There's no such thing as Christian rock.  There's only rock.  Moreover, Phantom Tollbooth is an ezine that reviews music of all varieties, written and recorded by artists representing many different faiths or none at all.  Don't let "stereo" types get in the way of discovering great artists.   

The category of Christian music is a misnomer.  It's presented alongside other styles of music as a style of music unto itself, when, in fact, there is no such style.  There's rock.  There's rap.  There's country.  

There are even modern styles that involve fusions, like hick hop.  What defining sylistic musical characteristics do you associate with Christian music or Christian rock?  There are none. 

So, the fact that a category would be introduced that apparently has nothing to do with distinguishing musical characteristics, and then presented as a legitimate category, alongside categories like rock, blues, country, etc. is simply bizzarre. 

So when you say Christian rock sucks, what are you really saying?  How do you define Christian rock?  The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens is a Muslim.  Would you categorize his music as Muslim rock? 

Cat Stevens is singular, so I wouldn't put him in a catagory. Unless you have others that made great music before religion ruined them? 

Dr. B, my music tastes are so varied it's impossible to say what my favorite is.  My best friend (Nancy's nephew) is a CW songwriter so Country is at the top of my list.  But recently my radio is tuned to Christian music.  I'm going to SF in December to see one of my top five favorite performers for the third time.  Van Morrison is going to be at the Nob Hill Masonic Center on December 27 & 28.  He never disappoints me and his music is as varied as my tastes.  He even tried a little CW recently.

Well, dgrealish, if you give me a few of your favorite songs, perhaps I can learn at least one of them for my Sunday morning performance.

How do you define Christian rock, robbwillis?  Johnny Cash was a Christian and his Christianity comes out loud and clear in his music.  Yet, isn't it odd that nobody refers to his music as Christian rock or Christian country?

I just find it strange that a person's or group's religious beliefs would be a basis for a separate style category.  You don't take a band made up of artists that don't believe in God and call their music atheist rock.  I have to agree with the following, posted at LastFM:

Leader:
amoyensis
Join Policy: Open
Created on: 11 Dec 2005

Description: There are lots of people who label their music 'Christian rock', or 'Christian metal', or sometimes just 'Christian'. Apparently, Christians play guitars differently than other people. Or maybe they sing differently. Or they set up their drum kits in a weird configuration.

Wrong! 'Christian' is not a genre of music. People who believe in Jesus do not suddenly start writing music of an entirely separate genre of music. 'Christian' refers to one's beliefs, not their style of music.

Johnny Cash was a Christian and his Christianity comes out loud and clear in his music.

Really? Any of his good stuff? I just looked at the back of my Johnny Cash Super Hits CD and none of them remind me of anything Christian. What I would difine as Christian Rock is the syrupy stuff that oozes out of self-proclaimed Christian Rock bands. The ones that play their junk at advertized Christian Rock concerts and have their CDs in the Christian Rock section of the music store. Come on, it's awful!   

"Come on, it's awful!"

I'll agree there, but only because most I've heard is either hard rock which I can't stand, or hip hop/rap which I also can't stand.  The slower Christian music, as my granddaughter frequently says, is interchangeable with any love song if you substitute Jenny for Jesus.  (or pick your name.)

It's just music with a different message and nowhere near compares to actual gospel music. 

Debbie..nice pitch for Ron..lol.  For the rest of you,  he writes for a lot of groups or singers but check out Lonestar for a couple of his hits.