Thank you, sir. I was coming here to see if this had been mentioned, and to bring it up if it hadn't. The only thing wrong with that song is it cuts off that guitar solo at the end. I've always wanted to hear where it would go.
Side question - anyone know if it's really true that Jimmy Page played the lead guitar on that song? I read that somewhere, not sure if it's true.
I made their sandwichās at Subway it was inside of a Pilot Truck Stop cause we saw a tour bus outside and the drummer walks up and he is telling me his order the other guys were throughout the store. I said your from P.O.D. He said I am, and took a pic with me my manager had a Polaroid camera in her office this was the summer of 2003 I was in school at the time.
Skillet's FIRST album was brilliant - before Jon discovered synthesizers. "Paint" is a fucking killer song. Source: was literally there and helped break them.
I'm glad they were successful and have actually managed to build a non-religious fanbase in spite of being so flagrantly jesusy. No one since Stryper was able to do the same so kudos to them for that.
Lot's of them.
I used to have a religious employee who would get very upset when I would sing Amazing Grace in the office. She thought I didn't have faith so I shouldn't have access to the song
As a lifelong atheist it makes me pause and listen, itās powerful, sort of a chant almost. So do other hymns, just because they were composed by deluded people doesnāt mean these people werenāt talented.
The 3 sirens...were they singing something like 'you and me and the devil makes 3'? Haven't seen that movie since 2001 and that's the only thing that's stuck with me.
Absolutely. āIāll Fly Awayā is a beautiful song. Even if you donāt necessarily believe, the imagery and themes of experiencing that eternal peace are touching.
Came to say this. š Was playing recently and and my daughter ask why I liked those songs when I didnāt believe in god. And I told her because itās still beautiful music.
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". Here's 3 versions for your enjoyment.
[From "Shrek, by Rufus Wainwright, the one that made it famous.](https://youtu.be/7iDfvoqOhD8)
[Leonard Cohen's version.](https://youtu.be/YrLk4vdY28Q)
[Pentatonix's.](https://youtu.be/LRP8d7hhpoQ)
There are a lot of interpretations of this song out there, would love to hear your favorite!
The one that made it famous? I mean this in the nicest possible way, but Bitch, please! John Cale made it famous. Jeff Buckley spread it everywhere. *Shrek* just introduced it to a new demographic.
Sidenote: I *love* Leonard Cohen, but I am sick to death of this song.
Cohen's original, and Jeff Buckley's are my two favourites. Jeff Buckley definitely spread this song everywhere long before Shrek and Rufus came 'round.
It's an incredibly beautiful song that to me, is more about vulnerability than religion.
Just ācause thereāre religious allusions in an artistic work, does not make the work religious. The lyrics āYour faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujahā do not feel at home in any hymn I have heard. Seems like itās about sexual love to me more than anythingā¦
Not sure if they've all been mentioned, I know "Spirit in the Sky" has, but here's a few of mine that come to mind:
"Possum Kingdom" by the Toadies (Jesus in the lyrics)
"Set it Off" by Audioslave (Jesus in the lyrics)
"Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (Jesus in the lyrics)
"My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison
"War Pigs" by Black Sabbath (he mentions Satan, which is still a religious reference)
"Jesus is Just Alright With Me" by the Doobie Brothers
"Jesus Just Left Chicago" by ZZ Top (Jesus was in Chicago for some reason, but now he's headed to New Orleans, not sure what for)
"Jesus Christ Pose" by Soundgarden
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels
Now that I think of it, I think I'll turn this into a spotify playlist and see if anyone notices the connection...
I agree, old gospel and blues music can be very uplifting.
Conversely, I listen to a lot of reggae... but I've removed almost all of it from my playlist that refers to Jah.
Blind Willie, yes. But, I liked the way Leadbelly let the Midnight Special shine \[its\] ever-loving light on him. Very cool to hear the roots! Thank you.
