Open and Relational Music Makers imagining an open and relational music festival
Imagined Presentations
Open and relational thinkers find God in many forms of music, not just "religious" music. Distinctions between sacred music and secular music, classical music and folk music, art music and popular music are not important to them. It can all be sacred. That will be one of the themes of the forthcoming open and relational music festival, which, for now, is but an idea in my imagination. I'm hoping that, at some point in the future Process and Faith and the Center for Open and Relational Theology will sponsor something like this. It's enjoyable imaging it even now. I can well imagine that one of its features will people people telling stories about their own life in music and how it connects with various themes in open and relational theology. Here are some imagined presentations followed by a rearticulation of them as one-act plays.
"Heavy Metal and the God of Chaos: Finding Divine Power in the Disruption"
A musician shares her journey of discovering how the raw energy and rebellion of heavy metal helped them connect with the dynamic, evolving nature of God in open and relational theology.
"From Dolly to the Divine: Storytelling, Country Music, and God’s Relational Presence"
A Dolly Parton fan discusses the parallels between country music’s focus on resilience and storytelling and God’s presence in life’s emotional and relational struggles.
"Jazz as Theological Improvisation: Co-Creating with the Divine"
A jazz musician reflects on how improvisation in music mirrors the divine invitation to co-create the future, aligning with open and relational theology’s emphasis on freedom and possibility.
"Rock Music and the Primal Divine: Channeling the Energy of Faith"
A rock musician describes how the raw, emotional power of rock music speaks to their understanding of God as a source of vitality and passion.
"Electronic Soundscapes and the Evolving Cosmos: God in Every Beat"
An electronic musician explores how their work with complex, evolving soundscapes mirrors God’s ongoing relationship with the world, inviting listeners to experience divinity in every pulse and beat.
"Rap as Resistance: Speaking Truth through Theology and Music"
A rapper explains how their lyrics, inspired by social justice, reflect a theology where God is present in the fight against oppression, working through human creativity to inspire transformation.
"Classical Interpretation and Divine Co-Creation: God in the Tension between Tradition and Innovation"
A classical pianist shares how performing music offers a glimpse into the tension between order and freedom, much like the relational God who co-creates with the world through transformation and novelty.
"Opera, Emotion, and the Divine Drama: The Soundtrack of God’s Relationship with Humanity"
An opera singer reflects on the grand, emotional scope of opera as an expression of the divine drama, where love, suffering, and hope intertwine with God’s evolving relationship with the world.
"Country Roads and Divine Stories: God in the Everyday Experiences of Life"
A country singer talks about how the narratives of everyday life in country music echo the relational nature of God, inviting people to find the sacred in the mundane.
"Pop Music and the Theology of Connection: Finding God in the Crowd"
A pop singer explores the role of pop music in connecting people and how this reflects the relational aspect of God, who is found in the evolving connections between individuals and communities.
"Taylor Swift and Theological Co-Creation: Songs as Stories of Divine Possibility"
A Swiftie reflects on how Taylor Swift’s songwriting resonates with open and relational theology, where each song becomes a moment of co-creation between human experiences and divine possibilities.
"Bluegrass and the Harmony of Tradition and Innovation: A Musical Theology"
A bluegrass player discusses how their music reflects the balance between honoring tradition and embracing innovation, much like the relational God who invites continuous growth and transformation.
"Folk Music and the Relational God: Stories that Build Community"
A folk singer shares how their music builds communal stories, embodying a God who is always present in the interweaving of human lives and experiences.
"EDM and the Rhythms of the Universe: God as Cosmic Pulse"
An EDM producer discusses how the beats and rhythms of electronic music reflect the cosmic dance of creation, where God’s relational presence unfolds in every moment of sound and silence.
"Punk Rock and the God of Freedom: A Theology of Disruption and Change"
A punk rocker shares how the defiance and radical freedom in punk music echo a theology where God disrupts the status quo and invites new possibilities for change and transformation.
