Music’s Role in Facilitating the Process of Healing—A Thematic Analysis
Juyoung Lee, Jane W. Davidson
Religions September 10, 2017 DOI: 10.3390/rel8090184 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Korean adults living in Australia who participated in weekly Charismatic Prayer Meetings at a Catholic Church |
| Key findings | Music performed in religious forms such as Praise and Worship and Speaking/Singing in Tongues was reported to intensify group spiritual experiences, and over time each participant described improved physical and mental wellbeing that motivated further investment in the meetings. The authors argue that group music-making engaged body, mind, and spirit, eliciting transpersonal experiences, and suggest the findings are relevant to minority groups using worship and music for socio-cultural inclusion and mental health. |
Abstract
This qualitative study aims to understand the factors motivating Korean migrants’ participation in weekly Charismatic Prayer Meetings in a Catholic Church. As music plays a crucial role in these meetings, the paper explores whether active engagement with music motivated the long-term commitment of participants to the meetings. The research is based on a thematic analysis of a focus group comprising six Korean adults living in Australia. Results show that music performed in religious forms such as Praise and Worship and Speaking/Singing in Tongues prayers was found to intensify spiritual experiences of the people as a group, and over time, each participant experienced improved physical and mental wellbeing, which in turn motivated further investment in the meetings. It was evident that the passionate group music-making enabled participants to focus on conscious and subconscious body, mind, and spirit, eliciting transpersonal experiences within each person. The findings of the current study are deemed relevant to this specific cohort and to others in similar contexts, where minority groups use worship and music for socio-cultural inclusion that addresses both spiritual and mental health issues. Though a small-scale study, the current paper provides a rationale for these religious groups to be involved in music-based spiritual practice.