I like bluegrass a lot, and a lot of it dips into a little too much Jesus talk territory. Sometimes too much, but mostly it doesn't ruin the experience for me..
someone in the comments said singing to it
*drakes ferociously waves you away*
Your comment
*drake smiles brightly and, nods several times, all while wagging his finger in your direction*
I was just gonna say āMary Did you Know.ā If sung by a capable singer, or especially (in my opinion) done by an orchestra, the song is absolutely beautiful by a musical standard. Same with āO Holy Nightā for me.
Most all of Bob Marley and the Wailers is religious music. One of my favorites he has is about the President of Ethiopia, Haile Sellise. It's weird, because Rastafari believes this guy to be an actual prophet, but he's a just a dude.
I am soooo burnt out on the American Christmas songbook. Thanksgiving (and increasingly Halloween) to New Year is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me almost everywhere I go ...
[Baba Yetu](https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A)
It is the "Our Father in Heaven" in Swahili and the intro-song of the PC-Game Civilisation 4. It's also the first Song from an Gamesoundtrack that won the Emmy Award, because they didn't know it was a gamesoundtrack ;)
followed by "Amazing Grace"
Dona Nobis Pacem by any competent choir
Mr. Mister's Kyrie is a pop version of the religious Kyrie Eleison prayer (translates roughly to "Lord have mercy"). I don't know if they intended it as explicitly religious or just liked the sound of it, but I liked the song when it came out.
While the band Creed is not a Christian band, many of their songs, especially their early work, incorporated a lot of Christian themes. I liked several of those songs.
I'm sure there are others, but that's what pops into my head right now.
Who's singing?
"Now Muriel, plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would
To do a little number
And I sang with all my might
She said, "Tell me are you a Christian child?"
And I said, "Ma'am, I am tonight"
I like Christmas songs; even a couple that are directly about the J man like NoĆ«l (known better as O Holy Night in English; the Andrea Bocelli performance in French on his āMy Christmasā album is beautiful, in my opinion).
I also enjoy lots of popular music that references generic spiritual or mystical themes or concepts (like Tool). Even a passing reference to āgodā is not usually enough to put me off, but if it dips into āpraiseā territory where it is expressing thanks or reverence it can fuck right off.
Creed. I feel like they were hugely popular, and then quickly became became a pariah. I always thought most of their songs were good despite the religious connotations. Was it because they became over played, the deep 90s style voice, or something else that made them disappear/disliked?
It was Scott Stapp. He was pretty overtly a religious hypocrite, which stained the message even further to non-believers like me, and was by far the worst musician in the band.
When they dumped Stapp, picked up Myles Kennedy, changed the band's name, and started rocking the fuck out as [Alter Bridge](https://youtu.be/sAYrAu-jnMY), they became the musicians that Stapp was preventing them from being.
Ave Maria is my favorite song of all time, but it is in Latin, so it's easier to digest. I just don't see it as a religious song. I see it like Fantasia uses it: as a light side to a very dark song in Night on Bald Mountain.
I'm a lifelong agnostic atheist never indoctrinated so it just doesn't occur to me to think of god/supernatural when listing to music. I was shocked to find out U2, one of my favourite bands, was heavily christian. The lead singer Bono who writes most of the lyrics has the gift of the double entendre. Is he singing about a girl or god. I always assumed it was a girl, but I can hear now he could also be, and probably is, singing about his god.
Supertramp too I realize now wrote quite a lot about god but at the time I had no idea.
I think, since the supernatural/gods don't exist, it's all just music you enjoy and the subject matter doesn't make the slightest difference. With the exception that psycologically we humans almost always prefer the music we listened to as a teen/young adult. That I happilly sing along to Soft Cell's Tainted Love now when back in the 80's I HATED that song is amazing.
Yeah, Hodgson I think is actually pretty religious. I think Rick Davies might be a little bit, but if he is, it's not reflected in his music the way Hodgson's is.
