Should an atheist sing gospel music?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Yep. I’ve lived in places like that. In that case, by the “sin of omission”, you might be said to be there under false pretenses. Which could still be rationalized and excused for some of the reasons people have benn posting above, but it might come back to haunt you later on. If you make friends with some people in the choir or the choir decides to go on outings as a group (Bible study, Sunday church picnics), it could be especially awkward revealing several months down the line that you’re an atheist – people might feel deceived, even if you meant no harm. Better to make a clean breast of it now.

And again, it wouldn’t have to be a big drama. Just pull the director aside, explain what’s going on, and if he invites you to stay, the word will get around.

I’ll warn you though, if it’s really that evangelical a place, you’ll probably have some proselytization attempts that you’ll have to put up with! :smack:

22

I am a Christian, and I have no musical talent, just to let you know where I’m coming from. I used to be an atheist, so I can relate to that, too. I can’t, though, relate to singing in a gospel choir as an atheist.

Most people I know who sing gospel or other Christian music think of it as primarily a spiritual expression, less a musical performance. The saying is “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” so it’s about your spirit, not your talent. I can totally understand an atheist performing religious music as part of a musical performance, but just can’t see it as relates to being in a gospel choir. If I were in such a choir, as a Christian I’d assume my fellow singers were also in it for the spiritual expression. I’d have a hard time figuring out why an atheist was there. An agnostic/Unitarian, it would be easier to understand–they believe maybe in something, but are not sure it’s Jesus/God. So they are there to experience and seek. But if you are sure that there’s no God, to me it would just be strange. Kinda like the white suburban “homeboy” rappers, the impression that they are not being themselves.

As a Christian I feel bad not encouraging you to hang around Christians, but if you do join the gospel choir, don’t act surprised that we really believe, and most will encourage you to stay, in the hope that someday you will believe, too. It reminds me of this joke –

A fox came to a river and upon arriving met a scorpion. The scorpion was wanting to cross the river but would drown if he tried, so he asked the fox if he could ride across the river on his back.

The fox said no way. If I take you out there and you sting me I will drown. The scorpion said if I sting you we will both drown so why would I sting you.The fox said you have a good point, so I guess I will take you.

The scorpion hopped on his back and they headed across the river, but halfway across the scorpion stung him. The fox said why did you do that, now we will both drown. The scorpion said I can’t help it. It is in my nature.

23

I don’t know about Streisand, but Diamond sang in Christian churches as a young man because he loved the music. (Have you heard Channukah music? Oy! ;j ) I loved Christmas music long before I came to terms with Jesus, and I started my collection of it when I was an agnostic.

24

We just had a thread that involved a bunch of atheists saying they liked gospel and religious music. So that doesn’t really make you a hypocrite, and I’d say go for it if you enjoy it. The thing that might be more hypocritical or problematic is not just that you’re singing it, it’s that you’re spreading a message you don’t agree with. I think you should consider whether that’s an ethical problem for you.

25

I’ve heard that joke, too, but it was with an scorpion, a monkey, and the Tigris River. And the punch line was, “I can’t help it. This is the Middle East.”

26

I sing gospel songs all the time. I’m not Christian. I’m white as a ghost. My favourite song? This Little Light Of Mine.

I do it because it feels really good. Gospel music is enormous fun to sing. Is it hypocritical? I don’t feel that way, and nobody else seems to care. Is it offensive? No one has said a word if they think so.

Does it make me happy? Hell yes. Does it make other people happy? Oh, yeah.

When everyone is smiling, and everyone is having fun, and it’s bringing joy to other people - how could it be wrong? Ethically - I don’t believe in it, but I respect that others have beliefs that differ from my own. I can show my respect by singing their songs with them (it’s not the only way to show respect, nobody has to do a damn thing to show respect for others’ beliefs, but I choose to do so because I enjoy it).

The only thing I worship is the music. :wink: It’s beautiful.

