Poll: A Question to All Church-Going Christians

[Burningsok]

For the short period of time I went to church, I sang... well not really I just mouthed the words. I never really liked singing, it was pointless to me. However I did find it relaxing when the priest would read and explain stories from the bible. It's quite funny because I don't remember the priest saying anything that I would consider extreme. His teachings were simple and easy to understand.

 

[Dfskelleton]

Sometimes. I'm not much of a singer, but some of the songs are good. I sing, but I never get a book. Mostly because I know all the songs by heart because they were taught to me from when I was 4. I go to church to praise God, and singing is probably one of the smaller means of doing so. But, it's still praise to God, so I do it.

 

[Zorg Machine]

Most of the hymns in Sweden aren't very religious and it really does sound great when sung inside a big church. So yeah, I enjoy the occasional hymn on a special occasion.

 

[Thirsk]

First off, I've gotta add that I ain't christian, so my oppinion might not be of interest.

However, I have been in situations where hymns were sung rather often. Last year we had to sing every morning at my school - some of the hymns were christian, others just praising nature, the land or something else.

Whatever the subject was, my enjoyment of singing greatly depends on how good a song it is. There are some absolutely horrid songs in the "Højskolesangbog" (literally "Highschool Songbook") which is a common source of songs for formal occasions here in Denmark, but there are also some very well-written songs, which I enjoy to sing - even though my singing voice is horrible.

 

[Naheal]

I generally don't sing along with the hymns when I'm at church. I'm there for what the pastor has to say, not to sing (poorly).

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Wow, I'm surprised so many people don't like hymns. I have to ask, have those of you who don't like hymns ever heard them done right? Because the typical hymn is in 4 part harmony, and the melody alone is not a good representation of how they're supposed to be done. I love singing hymns when the organist doesn't play alternative harmonies, which makes it impossible to sing the parts actually written in the book.

 

[Evilsanta]

No. When i on a rare ocassion went to church i didnt like em and i didnt sing em.

 

[kjrubberducky]

I have sung a few hymns, like out of a hymnal, but for the most part we use more contemporary music or "updated hymns" and I enjoy singing most of them. I recently attended a Catholic service with my girlfriend at her church, and I can definitely see why people would be turned off by hymns.

Some examples of our church's preferred music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fe-qoF6WV0&feature=av2n
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp7B5V-qpTQ

 

[Gilhelmi]

I love singing, all praise to the Lord is beautiful (I sing like a cat in a dryer, but it is still praise, so the Lord likes it). Although I do enjoy modern Hymns far better than the older ones, if only because I understand all of the words.

I have attended Church of Christ services (they believe that they should only sing praise without instruments) and the congregation singing was so beautiful that I almost wept (one of the rare times I did not join in singing), I went to other Churches of Christ but never heard one as lovely as that church again. I normally attend a regular Christian Church and we use instruments and sing modern hymns.

Alright, before I ask my question I must say that this is not an attack on Christianity or religion. Any argument involving, I don't know, atheism versus religion or whatever is not cool. This is why this thread is not in the Religion/Politics forum as it isn't a debate. If you do decide to troll, you'll make me mildly annoyed. Now onto the question!

I spent a good five years of my life in a pretty good private Christian high school, although I wasn't a Christian nor were most students. You had to go to the chapel about three times a week for a service. During every service we'd have to sing a hymn or two, but I never enjoyed singing hymns because I thought the lyrics were terribly outdated (nobody uses the word suffer that way anymore) and my singing voice is pants. I don't think any of my friends liked to sing them either, even the Christian ones.

So anyway, do you enjoy singing hymns? If so, why? If you don't, why not?
If you don't like them do you mouth the words, keep your mouth closed, or sing anyway?
Are you annoyed by people who don't sing when they're supposed to?
Are these questions annoying? Do annoying things annoy you?

I know your not a Christian, but I do believe your experience would have been better if they let you sing some of the modern hymns. All of them use modern English and are really quite uplifting. I you want PM me and I can point you to some good modern Hymns, So you can compare the two.

My favorite hymn is a classic though, it is Amazing Grace. I know how to sing it 4 different ways (including to the theme song from Gilligan's Island, hehe). One of the few older hymns I still enjoy.

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

Im a christian, however, ever sice I was 16 religion stopped being a big part of my life because some things dont make sense to me anymore.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

I am Christian and do enjoy singing hymns. I even took some voice lessons from a guy from our church, learned a little bit of classical singing stuff. I can't sing them much anymore because for some reason I always tend to lose my voice after a couple songs.

 

[SextusMaximus]

No, I'm 13 and I prefer going to our local 40 minute mass with no hymns, and then an extra 20 minute mass with no hyms.

 

[The Rockerfly]

I never liked singing them because usually the sylables would be out of place with the amount of words however some were so well written I liked singing them regardless of my belief

 

[Picosaurus]

I spent a good five years of my life in a pretty good private Christian high school, although I wasn't a Christian nor were most students. You had to go to the chapel about three times a week for a service. During every service we'd have to sing a hymn or two, but I never enjoyed singing hymns because I thought the lyrics were terribly outdated (nobody uses the word suffer that way anymore) and my singing voice is pants. I don't think any of my friends liked to sing them either, even the Christian ones.

I went to a Christian high school in England a boarding school and we had a service or short service five days of the week. Sundays would have a good hour and twenty minute service and the otherwise would normally be just be a little over a half hour. It was all very high church Anglican and the hymns would range from classics like 'lord of the dance' and 'Jerusalem' to more contemporary hymns like 'shine Jesus shine'.

Overall I can say that the school enjoyed singing hymns especially the really well known ones and every member of the music staff would greatly encourage volume over quality. It was the choir who were the quality control . I greatly enjoyed the hymns and true some wouldn't sing but they did bring the school together a shared experience no matter age or social group. Especially at important times like Christmas, Lent and Easter hymns were popular and enjoyed.

Clearly though it may just be because of the type of people who go to an all boys boarding school in Kent.

 

[sammi43055]

I enjoy singing hymns because I like to sing. I go to church sometimes just so I can sing, but most of the time I am disappointed because we end up singing the worst hymns ever...

 

[Eumersian]

I mostly will try to sing, even though I can't. Sometimes I'll even try to listen to the organ to sing the bass part (far more within my range).

 

[Kasawd]

I'm not a church going Catholic but I went to Catholic elementary and high schools.

Once in a while, we'd be called into the chapel or theater for a mass and I loved singing hymns. Only a few have stuck with me ,though, like "Children of the light".

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I can't sing them much anymore because for some reason I always tend to lose my voice after a couple songs.

Take this from someone who was constantly in one choir or another for 8 years: if you're losing your voice like that, there's something wrong with your technique. Many people don't realize this, but classical technique is good because it's emerged over several centuries as the best way to sing without frying your voice. If you're still in school, see if you can get the chorus director to take a look at what you're doing, because anything that makes you lose your voice that quickly is unhealthy.

 

[Canid117]

I have never attended a church service but I have a terrible singing voice so I can't imagine enjoying it too much. Though the free wine some churches hand out are probably fun for lightweights.