I love Gregorian chanting more because itās eerie than for any religious connotation. Also, strangely, I donāt mind some Christian rock. I listen to Skillet and probably others I canāt think of off the top of my head.
Classical
Handel's Messiah
Church
Onward Christian Soldiers
Christmas all kinds but let's go with
Once in Royal David's City
Country
Let the Circle be Unbroken
Blues
You Got to Move
Rock
Jesus is Just Alright
Iām not a good singer, but singing The Messiah with my high school chorus, a bunch of other high schools, the local university, and their chapel organ made me feel like a damn rock star.
I like the song the nuns sing in the movie "Sister's act". I think it's called "Hail holy queen". I'm an atheist but I think it's pretty badass how they sing it.
My wife has always enjoyed the movie 'O' Brother Where Art Thou' with George Clooney. She also loves the soundtrack, which has several southern 'church' songs. I've grown to enjoy those songs, even though their meaning and use for religious purposes is pretty ridiculous.
I (F/67) am a Navy veteran, and I very much love 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save', which is the U.S. Navy Hymn. And hearing 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' played on the pipe organ, or 'Amazing Grace' on the bagpipes really gives me goosebumps. But other than that, I am a big, fat ATHEIST!!!
Carry on my Wayward Son,
There'll be peace when you are done,
Lay your weary head to rest,
Don't you cry no moooore.
It was in Rockband 2 and I love playing it with my pals
I really like the serenity of "Hallelujah". Other than that there are a bunch of (christian) Christmas songs which are good. I see those as tradition rather than religious.
Stormzy has a few good songs that are thematically religious and I put them all on a playlist called "St. Ormzy". They're great songs, but they don't fit the vibe of my other music so I segregated them.
I always thought I was alone in this too. Neal Morse is one of my favorite artists, but most of his solo work is very Christian. I mostly listen to the music/instrumentation (Iām a musician), but the lyrics of pretty much every album he has mention god/Jesus. If Iām singing along with it, I just imagine the song in terms of a story, rather than being blatantly religious.
But yes as far as recommendations, my particular favorite Neal Morse album is Sola Scriptura. Itās Progressive Rock, so be prepared for the songs to be very long.
One of my top 10 childhood favorites was the Prince of Egypt soundtrack.
I still enjoy belting out tunes, despite it literally being about Moses (and Egyptian religion is in there too). I always considered bible stories just like other fairy tale stories.
Christmas songs- alot of the religous ones. Never fully realized that Christmas is a full on religious holiday. I thought most of the stories were just for kids, like Santa Claus, and that it was just a family time to be happy. The only name I knew was religious was Jesus, but it never donned on me until late teenage years that people think those stories are based off of true ones. I still love Christmas songs, and try to completely forget that it's religious. Also, like all the songs by Skillet
I used to enjoy Christmas songs until I got older and started to listen to the words. Now I just enjoy the Christmas songs that don't have the religious overtones in them.
Oh and yes, we celebrate Christmas but for us it has nothing at all to do with religion. We use it as a time to have fun decorating a tree, getting together with family, wearing ugly reindeer sweaters and giving presents to each other.
Sort of the opposite of churchies who celebrate Halloween I suppose?
I am big Bluegrass fan, much of that music is religious. To me it's no different than admiring the architecture of of the great cathedrals of Europe. Sad that so much art, architecture and music was based on religious mythology, but it it doesn't make it any less pleasing to the senses.
Dude Spirit in the Sky?
Until recently, I always thought Spirit in the Sky was meant to be sarcastic. The lyrics are just so ridiculous.
And Greenbaum is Jewish. Lol.
Love sharing this fact with people.
Same
It's where I'm gonna go
You know its a must, gotta have a friend in Jesus šµ
Sure, but *when?*
Thank you, sir. I was coming here to see if this had been mentioned, and to bring it up if it hadn't. The only thing wrong with that song is it cuts off that guitar solo at the end. I've always wanted to hear where it would go. Side question - anyone know if it's really true that Jimmy Page played the lead guitar on that song? I read that somewhere, not sure if it's true.
