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Switching off church music in ChinaChina Rants

www.guardian.co.ukThe country's government has let it be known that western classical and religious music is no longer acceptable. Why?

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nstanosheck
Submitted by nstanosheck
3 years 16 weeks ago Made popular 3 years 16 weeks ago
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8 Comments

Chinamatt
Chinamatt 3 years 16 weeks ago

Still doesn't prevent shops from playing Christmas music all year round.

nstanosheck
nstanosheck 3 years 16 weeks ago

Yeah, but much of "Christmas" music is secular, not religious.

尼克/Nik
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Ryan
Ryan 3 years 16 weeks ago

Christmas music by its very nature would have to be religious, no? I mean, for many North Americans and Europeans Christmas is just something that comes once a year - but there's no mistaking it is a religious holiday. So, regardless on whether or not the message of the song is religious, can you have a Christmas song that isn't religious?

nstanosheck
nstanosheck 3 years 16 weeks ago

"Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman" quickly come to mind. These have nothing to do with the birthday of Jesus Christ. Many non-Christians celebrate Christmas simply as a secular holiday, and as such, it really has become 2 different holidays, just both having the same name, same date, and same name!

尼克/Nik
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Ryan
Ryan 3 years 16 weeks ago

True. Christmas is sort of unique in that I guess. I can't argue with it as I'm not a Christian, but celebrate Christmas. I was, however, baptized Christian and grew up in a largely Christian country. So culture mixes with religion, and it's hard to pull those two things apart.

However, the fact that Christmas is celebrated as a secular holiday in China (sort of on par with Valentine's Day or Halloween) you've got a solid point.

This isn't to say Christmas music should be played in August though.

nstanosheck
nstanosheck 3 years 16 weeks ago

Good point Ryan, Hallowe'en and St Valentine's Day both started as western religious holidays of the Roman Catholic Church and have become somewhat different secular holidays now.

尼克/Nik
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Alex
Alex 3 years 16 weeks ago

Article cites no sources while the implications seem ridiculous at best. No violin players, no piano players, no Western classical music taught in universities and schools? None of these issues tackled in the story.

A very odd story indeed and a vote down from me.

Ryan
Ryan 3 years 16 weeks ago

@Alex: Check out Richard Spencer's article for more info. Also, did a piece on it at Lost Laowai.

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