Friday Five: We Who Sing Pray Twice

Music is a part of the human experience, and part of religious traditions the world over. It is evocative and stirring, and many forms of worship are incomplete without it.

Our title comes from a quote popularly attributed to St. Augustine: "He who sings prays twice." A little Googling, however, indicates that Augustine didn't say exactly that. In fact, what he said just doesn't fit well onto a t-shirt. So we'll stick with what we have.

"Singing reduces stress and increases healthy breathing and emotional expression. Singing taps into a deep, age-old power available to all of us. When we find our voice, we find ourselves. Today, sing like you mean it." And let's talk about the role music plays in your life and worship.

1) Do you like to sing/listen to others sing? In worship, or on your own (or not at all?)
2) Did you grow up with music in worship, or come to it later in life? Tell us about it, and how that has changed in your experience.
3) Some people find worship incomplete without music; others would just as soon not have it. Where do you fall?
4) Do you prefer traditional music in worship, or contemporary? That can mean many different things!
5) What's your go-to music ... when you need solace or want to express joy? A video/recording will garner bonus points!

If you play, tell us in the comments and add a link so we can come to sing along! Use this formulation: <a href="the url of your blog post goes here">what you want the link to say goes here</a>
For a complete how-to, click here.


SING badge and quote on singing from The Green Children Foundation blog