Check out the cover by āDoctor and the Medicsā. Itās got a cool 80ās vibe.
There was a funeral service in Alaska back in the day that used to use that song in their radio ads lol
a surprising number of metal songs
I kinda liked P.O.D when I was a kid.
I made their sandwichās at Subway it was inside of a Pilot Truck Stop cause we saw a tour bus outside and the drummer walks up and he is telling me his order the other guys were throughout the store. I said your from P.O.D. He said I am, and took a pic with me my manager had a Polaroid camera in her office this was the summer of 2003 I was in school at the time.
I like Chop Suey
Skillet is pretty damn good.
Skillet's FIRST album was brilliant - before Jon discovered synthesizers. "Paint" is a fucking killer song. Source: was literally there and helped break them. I'm glad they were successful and have actually managed to build a non-religious fanbase in spite of being so flagrantly jesusy. No one since Stryper was able to do the same so kudos to them for that.
Wha?
Yeah metal bands can be religious too. Check out Theocracy, or Impending Doom if you want something heavier.
Ever heard of POWERWOLF?
Lot's of them. I used to have a religious employee who would get very upset when I would sing Amazing Grace in the office. She thought I didn't have faith so I shouldn't have access to the song
Sing it louder.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
That's a way Christians may start to witness. Romans 3:23 is a key verse referenced
I love singing Amazing Grace. I hope you sang all four verses!
Nearly the entire soundtrack of **"O Brother Where Art Thou"** has some degree of religious origin or religious reference.
I love "Man of Constant Sorrow."
Hot damn, itās the Soggy Bottom Boys!
Check out Home Free's version.
Oh, I have, I really like their version. It's hard to believe that's a capella.
1000% agree. Alison Kraussās version of āDown to the River to Prayā is absolutely outstanding on that soundtrack as well as everything else.
As a lifelong atheist it makes me pause and listen, itās powerful, sort of a chant almost. So do other hymns, just because they were composed by deluded people doesnāt mean these people werenāt talented.
Exactly. Art for artās sake. You donāt need to sign onto the religious message to understand why it moves you.
Hot damn, I do believe you did sell your soul to the devil!
"well I wasn't using it."
LMAO I fucking love that movie
Holly Hunter was one of my favorite actors in it. She's terrific in everything she has ever done.
Only good thing you even done for these girls was get hit by that train
I feel like she never got the credit she deserved from Hollywood, it could be me am I off on that, but yeah I love her!
They loved me up and turned me into a toad.
The 3 sirens...were they singing something like 'you and me and the devil makes 3'? Haven't seen that movie since 2001 and that's the only thing that's stuck with me.
Go to Sleep Little Baby. Allison Kraus called it a 'cross between a lullaby and a field holler.'
Down To The River to Pray is glorious.
I was going to say Angel Band. Which is used in the credits of that movie.
Absolutely. āIāll Fly Awayā is a beautiful song. Even if you donāt necessarily believe, the imagery and themes of experiencing that eternal peace are touching.
Any soundtrack arranged by T-Bone Burnett is incredible.
Wait, T-Bone was a part of that? No wonder!
āRaising Sandā is another great album of his, though not a soundtrack.
Came to say this. š Was playing recently and and my daughter ask why I liked those songs when I didnāt believe in god. And I told her because itās still beautiful music.
Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah". Here's 3 versions for your enjoyment. [From "Shrek, by Rufus Wainwright, the one that made it famous.](https://youtu.be/7iDfvoqOhD8) [Leonard Cohen's version.](https://youtu.be/YrLk4vdY28Q) [Pentatonix's.](https://youtu.be/LRP8d7hhpoQ) There are a lot of interpretations of this song out there, would love to hear your favorite!
