Published: 2025-12-22

Music in Christianity as an Expression of Religious Freedom

Joseph Inarigu Abu
LIBERTAS RELIGIOSA Studium interdyscyplinarne wolności religijnej
Section: Artykuły
https://doi.org/10.21697/lr.16390

Abstract

This article closely examines the essential role of music in Christianity as a dynamic and multifaceted expression of religious freedom. Rooted in sacred scripture and tradition, Christian music functions not only as a liturgical instrument but also as a vehicle for spiritual expression, communal identity, cultural inculturation, integration, evangelization and prophetic witnessing. By tracing the historical and contemporary uses of music in various Christian contexts ranging from early Church worship to modern struggles for religious rights, the work illustrates how sacred music enables Christians to articulate their faith publicly and personally, even under conditions of marginalization, deprivation and persecution. Drawing on various Church documents, biblical texts, and scholarly sources across theology, musicology, and human rights studies, the article argues that music is a vital theological language through which the Church affirms the inalienable right to religious freedom. Furthermore, it highlights how music’s adaptability across cultures reinforces the Church’s missionary and inculturative character, allowing diverse communities to experience and proclaim the Gospel of Christ in culturally resonant styles. Ultimately, Christian music is portrayed not merely as art or ritual, but as a profound and enduring expression of the human yearning for freedom in relation to the divine.

Keywords:

sacred music, religious freedom, inculturation, witness, liturgy

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Citation rules

Abu, J. I. (2025). Music in Christianity as an Expression of Religious Freedom. LIBERTAS RELIGIOSA Studium Interdyscyplinarne wolności Religijnej, 4, 65–78. https://doi.org/10.21697/lr.16390

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