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Contemporary Christian music (or CCM -- and occasionally "inspirational music") is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith.

Do religions other than Christianity have their own versions of this genre?

What would be some notable examples of artists and songs in those genres?

To clarify what I mean through an example: "Jesus, Take the Wheel" is a song recorded by American country music artist Carrie Underwood.

It became a top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, won Grammys for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song, and it won Single of the Year at the 2005 Academy of Country Music Awards. The song ranked number four on CMT's 40 Greatest Songs of the Decade.

I'm trying to imagine some sort of "Buddha/Krishna/Muhammad Take the Wheel" song, or anything remotely like it, in any culture, but I'm coming up very short, but I also don't have a very good imagination.

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  • here are some examples: youtube.com/watch?v=QU8IJ-3aEQ0 ... youtube.com/watch?v=7xo2BjNxmCk&list=PLEC7A512AF6629AFC ...youtube.com/watch?v=Zdcth9NndEA (ipi tombi is rather ethno than religious - and christian influences - I don't understand all the lyrics) youtube.com/watch?v=7W9YBscll28
    – Albrecht Hügli
    Commented Nov 13, 2019 at 16:09
  • Not sure what you are asking for. Here is a North Indian hymn to the guru. South Indian Krishna with subtitles. Central Indian
    – Rusi
    Commented Nov 13, 2019 at 16:47
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    I see you've added a clarification/elaboration of your question. Thanks. In that context it needs to be understood that almost no world religion is as personality-centered as Christianity. Even the extreme personality-centered parts of Hinduism like Krishna-cult folks (seen in the west as Hare Krishna) are embedded in a context of abstract concepts like karma, maya etc. And Buddhism Zen Taoism etc are even more impersonal. But are you looking for something more pop-songish? To Shiva Or children singing to the goddess
    – Rusi
    Commented Nov 14, 2019 at 3:40
  • Gave these examples since even in spite of not being familiar with the language, the alliterative quality is still prominent... Hopefully😆
    – Rusi
    Commented Nov 14, 2019 at 3:49
  • @Rusi Thanks those look a lot like what I was thinking of! If you make your comment into an answer then I'll give you a vote.
    – Roger
    Commented Nov 14, 2019 at 14:32

2 Answers 2

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As requested collating into answer-form.
Could fill out more interesting details of singer/composer in some cases if desired

Arunachala Shiva

Nighalo gheuna

Bhaja Govindam

Teertha Vitthala

Sunta hai Guru Gyani

Shiva Tandava Stotram

Ayi Giri Nandini

Hanuman chalisa

Ram Simar

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I think most religions have "ritual" music and in modern times this probably has evolved into something like gospel or what you are referring to.

Some examples are:

Jewish cantorial music. This can be very inspirational, very emotional. In modern synagogues such music will be played with a modern "folk music" style twist. There are also modern orthodox jewish musical groups with a Rock or Jazz sound that play religious themed lyrics.

Another is Hindu and other Indian religious groups having religious themed music during festivals.

Islam often signs prayers.

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  • I want to note that contemporary christian music is not gospel (CCM is more like mainstream pop, whereas gospel is typically referring to music rooted in southern black protestant traditions).
    – Edward
    Commented Jun 12, 2023 at 2:50

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