Something to explore and discuss...

[cilla4progress]

Attended a small music show last evening, in a ski resort lodge in our small town.

Two things happened at the same time, which may or may not be connected, of which I am suspicious, and which prompt this post.

For the 1st time, only those over age 21 were allowed in the restaurant part of the lodge where the music was being performed. This is where the alcohol (beer and wine only) were being served and ordered up by servers, although attendees could take their drinks over to the other side of the lodge, where minors were allowed, which was open, further from the music, but where it could still be heard and observed from a distance.

The performers were clearly a new generation of religious music band - folkie; every song centered on Jesus or preacher-man...references clearly to religion and specifically Christianity. Our daughter (age 20 1/2 - we complained about the new age cutoff and got special permission from the owner to stay on restaurant side...new rule was entirely arbitrary, not law-based, and explained to me by a manager I complained to as receiving "positive feedback" from many to keep kids away from the alcohol...) googled the band to see if our ears were lying or not and found info indicating a member or members having gone on missions. I am presuming they are Mormon, given our location and population here.

So the 2 things together are: religious music (even if clothed in a current style of folkiness) and new rule separating alcohol from kids. By the way, as young children came in and started enjoying the music, rule failed to be enforced. I believe it is the management, not the owner, which may be becoming majority Mormon run, like some of our other institutions around here.

But here is the question: why is it I (and I'm assuming some of you) am NOT offended when Muddy Waters, BB King, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, other blues artists and musicians reference Jesus, religion, God, etc., in their music, but AM offended in a band like this? It feels like something about the preachiness of it. The authenticity, as well. It feels like (and I'm no doubt making some unfair assumptions here) people like these band members, or other hyper-religious or pushy people think you are either Christian, and thereby pure, or a loser or wastrel. Maybe it's the conjunction of the new 21 and over only rule with the type of music that pissed me off.

I am so sick of being prodded and pushed and having their brand of Christianity forced down my throat in my conservative area! It's as if they have a monopoly on goodness and morality. I would like to see "don't ask don't tell" applied to the extremely religious - go back in the closet where you were in the 60s-80s when I was coming to adulthood. Everyone else is welcome to come out!