ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to expand the major findings and conclusions of the survey and case studies by establishing new theories on the relationship between religion and popular music. Drawing on the case studies and the latest works on religion and aesthetics (e.g. Meyer and Verrips, 2008) it is argued that certain genres of music have been ‘authorised’ by religious traditions to be used in various rituals, depending on the openness of those in power towards these genres. This finding leads to the conclusion that power politics within religious traditions should deserve more attention in the study of music and religion in the future.
