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Madelyn Campbell's avatar

In Judaism (the faith I was born into) all prayers are sung. And when we read Torah or Haftorah out loud in synagogue, it is also sung. And so I am thinking of how God created all of creation by speaking it into being. And when this is read in synagogue it is sung.

I think that when we sing we are creating in a sense. We are not only sending the words out into the world, but the melody as well. And this gets internalized--it's a big way that we learn. For example, when I get lost in alphabetical order, I sing the alphabet song in my head. I don't just say the letters, I sing them. It's internalized that way.

So when we're learning theology, when we're singing our theology, that's how we're focusing our minds. We aren't literally able to sing something into being, but by internalizing it, it informs how we act and interact in the world. This is why I will not put hymns with bad theology in the services I lead. I'll use hymns I don't particularly care for myself as long as the theology is good. But there's no way I'll use a hymn with bad theology because I don't want folks to internalize that and carry it into the world.

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Rev. Fred L Hammond's avatar

“songs are spells” Yes of course they are! Spells in the traditional ‘witchy’ sense change or transform a person or situation, right? When we sing together there are physiological changes in the body and when sung together — the group. It is a known fact— I’m sure we all know this already but naming it here is to bring it to mind—- that singing releases endorphins that increase feelings of connection and bonding. That hormone Oxytocin creates bonds between parent and child — it also does the same with others. There are other endorphins that are released that are mood uplifting.

The most effective “spells” I’ve personally found resonating with folks in my congregation are songs by Elizabeth Norton and Lea Morris. I’ve noticed a physical shift after the congregation sings their pieces. I’m not saying that other composers don’t engender this shift they can and do, but these stand out to me.

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