"Gospel and God’s Relational Faithfulness: Singing the Story of Divine Love"
A gospel singer reflects on how their music testifies to God’s ongoing relationship with the world, where every note renews the invitation to faith and divine love.
"R&B and the Theology of Healing: God in the Joy and Pain of Relationships"
An R&B artist speaks about how their music, which weaves together love, heartbreak, and healing, mirrors God’s presence in the relational depth of human experience.
"Karaoke and the Joy of Co-Creation: Singing in God’s Relational Presence"
A karaoke lover talks about how the communal, spontaneous nature of karaoke reflects the relational nature of God, where every voice matters, and each performance becomes a celebration of shared experience.
"Beethoven and the Divine Crescendo: Music as the Story of Becoming"
A Beethoven lover delves into the emotional depth of Beethoven’s music as a reflection of God’s relational dynamics, where struggle and resolution mirror the creative advance of the universe.
"Indie Music and the Theology of Authenticity: God in the DIY Ethos"
An indie music fan explores how the personal, raw nature of indie music aligns with an open and relational theology, where God values authenticity, freedom, and creative vulnerability. These imagined presentations could make for a powerful festival that brings together music, theology, and personal stories in a celebration of diversity, creativity, and relational spirituality.
Parallel Music Skits
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Young Heavy Metal Guitarist
A young guitarist blends the intensity of heavy metal with the dynamism of open and relational theology, using the power of music to explore themes of resistance, creation, and existential meaning. In the crashing riffs, he finds God not in control but in the rebellious energy of life’s unfolding.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Dolly Parton Fan
A young theologian connects Dolly Parton’s lyrics about resilience, love, and faith to the relational vision of God. Inspired by Parton’s storytelling, they see God as walking alongside people, deeply involved in their journeys, offering new possibilities even in hardship.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Jazz Musician
A jazz musician recognizes that his improvisations reflect the improvisations of God’s ongoing creativity in the world. In the spontaneous nature of jazz, he finds a musical analogy for God’s open-ended invitation to co-create the future, embracing both beauty and surprise.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Singer-Songwriter
As a singer-songwriter, she views each song as a creative process—a moment of becoming where human and divine creativity meet. Her music is a way of expressing her faith in a God who invites people to shape their own stories through love and compassion.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Rock Singer
A young rock singer channels the energy of his faith through raw, emotional performances. He sees God as the source of life’s vitality, finding in the primal force of rock music a reflection of the dynamic, relational nature of the divine.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Electronic Musician
A young electronic musician sees his complex, evolving soundscapes as parallel to God’s evolving relationship with the world. In the layers of sound, he hears the interplay of freedom and order, human creativity and divine invitation, where each beat expresses the unfolding nature of life.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Rapper
A young rapper finds power in open and relational theology to express his struggles against injustice. His lyrics become a prayer for a God who is not distant, but present in the fight, inspiring change and transformation through human creativity and collective action.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Classical Pianist
A young classical pianist views each performance as a moment of divine co-creation. She embraces the tension between discipline and freedom, where the act of interpretation becomes a spiritual practice, reflecting God’s presence in the beauty of transformation and novelty.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as an Opera Singer
In the powerful emotions of opera, a young singer finds echoes of a God who feels deeply and responds lovingly. The grand arias become moments of divine expression, where passion, suffering, and hope are intertwined in the shared, evolving story of God and humanity.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Country Singer
A young country singer, rooted in tradition, finds that the narratives of heartbreak, love, and redemption in country music reflect the relational nature of God. In the stories of everyday life, he sees God inviting people to co-author their futures, one song at a time.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Pop Singer
Navigating the world of pop music, a young singer explores the superficiality of fame but also the deeper connections her songs can foster. She begins to understand that her music can be a channel for God’s love, inviting people to reflect on their lives and find meaning in the evolving process of relationships.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Taylor Swift Fan
