Beyond Krishnacore

Straight Edge Punk and Implicit Religion

Authors

  • Francis Stewart University of Stirling

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v15i3.259

Keywords:

implicit religion, punk, spirituality, Straight Edge

Abstract

Considering and engaging with spiritual identity and practices, particularly within today’s modern Western societies, often seen as having a religious/secular divide, has rightly been at the fore of much academic consideration of late. For there are a number of newly emerging forms of spirituality (both in terms of practice and of identity) that are in many ways sidestepping that paradigm and creating a new approach to religion, the secular, and spirituality. Research amongst Straight Edge punks has revealed a specifically “post-secular” approach to these concerns and ideas. This is a spiritual identity located firmly within a secular (one could even argue, profane) subculture. Their wilfully syncretic approach to spirituality is deliberately mingled with secular practices and ideas, as they refuse to acknowledge distinctions or borders. This article aims to explore and locate the implicit and explicit approaches to religion and spirituality, both as it is found and practiced within Straight Edge punk and within the wider theoretical concerns of sociology of religion.

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Songs referenced

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I ain’t thick, it’s a trick, Crass, Stations of the Crass, 1979, Crass Records.

In God We Trust, Inc. The Dead Kennedys. Alternative Tentacles

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Shai Hulud. Hearts Once Nourished. 1997 Revelation Records.

Throwdown. Drive Me Dead. 2000 Indecision Records.

Nailed to the X, Bold, from the album The Search: 1985 – 1989, 2005 re-issue, Revelation Records

True till Death, Chain of Strength, from the album The One Thing That Still Holds True, 2004 re-issue, Revelation Records.

About Face, No For An Answer, from the EP You Laugh, 1997, Revelation Records.

Don’t Lose Sight, Throwdown from the album Beyond Repair, 1999 Indecision Records.

Published

2012-10-01

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Stewart, F. (2012). Beyond Krishnacore: Straight Edge Punk and Implicit Religion. Implicit Religion, 15(3), 259-288. https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v15i3.259