The Goddess Religions honor the female side of the Divine. In the West they were practiced mostly in Greco-Roman and Celtic forms, which were replaced and eventually suppressed by Christianity. They reappeared in worship of the Virgin Mary, but essentially disappeared as distinct forms. In India, worship of the Goddess is an integral part of Hinduism as well as in the various Buddhist sects. We have selected songs to Mary, Durga, and Tara. The following selection is a Bulgarian Chant sung by Rod Sophia Choir.

Many Zoroastrians fled persecution in Persia to India, where a large community of Parses continues to this day. They were permitted to stay only on condition that they did not try to convert others to their faith. As a result, they do not allow non-believers into their temples. The high Priest in Bombay told me that no original Zoroastrian melodies have survived, the religion is so old, perhaps over 3,000 years. Many of the Judeo-Christian beliefs, such as the devil, angels and heaven & hell, originated from here. The following selection is a chant from the Gathas done by a Parsi priest.

Native American music plays a vital role in history and teaching, with ceremonies and stories orally passing on ancestral customs to new generations. Native American ceremonial music is traditionally said to originate from deities or spirits, or from particularly respected individuals. Most sacred songs are not recorded, as there is a fear that the deities will learn not to come when the recordings are played for entertainment or over the radio. Native Americans perform stories through song, music and dance, which are an integral part of native beliefs and culture. The styles and purposes of music vary greatly between each Native American tribe. However, a common concept amongst many indigenous groups is a conflation of music and power. For example, the Pima people feel many of their songs were given in the beginning and sung by the Creator. It is believed that some people then have more of an inclination to musical talent than others because of an individual's peculiar power. The following selection is a peyote song from the Native American Church.

Islam means surrender. One can experience some of this in the power and purity that is transmitted through these extraordinary chants. The sometimes harsh and uncompromising quality we so often associate with Islamic chanting is probably more a product of the harsh desert environment into which Islam was born and the masculine dominated Arab culture, rather than the religion which the Prophet started. There is no Koranic injunction against music; however, there is a long-standing tradition in Islam against music or singing in the mosque. As a result, much energy was devoted to developing unique styles of vocal chanting. We have picked selections that hopefully represent different facets of this complex religion. Iman Bilal chants the Fatiha, the opening sura of the Koran. He is an American teacher trained in the Sudan and Saudi Arabia.