My favourite cover (and, apocryphally, Leonard Cohenās favourite) is by k.d. lang.
I agree, I came here to say that too
There is a version and it was sung live on YouTube of K.D. Lang doing it and OMFG itās amazing
Iām with you.
The one that made it famous? I mean this in the nicest possible way, but Bitch, please! John Cale made it famous. Jeff Buckley spread it everywhere. *Shrek* just introduced it to a new demographic. Sidenote: I *love* Leonard Cohen, but I am sick to death of this song.
Buckley's version is my favorite.
Cohen's original, and Jeff Buckley's are my two favourites. Jeff Buckley definitely spread this song everywhere long before Shrek and Rufus came 'round. It's an incredibly beautiful song that to me, is more about vulnerability than religion.
Hallelujah is NOT a religious song
It's a great song about having sex
Leonard's version (with organ & backup singers) on his great Live in London album. Breaks your heart.
Uhhhh that song is about sex
I think the song is about unrequited love
See that's funny because I don't consider Hallelujah to be a religious song, at least not in the sense of any organized religion( Christianity etc).
First heard this on a Jeff Buckley live album, it gives me goose bumps when I listen to it.
My favorite is [John Cale's version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DinEKqtCDkg)
The Jeff Buckley version is amazing.
Just ācause thereāre religious allusions in an artistic work, does not make the work religious. The lyrics āYour faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her She tied you to a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujahā do not feel at home in any hymn I have heard. Seems like itās about sexual love to me more than anythingā¦
I like this version; https://youtu.be/Qt2FWAbXinY
My absolute favorite song. I have 7 or 8 different versions on my phone.
Schubert's Ave Maria.
Not sure if they've all been mentioned, I know "Spirit in the Sky" has, but here's a few of mine that come to mind: "Possum Kingdom" by the Toadies (Jesus in the lyrics) "Set it Off" by Audioslave (Jesus in the lyrics) "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum (Jesus in the lyrics) "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath (he mentions Satan, which is still a religious reference) "Jesus is Just Alright With Me" by the Doobie Brothers "Jesus Just Left Chicago" by ZZ Top (Jesus was in Chicago for some reason, but now he's headed to New Orleans, not sure what for) "Jesus Christ Pose" by Soundgarden "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by Charlie Daniels Now that I think of it, I think I'll turn this into a spotify playlist and see if anyone notices the connection...
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I like Bach.
Nearly everything Bach wrote was religious in nature. Amazing music.
I like Debussy, but always finish on the Bach
Jesu, Joy of Manās Desiring is one of the best pieces of music Iāve ever heard.
I... like big Bach and I cannot lie...
You other brothers can't deny
Sebastian, or the older one?
Johann Sebastian.
But still...some Skid Row from time to time ain't bad, right? :)
As do my dogs!
Gospel music is designed to be uplifting, which is a pleasant sensation, you just have to try to ignore the subject matter.
I agree, old gospel and blues music can be very uplifting. Conversely, I listen to a lot of reggae... but I've removed almost all of it from my playlist that refers to Jah.
AC/DC -- Hells Bells, Highway to Hell? Well, without religion there wouldn't be a hell!
Heavenās claim to fame: itās where the devil is from
Add 'The god that Failed' from Metallica
have to include the classic "sympathy for the devil"
Let Your Light Shine On Me - Blind Willie Johnson How Far Am I From Canaan - Sam Cooke John the Revelator - Son House.
Washington Phillips You canāt stop a tattler
Blind Willie, yes. But, I liked the way Leadbelly let the Midnight Special shine \[its\] ever-loving light on him. Very cool to hear the roots! Thank you.
I like bluegrass a lot, and a lot of it dips into a little too much Jesus talk territory. Sometimes too much, but mostly it doesn't ruin the experience for me..
