Working out how race factors in in this particular question I'm thinking about - details inside. [more inside]
posted by mermily on Apr 20, 2013 - 15 answers

New York City MeFi: As a Canadian, I've watched a lot of American media. And from this media, I've become really interested in attending a (stereotypical) "American black church" service. It's stuck out to me as something really unique, something very Americana, and I would really like to be a part of it, at least once. (As for what I mean exactly by "stereotypical American black church", I'm don't quite know the precise words -- black gospel? Southern? Baptist? Additionally - if possible, I would love to witness the "whooping" style of preaching.) [more inside]
posted by demagogue on Jun 27, 2011 - 25 answers

ScriptureFilter: I recall there being a passage in one of the gospels which states quite clearly and unambiguously that building and attending physical churches was not the proper way to worship. I believe it also said something about the only true church being the one we build in our hearts. I have been looking for this passage for the past few days and have been unable to find it. Did I imagine it? [more inside]
posted by 256 on Jun 9, 2011 - 22 answers

Help me remember this folk/bluegrass/gospel song! [more inside]
posted by wabashbdw on Mar 10, 2009 - 3 answers

Growing up a white boy in a white Oklahoma church, we always had some small influence of the Gospel tradition, but always sanitized for the white tradition of our past. But when I listen to the old Black spirituals, it affects me like nothing in the Baptist church I grew up with: a sense of the spiritual and the passion that I never felt in my choirs. But where should I start to learn the basics?
posted by fishmasta on Nov 24, 2007 - 16 answers