Please read the previous article before trying to make sense out of this one.
Before I get into the trivia, I need to cover an important item I left out of the article. Music which is yoked with the "Christian" label is usually destined to be heard only by the Christian sub-culture. Christian music also has a bad reputation of being a safe haven for second-rate musicians who couldn't otherwise compete with the more professional-sounding mainstream market. In most mainstream department/book/music stores, Christian labels are tucked away in that dark little seldom-seen corner labeled "Spiritual", "Gospel" or "Christian". Unless you're part of the Christian sub-culture, who looks there for music? Granted, Christians need non-worldly music, but, Christian music doesn't usually reach those who could benefit most by it. Much of the trivia listed below should show reasons why Christianity came to be viewed with doubt.
- In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph. It was exhibited at the Chicago World Fair in 1892, and from then on, people could listen to music in their own homes without having to make a special trip, or to pay for a live band.
- earlier 1900s
Movies bring the world to viewers. From this time on, people are exposed to anything that can be filmed. After World War I, the USA adopted an isolationist attitude. A smaller-feeling world means the impact of God's creation is lessened. (You've probably notice that these articles are rather USA-centric. I know Christian music affects more than just my own home. Please bear with me.)
- 1920s
Prohibition! Religious fanatics harden the unchurched against them. Radio comes into use and people can hear the new sounds without even buying a record. Radio made performance-based Christian music a needed ministry, and Gospel music came to fill the void. Gospel music was, as mentioned in the previous article, condemned by traditionalist Christians as Devil-music. Radio also brought news to the people in an instant, and we all know that commonplace happenings aren't really news. It's the outrageous and shocking which makes the news. People start getting depressed at the negative news, forgetting that it's the sensational that reaches publication. The Scopes Monkey Trial didn't help things for the Christians either. The liberals were victorious, and Christianity started a distinct slide from acceptance.
- 1930s
Depression grips the world, and drought grips the lower-midwestern part of the USA (dustbowl -picture Grapes of Wrath) Prohibition ends in 1933. Hitler comes to power in Germany. How could a good God allow such hardship? Trouble is, most of us don't pay God any attention when things are going good.
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