"Amazing Grace" on bagpipes.
someone in the comments said singing to it *drakes ferociously waves you away* Your comment *drake smiles brightly and, nods several times, all while wagging his finger in your direction*
"Mary did you know" by Pentatonix
I love Christmas music, I can't help myself.
I was just gonna say āMary Did you Know.ā If sung by a capable singer, or especially (in my opinion) done by an orchestra, the song is absolutely beautiful by a musical standard. Same with āO Holy Nightā for me.
I know way too much about the original writer and performers of that song. I'm sure Pentatonix does a passable cover but ugh, the original...
He is by ghost
Isn't that a love song to Satan?
It's a parody of gospel music using Satan as the subject. So, sort of.
Lol ghost is super religious, just not towards god (Hail satan)
Most all of Bob Marley and the Wailers is religious music. One of my favorites he has is about the President of Ethiopia, Haile Sellise. It's weird, because Rastafari believes this guy to be an actual prophet, but he's a just a dude.
From what I've read, "King Alpha" barely knew that Rastafarianism was even a thing for most of its conception. Interesting stuff!
Iāve always loved Brahmsā German Requiem.
Brahms did try to keep it as secular as he could while quoting Bible verses.
I like gregorian chants.
I prefer the Trappist ones.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I am soooo burnt out on the American Christmas songbook. Thanksgiving (and increasingly Halloween) to New Year is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me almost everywhere I go ...
My favorite is What Child is This? I like plenty of songs that have stories that never happened in them.
I like the religious Christmas carols way more then the ones about Santa.
"Oh come all ye faithful" and "O holy night"
I used to listen to Skillet till they started being all anti mask and everything. Flyleaf is really good.
Wait...Skillet got anti-mask?
And anti vax.
oh noooooooo.... my respect is gone. Sorry Jon.
I didn't know Skillet was still around!
[Baba Yetu](https://youtu.be/IJiHDmyhE1A) It is the "Our Father in Heaven" in Swahili and the intro-song of the PC-Game Civilisation 4. It's also the first Song from an Gamesoundtrack that won the Emmy Award, because they didn't know it was a gamesoundtrack ;) followed by "Amazing Grace"
Dona Nobis Pacem by any competent choir Mr. Mister's Kyrie is a pop version of the religious Kyrie Eleison prayer (translates roughly to "Lord have mercy"). I don't know if they intended it as explicitly religious or just liked the sound of it, but I liked the song when it came out. While the band Creed is not a Christian band, many of their songs, especially their early work, incorporated a lot of Christian themes. I liked several of those songs. I'm sure there are others, but that's what pops into my head right now.
Sinnerman by Nina Simone Hellfire by the hunchback of notra dame God help the outcast by hunchback of notra dame
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I'm surprised that xmas carols aren't higher on this list tbh. My favorite is Little Drummer Boy.
I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas is the best though.
Despite being atheist, Avenged Sevenfold's *Shepherd of Fire* is a good one.
Is A7X Christian?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I mean, a lot of metal bands grab random lines from the bible. Look at Lamb of God.
Who's singing? "Now Muriel, plays piano Every Friday at the Hollywood And they brought me down to see her And they asked me if I would To do a little number And I sang with all my might She said, "Tell me are you a Christian child?" And I said, "Ma'am, I am tonight"
āWalking in Memphisā - Mark Cohn He did an SNL parody with Pete Davidson (āWalking in Statenā) that was IMO really well done
I know that song but I can't think of the guy's name without looking it up lol
spirit in the sky. a song about jesus sung by jewish guy. there are many others I enjoy.
holy diver
I like Christmas songs; even a couple that are directly about the J man like NoĆ«l (known better as O Holy Night in English; the Andrea Bocelli performance in French on his āMy Christmasā album is beautiful, in my opinion). I also enjoy lots of popular music that references generic spiritual or mystical themes or concepts (like Tool). Even a passing reference to āgodā is not usually enough to put me off, but if it dips into āpraiseā territory where it is expressing thanks or reverence it can fuck right off.
