The Brain, Music, and the Church

8/12/2019 The Brain, Music, and the Church

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Dent 1Emory Dent

Cosmin Ritivoiu

English 101

18 October 2013

The Brain, Music, and the Church

Like a dark, enveloping storm cloud, poised to release

yet another havoc-educing lightening strike, the

controversial subject of musical style and methodology in

Christianity seems ever-present. How to worship in song

collectively and publically, promoting unity and Biblical

soundness, while trying to please as many as possible, has

proved to be a rather daunting task. Sermons have been

preached, seminars have been televised, and articles have

been published by means to shed light upon this shady area.

Ultimately, however, these attempts seem to produce little

benefit when faced with personal experience and

evangelistic efforts, for as long as God is being portrayed

to those involved, the musical method seems valid. Thus,

another way must be analyzed.

In light of scientific study, this paper seeks to

portray how music in a Christian liturgical setting should

be conducted, by means of promoting optimum brain function.

With the possession of a brain being a mutual facet of

every believer, the research compiled here will be a


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Dent 2database of principles for all in search of a deeper, more

unified liturgical experience through music, one that

follows the guidelines God has placed in the minds of all.

These principles include: the paradigmatic balance between

emotional and intellectual enjoyment, spiritual and carnal

mindedness, and proper frontal lobe, limbic, and

hypothalamus function. To begin, the brain, its functions,

and reactions will be discussed, as well as how music is

processed when a brain is exposed to its incoming

stimulation.

On September 13, 1848, a horrific accident took place

near Cavendish, Vermont, which few could consider

profitable for quite some time (Fleischman, 1). However, as

the greatest scientists and physicians of the day went to

work, in search of an explanation to its intriguing

outcome, the incident produced revolutionary discoveries

concerning brain science and function. Phineas Gage, a

foreman on a railroad construction site, was good with

his hands, and good with his men, possessing an iron will

as well as an iron frame (Fleischman, 1). After a tamping

rod, used to pack blasting holes in preparation for

explosions, was rocketed through his frontal cortex, Gage,

though still a fully functioning human after some much-

needed first aid and recovery, underwent a drastic change:


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Dent 3Phineas is just not his old self. His old employers on

the railroad quickly come to the same conclusion. The

new Phineas is unreliable and, at times, downright

nasty. He insults old workmates and friends. He spouts

vulgar language in the presence of women. He changes

his mind and his orders from minute to minute.

(Fleischman, 20).

Closely observing his patient, the doctor who dressed

Gages wounds, Dr. John Martyn Harlow, noticed these

clashing characteristics with the Gage he formally knew.

With the aid of Henry J. Bigelow, professor of surgery at

Harvard Medical College, and many other scientists and

physicians, research concerning Phineas Gage aided

immensely in the establishment of the sound neurological

principles upheld today.

Though the irons blow was eventually fatal in Gages

case, its impact in the scientific realm of today is

undeniable. Students of neurology or psychology study his

case because it illustrates how the lobes of the frontal

cortex-the two halves of your brain that meet in your

forehead-are the seat of executive functions. Those are

your abilities to predict, to decide, and to interact

socially (Fleischman, 65). Housed in the cranial mass

behind your forehead, the frontal lobe determines and


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Dent 4expresses onespersonality and character traits, thus

making an individual who they are: To act human, you mix

emotions, actions, routines, customs, manners, words, and

expressions in a predictable way. Thats what Phineas seems

to have lost (Fleischman, 63). When Gage lost the self-

control and discernment needed to mix these vital

components, he could no longer express the character and

personality he once possessed: The case of Phineas Gage

suggests that we are human because our frontal lobes are

set up so we can get along with other humans. We are hard

wired to be sociable. When we loose that ability,we end

up like Phineas. His closest companion was an iron rod

(Fleischman, 70). By his degrading remarks toward co-

workers and on-lookers, Gage was undoubtedly being

sociable; however, he could not express himself in a

logical way, because the iron tamping rod had created a

chasm between his social potential and his ability to

practically express it.

In light of Gages frontal lobotomy, the placement of

this crucial lobe in our thinking process is worth

discussing. Scripturally, two different patterns of thought

can be identified in the book of Romans: For to be

carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is

life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against


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Dent 5God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither

indeed can be (Rom.8:6-7). Diving into the Greek, this

carnal mind possesses the adjective Sarx, which relates

to the fleshy, sensual nature of man (Lexicon, G4561). This

description denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature

of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to

sin and opposed to God (Lexicon, G4561) On the contrary,

the spiritual mind Paul is speaking of is described with

the word Pneuma, that is, pertaining to the Spirit

(Lexicon, G4151). This spiritual mind is the disposition

or influence which fills and governs the soul of any

onethe rational spirit, the power by which the human being

feels, thinks, decides (Lexicon, G4151).

