# Religious songs that even an atheist can enjoy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045 "2008-04-19T21:22:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045/61 "2008-04-21T14:16:35Z")
George Carlin: The only good thing to come out of religion is the music. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045/62 "2008-04-21T14:58:06Z")
George Carlin: “God bless the homicidal maniacs. They make life worthwhile.” ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045/63 "2008-04-21T17:20:09Z")
“Lift Him Up, That’s All” by Ralph Stanley. I cannot abide most Jesus music\*, but that song is just so beautiful I can hardly stand it. \*which makes it real challenging to be any kind of a Bluegrass fan sometimes, let me tell you… ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045/64 "2008-04-21T18:15:19Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] _Jerusalem_ is a fine hymn by Blake with a beautiful tune by Parry. Though as an atheist I am convinced that when I’m dead and gone I shall know nothing about it, if it makes my friends and relatives happy to play something I love, this is what I’d like them to play at my secular funeral. > [@](#): > > And did those feet in ancient time > Walk upon England’s mountain green? > And was the holy Lamb of God > On England’s pleasant pastures seen? > > And did the countenance divine > Shine forth upon these clouded hills? > And was Jerusalem builded here > Among those dark satanic mills? > > Bring me my bow of burning gold! > Bring me my arrows of desire! > Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! > Bring me my chariot of fire! > > I will not cease from mental fight, > Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, > 'Till we have built Jerusalem > In England’s green and pleasant land. It has huge significance to me as a critical patriot - but not a nationalist. [/QUOTE] [Hijack] Eddie Izzard has a lovely rant on the lyrics to this song… [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm958aFW2YM) [/HJ] ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045/65 "2008-04-29T07:12:15Z")
[Let the Light from the Lighthouse Shine on Me](http://youtube.com/watch?v=4V4GVf0jSQ8&feature=related) from the Coen Brothers’ **The Ladykillers**. The song is just nine words long, but it’s an outstanding bit of Gospel. It starts slow and builds and builds and builds until it blows the doors off the church (figuratively). After watching the video, I have to say the version on the soundtrack — split into two pieces — takes this perfect 10 and turns it up to 11. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-songs-that-even-an-atheist-can-enjoy/446045.md?page=3)