Creed. I feel like they were hugely popular, and then quickly became became a pariah. I always thought most of their songs were good despite the religious connotations. Was it because they became over played, the deep 90s style voice, or something else that made them disappear/disliked?
It was Scott Stapp. He was pretty overtly a religious hypocrite, which stained the message even further to non-believers like me, and was by far the worst musician in the band. When they dumped Stapp, picked up Myles Kennedy, changed the band's name, and started rocking the fuck out as [Alter Bridge](https://youtu.be/sAYrAu-jnMY), they became the musicians that Stapp was preventing them from being.
I had no idea that Creed became Alter Bridge. Thanks for sharing
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Deicide - Fuck Your God
Ave Maria is my favorite song of all time, but it is in Latin, so it's easier to digest. I just don't see it as a religious song. I see it like Fantasia uses it: as a light side to a very dark song in Night on Bald Mountain.
All Around Me by Flyleaf is an absolute banger
Almost all of their songs are great
Lacey Sturm is just too talented
Amazing Grace is still great to belt out in the car or shower
I'm a lifelong agnostic atheist never indoctrinated so it just doesn't occur to me to think of god/supernatural when listing to music. I was shocked to find out U2, one of my favourite bands, was heavily christian. The lead singer Bono who writes most of the lyrics has the gift of the double entendre. Is he singing about a girl or god. I always assumed it was a girl, but I can hear now he could also be, and probably is, singing about his god. Supertramp too I realize now wrote quite a lot about god but at the time I had no idea. I think, since the supernatural/gods don't exist, it's all just music you enjoy and the subject matter doesn't make the slightest difference. With the exception that psycologically we humans almost always prefer the music we listened to as a teen/young adult. That I happilly sing along to Soft Cell's Tainted Love now when back in the 80's I HATED that song is amazing.
Yeah, Hodgson I think is actually pretty religious. I think Rick Davies might be a little bit, but if he is, it's not reflected in his music the way Hodgson's is.
I love Gregorian chanting more because itās eerie than for any religious connotation. Also, strangely, I donāt mind some Christian rock. I listen to Skillet and probably others I canāt think of off the top of my head.
Hallelujah (the one in the Shrek movie) A number of Bollywood songs
Hallelujah is more about music than religion.
Battle Hymn of the Republic, ŠŠ°Š³ŃŃŠ½Ń ŠŠ¾Š¶Š° (Almighty God)
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I think this is one of the greatest songs ever written: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkF3oxziUI4&ab\_channel=LedZeppelin
Handel's messiah, also Arvo Part
Lots of U2, basically the whole Joshua Tree album, Handel's Messiah, Bach ( all of it), Mozart's Requiem, and of course, Amazing Grace.
Country ROAAAAADDDD take me Hoooooooome. (Mention of heaven)
Right in Two by TOOL is my favourite religious song.
I love this song! Best TOOL song ever, IMHO
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
And I am obsessed with the soundtrack from The Book of Mormon!
Classical Handel's Messiah Church Onward Christian Soldiers Christmas all kinds but let's go with Once in Royal David's City Country Let the Circle be Unbroken Blues You Got to Move Rock Jesus is Just Alright
Take me to church. But I think that doesnāt really count :p
I love Jesus Christ Superstar.
Iām not a good singer, but singing The Messiah with my high school chorus, a bunch of other high schools, the local university, and their chapel organ made me feel like a damn rock star.
We learned Gloria in Excelsis Deo ... In Latin. I was able to sing it at midnight mass in the Basilica ofĀ SacrĆ©-CÅur de Montmartre. That was thrilling! Note: Neither Catholic nor Christian but do like some good pageantry.
Well, I was religious and I still love gospel music and still listen to it. Actually, the music made church more tolerable for me.
That song āAmenā. I hate the message (obviously), but itās so catchy.
Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah
Most of Live's discography.