Expounded upon by Pastor Leroy Moore, this passage

serves to demonstrate and contrast proper, Godly frontal

lobe function, and the lack thereof. Spiritual mindedness

allows for the frontal lobe to decipher the inflow of

information through our senses first, allowing it to act as

the control center of the thoughts and actions. Then, after

a conscious decision has been made, the responsive and

emotional zones of the brain act according to what the

frontal lobe has instructed, in light of sound discernment.

Carnal mindedness, on the other hand, directs sensory

information to be discerned first by the Limbic System, the


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Dent 6brains emotional center.Thus, any judgment made or action

performed has been adapted to produce the highest amount of

emotional pleasure, in order to bring the most desirable

emotional response (Moore). Through the degradation of a

spiritual to a carnal mind, Gods original andideal plan

is twisted; the controlled becomes the controller, the

lower nature rules the higher, and the emotions reign

supreme, as in the case of Phineas. Becoming a physical

manifestation of this spiritual state of carnal mindedness,

Gages condition isnt, however, only caused by a severe

injury. As discussed in the next section, musical input

into the brain possesses the same degrading potential, if

utilized outside of our Creators guidelines.

Scripturally, the carnal mind is obviously something

to be avoided, but scientific and psychological findings

uphold this principle as well. In 2007, a group of Italian

scientists representing the Institute of Neurology and the

Don C. Gnocchi Foundation embarked upon an experiment to

test the claims and capabilities of music:

It has been reported that music may have physiological

effects on blood pressure, cardiac heartbeat,

respiration, and improve mood state in people affected

by anxiety, depression and other psychiatric

disorders. However, the physiological bases of these


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Dent 7phenomena are not clear. (Angelucci, Ricci, Padua,

Sabino, & Tonali, abstract)

Pursuing to clarify theses claims in particular, these

neurologists focused their studies on a specific region of

the brain, called the hypothalamus, for answers. Serving as

the area of the brain that produces hormones that control

body temperature, hunger, moods, sex drive, sleep, [and]

thirst (PubMed), the hypothalamus is also involved in the

regulation of body homeostasis and in the pathophysiology

of anxiety and depression (Abstract), thus a vital

component in the endocrine system. With this control center

of the bodysemotional and physical balance playing such a

key role in oneswell being, the scientists exposed their

rodent test subjects to monitored levels of musical

stimulation, and later sacrificed and dissected their

brains to inspect the various hypothalami. In their

recorded results, the neurologists explain that, due to the

musical input in the lives of the selected mice, the

production of several different protein complexes

(neurotrophins), each playing a vital part in the function

of the hypothalamus, experienced either a drastic increase

or a significant depletion. Thus, their findings also

suggest that [the] physiological effects of music might be

in part mediated by [the] modulation of neurotrophins


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Dent 8(Angelucci, Ricci, Padua, Sabino, & Tonali, abstract) as

well.

This scientific premise relates to the carnal and

spiritual mind comparison in that, in light of our bodys

desire to maintain a balanced and emotionally-controlled

existence, certain aspects of music can cause the carnal

mind to demonstrate its effects. When homeostasis is swayed

to one side or the other, the limbic systems acts as if it

needs to fight back, taking control and possessing dominion

over the thinking process in light of the degradation.

Truly, the limbic and endocrine systems do need to issue

this response; for without it, the incoming strain would

degrade biological functions at full force, uninhibited.

Yet, the act of unnecessarily stressing these reactions to

gain hormonal stimulation, despite our bodys ability to

adapt, proves to be far more detrimental than the listener

may perceive.

A vital aspect in any liturgical experience, music

plays a crucial role in effecting the brain. For many

individuals, a musical experience consists of simply

listening to songs most favorable and enjoyable in light of

their personality and life experiences. As these two

aspects change in an individuals life, music is adapted to


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Dent 9fit their desires. However, a very different approach to

music appreciation is proposed in the following article:

The ability to listen to music rather than merely to

hear it is not, as such, a natural capacity, but one

that has to be acquired and developed by active,

continual, and highly pleasurable observation. The

power to cultivate this listening skill varies as does

any other human accomplishment, but no cultivation is

possible without guidance. (Discovering Music v)

Musical appreciation isnt constructed overnight, not is it

natural to our human capacities and capabilities. Instead,

it is something that develops from cultivation, involving

physical and mental effort, just as one would care and tend

for a garden. Spiritually speaking, this principle stands

valid as well. No appreciation for Godly music is possibly

obtained without Divine guidance, just as no earthly music

appreciation can grow without Satans orchestration.

Carnal music is appreciated by carnal minds, while

spiritual music is esteemed by spiritual minds. Thus, just

as a process must ensue for a carnally minded individual to

obtain a spiritual cranial implant, the musical

appreciation of this carnal nature must be gradually

replaced, as well, with the values and tendencies of a

spiritually musical mind. To further clarify, to appreciate


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Dent 10is to recognize the full worth of something or someone

(Oxford). A daily-occurring battle between good and evil is

constantly taking place, each side desiring the worth of

their ways and mentalities to be fully recognized and

followed.

