Rock and Roll Testimony: Finding the Sacred in Guitar, Bass and Drums
David Nantais
Thursday, 14 Apr 2011 at 7:00 pm – Sun Room, Memorial Union
Can rock music enrich one's spiritual life? David Nantais, a freelance writer and religion book reviewer for Publishers Weekly, tackles this question. Nantais's writings on such topics as bioethics and the intersection of spirituality and popular culture can be found in print publications like America and online at Busted Halo. He earned an MS In biochemistry from Iowa State University, followed by an MA in philosophy from Loyola University and a Master's in Theological Studies from Weston Jesuit School of Theology. He has played the drums in rock bands in Detroit, Chicago, Ames, and Boston. Msgr. James A. Supple Lecture.Rock music and organized religion have suffered a tense relationship for over sixty years. Rockers accuse religious people of being too rigid and irrelevant. People of faith have labeled rock "the devil's music" and say that nothing good can come of it. But what if both of these groups are wrong? What if rock music can actually aid one's religious faith and spiritual life?
Few styles of music engage the human body as much as rock and roll. From toe tapping to air guitar, listening to rock music, like religious ritual, requires attention to the present moment and can help the listener (or believer) reclaim a sense of identity as a creature of God. In addition, several social causes include both rockers and religious advocates. During some of the most tumultuous times the world has experienced, both groups have given succor and hope to millions. No matter what side of the religion-rock debate you are on, this presentation will invite you to bury the hatchet (or pick up your axe!) and start rocking your religion!
Cosponsored By:
- American Martyrs Retreat Center
- Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Catholic Student Community
- St. Thomas Aquinas Church & Catholic Student Cente
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
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