jackelope’s post reminded me… I love organ music…I don’t mean Hammond organs…I mean the big pipe organs found in churches… But, as I don’t go to any churches, I rarely get to hear them in person… last time I heard a live organ performance was at a friend’s wedding last year…
How Great Thou Art
Salve Regina
I Sing the Mighty Pow’r of God
Amazing Grace
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
Handel’s Messiah
O Holy Night
Silent Night
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (it may not be explicitly religious, but if listening to it isn’t a religious experience, I don’t know what is)
Balinese Gamelan (not always religious, but I don’t understand the words, so I’ll just list it as a catch all )
I’ve always liked the goofy songs the Hare Krishnas sing and Buddist chanting too.
how great thou art Lovely song, though I disagree with Christianity.
On a website for the Bhagavad-gita (sp?) they had absolutely beautiful recordings of a woman singing verses of the book with the accompaniment of a sitar. I’d love have the recordings on the CD even though I strongly disagree with Hinduism.
How 'bout the version of “Salve Regina” that they sang in Evita near the beginning? (Where they said “Eva” instead of “hevae,” but kept everything else the same.)
According to www.lyricsfreak.com, the lyrics are by Michael W Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick. Music by Michael W Smith.
Oh, and pepperlandgirl? Jesus Christ for President? By who? I know of a song called Christ for President by Billy Bragg and Wilco, lyrics by Woody Guthrie. Same song?
Yeah, when I posted today I thought “Eh, I should look up the title to get it right” but then I thought “I’m too lazy for that. People will know what I mean…”
Do Islamic songs count? In that case this moralist/atheist nominates “Mohammad” by Farhad. Great song- but I’ll wager no one’s ever heard it…
I’m not an atheist, but my understanding of God exists on more of a philosophical level than a religious one (i.e., I don’t think God, whatever it is, needs to be worshipped). That said, my favorite religious songs are probably Simon and Garfunkel’s covers of traditional Christian songs and originals that use Christian imagery (though not always positively). There’s something great about two Jews singing about Jesus.
Frank Zappa’s “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing” and “Dumb All Over” are anti-religious songs, but great as well.
‘In my time of dying’ by Led Zeppelin
another vote for ‘Spirit in the Sky’.
Umm…“Soap, Soup, and Salvation” perhaps?
Actually, a lot of their first album fits this thread, especially “Pass it One” and especially “You Are the Light” (Maria’s vocals on the latter always give me goosebumps).
She also a good a solo tune that fits the bill: “Only Once” (I think; my CDs are still boxed up): “I will love you from my grave/I will love you 'til I’m saved.”
49 replies and I’m the first to mention Kate Bush’ Running up that hill (make a deal with God) ?
Love the song, but it just doesn’t leap to mind in the category “religious songs”. 
O.K., flame me if you want, but I like “[What if God was] one of us”. I think it’s a catchy tune. I like the hook, where it repeats the simple melody 3 times and slightly changes the rhythm on the 3rd time so it leads into the last line. I don’t believe in God, but I’ve always been partial to the portrayal of God as a “regular Joe”, rather than an aloof, vengeful, smiting kind of God. What if God just liked to come to Earth and hang out, as in the movie “Dogma”, or did janitorial work as in “Bruce Almighty”? It’s a cute idea.
And I won’t even get into all the wonderful religious classical music. Way too much to even mention.
Heaven - Live
That song rocks! Almost makes me wish I…NAH!!!
Does “Snoopy’s Christmas” count? It is about a religious holiday. And I do love that song…
I’ve been a long time atheist, although I really feel that I’m a Pagan. Something about Wicca makes so much sense to me. I like to listen to the contemporary Christian music station on the radio from time to time, but have to change the channel after a couple of songs (once I start listening to the lyrics.) I like the song I Could Sing of Your Love Forever by Delirious. I like their version best.