed music is a huge part of our musical heritage. Likewise, where is the harm in learning the musical heritage of another culture? This whole "controversy" is rather silly.

As an aside, I find it hilarious that the Daily Wail's website is just crawling with American fundamentalists.

The problem with that, is that if this Muslim song declaring that Allah is the only God and all others are to be destroyed, etc., is that it will be considered license for school boards throughout the Bible belt to include fundamentalist Christian hymns from the local church concordance to be sung in school Why not? it's our religious heritage.

Where are you getting this from? I see nothing in the article which suggests the lyrics contain anything suggesting destroying other gods/religions. Coupled with the fact you somehow get the images of Orcs marching, about to invade, while I'm picking up something quite different, quite the opposite in fact, I suspect you are hearing what you want to hear. You do realise the composer is this guy?

[Animavore]

Here's the lyrics.

http://www.lyricsvip.com/A.-R.-Rahman/Zikr-Lyrics.html

Here's the only lyric even close to what you're saying.

Allaah is the only One who is eternal and immortal and rest are perishable and will be destroyed by Allaah

Seems to me, in context, to be about God being the only thing that lasts (unlike, say, family, friends, love, looks, wealth, fame or glory).

ETA: Zikr = http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhikr