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Arts & Communication Theodicy and music

sacrificial offering as atonement for the penalty of human Funding
transgression. Unmerited grace (God’s riches given
5,22
to unworthy humans) is offered to all individuals for an None.
eternal transformation and relationship if they believe in Conflict of interest
God’s sacrifice and premise of grace. Therefore, suffering
5,22
is purposeful but not always humanly comprehendible. The author declares that she has no competing interests.
However, individuals with a transcending/transformational
God-view believe that their God suffered unjustly and can Author contributions
sympathize and empathize with their suffering to give them This is a single-authored article.
sustaining grace. For these individuals, the ideal music
while suffering would be relational and include concepts Ethics approval and consent to participate
such as love, trust in the purposes of God, sacrificial Not applicable.
empathy, and the provision of transformational grace. 3,5,7
In addition, I offer four considerations regarding the Consent for publication
God-views that influence the music individuals listen to Not applicable.
while suffering. First, some individuals may have blends
of two or more God-views, which would slightly alter or Availability of data
broaden the music they prefer to listen while suffering. Not applicable.
Second, individuals can temporarily change their God-
view and music based on their emotional state. Third, Further disclosure
because all music, even spiritual music, is constantly
created and developed, new genres may emerge from and A portion of this paper on God-Views was presented at the
th
for every God-view. Finally, most individuals will choose 29 International Society of Music Education Conference
the fundamental music they perform or listen to at the in Beijing, China, in August 2010.
most poignant time of suffering, when they need to be the References
most secure in their perceptions and beliefs.
1. One for Israel Ministry. Isaiah 61: Prayer Song to Set
5. Conclusion the Captives Free. Available from: https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=s7i77rcmhfa&list=rds7i77rcmhfa&start_
There remain many areas to explore in the relationship radio=1&ab_channel=oneforisraelministry [Last accessed
between theodicy and music. Researchers can explore on 2024 Jul 13].
compositional devices that symbolize various theodicies.
Both non-Western and Western musical compositions can 2. Bonde LO. Healing and music. In: Jacobsen SL, Pedersen IN,
be analyzed to determine the theodicy of the composers, Bonde, LO, Odell-Miller H, editors. A Comprehensive Guide
to Music Therapy. 2 ed. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley
nd
performers, or listeners. Music educators, especially those Publishers; 2019. p. 216-222.
in higher education, can encourage students to explore
truth and their philosophical assumptions through the 3. Pratt A. Hymns and the nature of evil toward a sung
lens of theodicy and music. The four God-views should theodicy: A hymnwriter’s musings. Hymn. 2013;64(7):7-13.
continue to be examined and questioned. In addition, 4. Mercer C. Prefacing the Theodicy. In: Jorgensen LM,
others may formulate different frameworks for analyzing Newlands S, Adams RM, editors. New Essays on Leibniz’s
theodicy and music. I hope this perspective paper will Theodicy. New York: Oxford University Press; 2014, p. 12-14.
spark further discussion on the topic. 5. MacArthur J. Job: Trusting God in Suffering. Nashville:
At the beginning of this paper, I referred to the Israelis Thomas Nelson; 2020.
near the Gaza Strip singing Isaiah 61 as a reflection of their 6. Farkas NZ. Martin Buber, the Book of Job, and the Shoah.
theodicy. Historically, the Israelis have endured an extreme Conserv Jud. 2010;61(4):43-53.
1
amount of suffering. Despite their pain and loss, they can doi: 101353/coj.2010.0003
still anchor themselves to their theodicy by singing the
words from their ancient text. May we all be able to “sing 7. Henry M. Commentary on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids:
with the morning stars” even through suffering. Zondervan Publishing House; 1960.
8. Weber, M. Fischoff E, Translator. The Sociology of Religion.
Acknowledgments London: Metheun; 1971.
None. 9. Bowker, JW. Social suffering. Religion, society, and suffering.

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/ac.3830