Princes **The Cross ** off The sign of the times.
And some barnstormer by **Lone Justice ** the name of which escapes me right now. I’ll get back to you on this…
I’m with you, Captain Amazing. This song is so dramatic and beautiful, when I hear it sung properly by someone with a great voice, it just brings tears to my eyes.
In contrast to my lack of faith in Christianity, I’m becoming a big fan of The Echoing Green. I know that technically, right now they are pursuing the mainstream market, but some of their stuff is pretty Christian. As for songs, I absolutely LOVE “The Story of our Lives” by them. It’s not OVERTLY Christian, but Christianity is quite definitely there.
Regina Coeli
Amazing Grace
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Go Tell it On the Mountain
Most of the Latin Mass.
(Not an atheist myself - but as close as you can come. And raised Catholic, so I still love to listen to Latin Mass).
It’s about using faith to get through the loss of a child.
Despite my agnostism, I kind of enjoy going to church once in a while. I like to sing (despite my terrible voice) and lots of hymns are fun to sing.
As for hymns I really like as songs: I love both I’ll fly Away and Will the Circle be Unbroken.
I also love Eternal Father, Strong to Save known as the Navy Hymn. Although there are many rather peculiar extra verses that have been ‘added’ to that one over the years. Did you know the Navy Supply Corps has a verse?
Please stand with those who orders fill;
And give them courage, strenth, and skill.
With all your sons and daughters stay
As they must feed, support, and pay.
Oh bless the members of our Corps;
In air, at seas and while ashore.
Heaven help us. One ship Kevin was on had a sadistic Captain who, when planning a Dining Out (very traditional full-dress party with drinks and toasting), required each department to come up with an entertainment they might be called upon to present to the assembly. Most departments had somebody talented to tap – a juggler, a ventriliquest, a trumpet player, somebody capable of writing a skit and bullying his compadres through rehearsals – something. But not poor Supply Department. They didn’t have a shred of entertainment talent of any kind. So the Supply Officer printed out a version of the Navy Hymn with the first and last verses and the Supply Corps abomination sandwiched between. Fortunately for all concerned, the Supply Department did not get tapped to provide entertainment at the party. Having helped Kevin stumble through the song alone I can barely even imagine what it would have sounded like if the whole department had had to sing it. “Entertaining” is not the word that springs to mind.
Finally, to bring us back on topic, I rather like a song I’ve heard at my kid’s Lutheran Church: Here I am, Lord. Very pretty song.
Jerusalem.
Almost forgot: “Jesus Christ” by Wesley Willis. It’s one of his more serious pieces.
Jerusalam
Abide With Me
He Who Would Valiant Be
Land Of Hope and Glory
Bread Of Heaven
I’m an agnostic ethical humanist, rather than an atheist, but I guess I qualify to post here. One of my favorite religious songs is Cry of a Tiny Babe by Bruce Cockburn. It’s the story of the birth of Jesus, and probably the only Christmas song that mentions death squads and hookers.
Gotta admit to more than a few myself:
“Jerusalem” - although I like the Emerson, Lake , and Palmer version for the bombast or any version in a Monty Python sketch.
“Workin’ on a Building” & “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” - John Fogerty, both are covers from his Blue Ridge Rangers one man band album from the 70s.
“I Trust” & “The Christian Life” - The Byrds
“After Forever” - Black Sabbath
“No Depression” - mostly the Uncle Tupelo version, although I intentionally misread it as a darker toned suicide song when I’m feeling morbid.
“When I get My Wings” - Billy Joe Shaver
“Me and Jesus” - Tom T. Hall
“Faith of Our Fathers” - left over from my good little Catholic school boy days.
Then again I have a few Russian Orthodox choral music CDs than I find very relaxing when I’m tired or having a bad day. Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vespers performed by the Robert Shaw Singers is a particular favorite.
Great thread. Let’s see, there are so many great songs:
This Train - Woody Guthrie
Give us A Song - Jonathan Edwards
I Bid You Goodnight - The Pindar Family (and the Incredible String Band, of course)
Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss
Children Go Where I Send Thee - (Trad.) I like Joan Osborne’s version
Gaudete - (Trad.) Steeleye Span or the Medieval Babes version
Jesus is Easy - Martin Mull 
Is that one really by Michael W. Smith? I know MWS does a lot of cover versions of other, lesser-known CCM artists’ songs.
I’m rather partial to Jesus Christ for President and I second The Man Comes Around.
It’s interesting that Creed seems to be completely absent from this thread. That speaks well for the taste and quality of posters on this board.
“Who’s the Victim?” and “Oh No, Not Again” by The Lead. Not only does the first have religion in it, it is a pro-life song and I’m pro-choice. But hey, good music is where you find it.
Almost everything Alabama 3 (or A3 as they’re known in America) have ever written, particularly “Peace In The Valley” and “Converted”.
William Byrd’s Ave Verum Corpus…in fact, a lot of William Byrd’s religious music is quite good.
And Simon & Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson has a fair amount of god-related lyrics, but it’s still a great song.
Also, there’s a piece called Abram’s Pursuit by David Holsinger that we played in HS…I really liked it and I believe it was based on a story from the bible.
At the risk of offending nearly everyone here, I always get a strangely Zen-like calm from Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”.
Haven’t set foot in a church in years, aside from weddings, but I sure love some of the old hymns, especially “How Great Thou Art.” The live recording of Elvis blowing the roof off the joint on that one just about makes me jump up and testify.