A young fan finds meaning in Taylor Swift’s heartfelt lyrics, seeing them as a reflection of the relational, evolving nature of God. Through open and relational theology, they interpret each song as a moment of co-creation, where personal stories reflect larger divine possibilities.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Bluegrass Player
A bluegrass musician draws on the harmonies of tradition and innovation, recognizing that his music mirrors God’s creative advance. Each song, whether traditional or newly composed, becomes a way of living in harmony with a God who invites continuous growth and transformation.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a young Folk Singer
A young folk singer finds inspiration in the relational and communal aspects of open and relational theology. Their music becomes a voice for collective experience and shared stories, echoing the relational nature of God, who is always present in the interweaving of lives.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as an EDM Producer
An EDM producer feels the cosmic pulse in his music, where each beat reflects the rhythms of a universe constantly evolving. In the interplay of sound and silence, he discovers an analogy for God’s relational dance with creation, where novelty and connection are key.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Punk Rocker
A punk rocker embraces the radical freedom of open and relational theology, rejecting fixed dogmas and embracing change. His music becomes an anthem for a God who disrupts and invites new possibilities, challenging the status quo and fostering transformation in both society and individuals.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Gospel Singer
A gospel singer, steeped in spiritual tradition, sees their songs as expressions of God’s ongoing relationship with the world. Each performance becomes a moment of testimony, where God’s love is experienced in the rhythms of life, and the invitation to faith is renewed with every note.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as an R&B Artist
An R&B artist weaves together love, heartbreak, and healing, recognizing in open and relational theology a mirror of life’s relational depth. His music becomes a way of exploring God’s presence in the joy and pain of relationships, as each song reflects the ongoing process of growth and becoming.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Karaoke Lover
A karaoke lover finds joy in the communal and spontaneous nature of open and relational theology. Each performance is a celebration of shared experience, where vulnerability and playfulness reflect God’s presence in the moment. Through singing popular songs with others, they experience the relational nature of faith, where every voice matters, and God’s creativity is expressed through the collective harmony of the crowd.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Beethoven Lover
A devoted Beethoven fan finds resonance between the dramatic depth of Beethoven’s music and the relational dynamics of open and relational theology. In the powerful crescendos and delicate pauses, they hear the movement of God, inviting humanity into the creative advance. Beethoven’s symphonies, full of tension and resolution, mirror the emotional complexity of life and faith, where struggle gives birth to beauty. For this listener, each piece is a spiritual journey, reflecting the ongoing process of becoming, where God’s love is present in both the triumphs and the challenges of existence.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as an Indie Music Lover
A fan of indie music, with its authenticity and raw emotional depth, finds a kindred spirit in open and relational theology. The DIY ethos and personal storytelling of indie artists mirror their understanding of God as relational, accessible, and deeply involved in the everyday struggles of life. In the intimate lyrics and unconventional sounds, they hear echoes of a God who values freedom and creativity, embracing the imperfect beauty of human experience. For this indie lover, music is a space where they feel God’s invitation to explore new possibilities, to live authentically, and to co-create a world shaped by love and vulnerability.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as a Progressive Hymn Lover
A progressive hymn lover finds deep spiritual resonance in the inclusive and justice-oriented lyrics of modern hymns. For them, each hymn becomes a space where open and relational theology meets the call for social change, compassion, and environmental care. Singing these hymns, they experience God as a dynamic presence, inspiring both individual transformation and collective action, with music as a vehicle for embodying love, justice, and hope in the evolving journey of faith.
Portrait of an Open and Relational lay theologian as an Avant-Garde Music Lover
An avant-garde music lover finds in experimental and unconventional sounds a reflection of God’s open-ended creativity. They embrace the dissonance, unpredictability, and boundary-pushing nature of avant-garde music as a metaphor for the evolving, relational nature of the divine. For them, God is not confined to traditional forms but is constantly inviting humanity into new, uncharted sonic and spiritual territories where innovation and disruption lead to deeper understanding and connection.