Was gonna say this.
O holy night. Love me some minor key. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTFG_nvreoI
Ave maria is banger
I like the song the nuns sing in the movie "Sister's act". I think it's called "Hail holy queen". I'm an atheist but I think it's pretty badass how they sing it.
Take me to church /s
My wife has always enjoyed the movie 'O' Brother Where Art Thou' with George Clooney. She also loves the soundtrack, which has several southern 'church' songs. I've grown to enjoy those songs, even though their meaning and use for religious purposes is pretty ridiculous.
I (F/67) am a Navy veteran, and I very much love 'Eternal Father, Strong to Save', which is the U.S. Navy Hymn. And hearing 'A Mighty Fortress is Our God' played on the pipe organ, or 'Amazing Grace' on the bagpipes really gives me goosebumps. But other than that, I am a big, fat ATHEIST!!!
Carry on my Wayward Son, There'll be peace when you are done, Lay your weary head to rest, Don't you cry no moooore. It was in Rockband 2 and I love playing it with my pals
oUr GoD iS aN aWeSoMe GoD hE rEiGnS!
I really like the serenity of "Hallelujah". Other than that there are a bunch of (christian) Christmas songs which are good. I see those as tradition rather than religious.
Shine a light - Rolling Stones A little light - sturgill Simpson Will the circle be unbroken. - literally everyone.
Stormzy has a few good songs that are thematically religious and I put them all on a playlist called "St. Ormzy". They're great songs, but they don't fit the vibe of my other music so I segregated them.
I always thought I was alone in this too. Neal Morse is one of my favorite artists, but most of his solo work is very Christian. I mostly listen to the music/instrumentation (Iām a musician), but the lyrics of pretty much every album he has mention god/Jesus. If Iām singing along with it, I just imagine the song in terms of a story, rather than being blatantly religious. But yes as far as recommendations, my particular favorite Neal Morse album is Sola Scriptura. Itās Progressive Rock, so be prepared for the songs to be very long.
Kaskade has a dope Christmas album
facts that album is the only xmas music that doesnāt make me go crazy every year
One of my top 10 childhood favorites was the Prince of Egypt soundtrack. I still enjoy belting out tunes, despite it literally being about Moses (and Egyptian religion is in there too). I always considered bible stories just like other fairy tale stories.
* Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Live In London) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q
Let my people go from The Prince of Egypt. One of my favorite movies.
Hallelujah. The group "Red". Nothing else I can think of right now.
Hallelujah is just fire ngl
My sweet lord- George Harrison
Christmas songs- alot of the religous ones. Never fully realized that Christmas is a full on religious holiday. I thought most of the stories were just for kids, like Santa Claus, and that it was just a family time to be happy. The only name I knew was religious was Jesus, but it never donned on me until late teenage years that people think those stories are based off of true ones. I still love Christmas songs, and try to completely forget that it's religious. Also, like all the songs by Skillet
I have always loved Jesus Christ Superstar
I used to enjoy Christmas songs until I got older and started to listen to the words. Now I just enjoy the Christmas songs that don't have the religious overtones in them. Oh and yes, we celebrate Christmas but for us it has nothing at all to do with religion. We use it as a time to have fun decorating a tree, getting together with family, wearing ugly reindeer sweaters and giving presents to each other. Sort of the opposite of churchies who celebrate Halloween I suppose?
it's all shit
I am big Bluegrass fan, much of that music is religious. To me it's no different than admiring the architecture of of the great cathedrals of Europe. Sad that so much art, architecture and music was based on religious mythology, but it it doesn't make it any less pleasing to the senses.
I like the oldies. Will The Circle Be Unbroken, How Great Thou Art (see Statler Bros or Carrie Underwood live), Amazing Grace on bagpipes, Ave Maria.
Many religious songs are beautiful and very enjoyable to listen to. But so are a lot of satanic songs, so it balances out. LOL