Two prominent, powerful factors of musical enjoyment

can be harnessed and utilized by each side in this

controversy. Emotional and intellectual enjoyment stand as

the two factors discussed, and can be either detrimental or

beneficial to the listener. Any imbalance or lack of

temperance in one or the other can be harmful to the

harmonious, balanced development in both ones musical

appreciation and spiritual walk. Discovering Music further

clarifies this concern:

unless it [music] provides us with a sense of

enjoyment it will be of very little value to the

listener. There are, of course, various ways of

enjoying music, just as there are of enjoying life. We

may approach it through the senses, in the manner of

those who seem to feel that sensual enjoyment in the

great end of all existenceOn the other hand,we may

enjoy our music primarily from the intellectual

standpoint through realizing how it is constructed,

how logically it develops through various stages to a


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Dent 11final climax, how well it succeeds in varying its

constituent parts so as to provide variety and achieve

unity. This sort of enjoyment is like that of the

intellectual who derives his greatest pleasure in life

through the process of his mind and who distrusts the

pleasures of his senses. (Discovering Music 35-36)

Spiritual mindedness towards music is achieved through

balancing both the emotional and intellectual enjoyment

factors being portrayed in a song. Seeming to resonate with

this idea of balance, Job links it to his integrity: Let

me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine

integrity (Job 31:6). Not solely appealing to emotions or

the intellect, our Heavenly Father desires a combination of

the two. An imbalance occurs when this mixture is unequal,

whether the intellect or the emotions are excited and taxed

in excess; either way, carnal mindedness results from this

bias. This principle is crucial, yet deficient, in the

Christian music culture today. Music that encourages

spiritual mindedness doesnt solely have to be

intellectually appealing or sound, bringing about little to

no emotional response. Lyrical content is vital, especially

as it corresponds with Biblical principles, but if

emphasized to an extent where Gods love is not felt

through the song, ones musical experience will become dry


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Dent 12and formalistic quite rapidly. As stated in the following

quote:

We must learn to recognize and apperceive the

different emotional and mood reactions engendered by

music and to evaluate these in comparison to their

other elements This is a matter of nice discrimination

and avoids the extremes of being completely swept away

in a state of emotional hysteria on the one hand, and

of entirely abjuring the emotional significance of

music on the other. What the music does to us is one

of its important powers and should be neither

overemphasized nor neglected. (Discovering Music 25)

Although there may be times in which one may experience

such an overemphasis, whether it be from God instructing us

in regards to a higher standard, or through Satans

discouraging endeavors, decided effort ought to be made to

emerge through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When the

devil tempts along a path of such an imbalance, Ellen

White, a popular Christian author, states, When tempted,

instead of giving utterance to our feelings, let us by

faith lift up a song of thanksgiving to God (254).While

Satan is enforcing an imbalance towards sensual emotions or

formalistic intellect in our music, Gods children can


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Dent 13respond in a song swayed in the opposite direction, and

thus oppose such satanic forces.

Amidst the dark, confusing realm of music in the

Christian church, principles God has outlined in the brain,

especially the frontal lobe, hypothalamus, and limbic

system cannot be overlooked. Through correctly utilizing

these organs, treating them as Gods dwelling place, the

Christian may obtain spiritual mindedness, being able to

balance both the intellectual and emotional aspects of

their musical experience. And that is just what music ought

to be, an uninhibited experience with our Heavenly Father,

the Creator perfectly in tune with His creations.


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Dent 14Works Cited:

Angelucci F, Ricci E, Padua L, Sabino A, Tonali PA. Music

exposure differentially alters the levels of brain-derived

neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in the mouse

hypothalamus. PubMed National Center for Biotechnology

Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 18 December

2007. Abstract. Web

"Appreciate." The New Oxford American Dictionary. 2nd ed.

2005. Computer Software.

Fleischman, John. Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story

About Brain Science.Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

Print.

"Greek Lexicon G4561 (KJV).Blue Letter Bible. Sowing

Circle. Web. 5 Nov, 2013.

"Greek Lexicon G4151 (KJV).Blue Letter Bible. Sowing

Circle. Web. 11 Nov, 2013.
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Dent 15Hypothalamus.PubMed Health. National Center for

Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of

Medicine. Web. 11 December 2011

McKinney, Howard D., and W. R. Anderson. Discovering

Music.New York: American Book, 1962. Print.

Moore, Leroy. The Nature of Man. Weimar College. Room

225, Weimar, CA. 11 October 2013. Keynote Address.

The Holy Bible, King James Version.New York: Oxford

Edition: 1769; King James Bible Online, 2008. Website.

Torres, Louis R., and Carol Torres. Notes on Music.

Gaston, OR: Torres LC Ministries, 2004. Print.

White, Ellen. The Ministry of Healing. Mountain View, CA:

Pacific Press Publishing Association. 1942. Print.
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