Traces of the Spirit: The Religious Dimensions of Popular MusicSylvan's thesis furnishes far more of the same valued experiences than is usually realized: ritual activity, communal ceremony, a philosophy and worldview, a code for living one's life, a cultural identity, a social structure, a sense of belonging, and crucially, Sylvan argues encounters with the numinous. Journal of Religion Most studies of the religious significance of popular music focus on music lyrics, offering little insight into the religious