General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Should it be against the law, in the United States, to blaspheme or "insult a Deity"? [View all]guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Or a lot of music in English for that matter. But traditional music sounds similar in Canada and here. Much of traditional/country music reflects the reality of being poor and working brutally hard. Religion, with the message of equality and eventual reward, is a way of coping with that type of hard life.
In our area, the choice was farming, working at a paper mill, or working at a sawmill. Very similar to life in your current area, and the Appalachian mountains extend north into Canada where they become the Laurentians. Similar looking country, but we had a lot more winter. Church was a social gathering as well as an affirmation of belief/ faith.
I played music in a southern style church in Indiana while in school. That is where I learned to like southern gospel music.
That is only my personal feeling on why religion WORKS for many people.
I am glad DU is/was a lifeline for you. I truly like the discussion here. (99% of the time)
P.S. I do not play banjo. Just guitar, bass guitar, mandolin and uke. And I have all my teeth.