But hey, I celebrate Christmas, too. I just really enjoy it. I tend to celebrate it as an entire “season”, and not just a day. Make of that what you will.

27

Go for it.

The summer between high school and college, I had an opportunity to stage manage a production of Godspell. My friend the director/producer/whatever head honcho knew my lack of religiosity, and did not care. Initially, I held back from the cast that I believed the show’s godliness to be, as the OP described it, absurd. Eventually it just kinda came out, and they didn’t care since I did my job well. In the end, I not only stage managed, but sang the lead for “On the Willows” from offstage. And I had a blast.

28

As a singing Christian-- I vote go for it.

As a pragmatist, however, I feel the need to give advice which is: talk to the director, and ask where on the spectrum from “concert containing Sacred music” to “worship service/revival containing Sacred music” it is anticipated performances will fall. Even if you don’t make a big deal about your atheism, if you are uncomfortable or unhappy with the notion of listening to scripture readings, testimonies, prayers and sermons as a part of performances, you would be better off finding out now. And just because the director is religious in other parts of his life, doesn’t neccessarily mean that he intends this gospel group to be a religious outreach. On the other hand, if he does intend to use this gospel group for religious purposes, you may wish to drop out–no matter how fun the rehearsals are, if you feel forced to endure Christian propaganda, you may not enjoy the performances, and it will only get harder to drop out with out upsetting your friends and co-workers.

29

Once again, somebody has to come around and say what I meant in a much better way. This time the demon arrived in the form of Eureka :slight_smile:

In addition to my previous post, let me offer another opinion on your situation. If you have a fundamental opposition to anything Christian, by all means avoid the choir. The base purpose of gospel music is to inspire and confirm the belief in God in those that want to hear it. So it doesn’t really matter that you’re an atheist, rather the root cause of the singing is to reach those that do worship God. Being Catholic, I trust that God blessed you with a voice fit for His praise (of course, I’ve never personally heard you). And even if you don’t have faith, your voice is still good to hear.

A choir isn’t about the individual singer. It’s meant to be a larger package. A choir is, by definition, a group of singers signing praise to God. But, again, it’s not about the singer. The songs are sung for other people. If you enjoy singing, and enjoy knowing your singing makes makes people feel comforted or joyous or inspired, I just can’t see that your atheism would play a part with anyone but you.

What you have to understand, though, is that by default many situations that would call on you to sing gospel will be religious. No matter what situation you’re in or whom the director is.

Like the rest of us, you’ve made a personal decision on if you will or will not worship God. (or any god for that matter) Whether you sing songs written to praise Him or not is something you need to figure out yourself. The opinions of anyone else is irrevelevant. The question is, do you feel hypocritical doing it? If you’re not sure, try it out for a few weeks. If it isn’t your cup of tea, quit. I can’t imagine a choir group that will flog you for not wanting to stick around. You don’t even have to let them know you’re an atheist, just make any excuse about time constraints.

(I hope this post comes across as intended. A non-binding opinion)

30

At least for me, music was always about making others happy doing something I liked doing. The philosophy behind the words is secondary in my eyes, you are telling a story, that people want to hear. IF you enjoy performing I would advise you not to say anything about your philosophical objections and enjoy your part of the show. An athiest still understands love, devotion, duty, and artistic expression. You are just as capable of performing and properly emoting the material as any christian member of the group.

31

Yet another has to be more succinct. Keep this up and I’ll sing your praises in the Pit. :stuck_out_tongue:

32

Not very Christian of you, duffer. :smiley:

33

I’m a recovering Christian. I don’t yet call myself an atheist, but I’m hard-pressed to accurately define my spiritual leanings. That being said, I still sing Handel’s Messiah each year, usually at a sing-along. (A few years ago, I performed with a choir.)

34

My wife and I are not Christians (raised in church but didn’t stay), but we are singers of shapenote music.

The truism for many shapenote singers is something like the following: you get into it because you love the music, and soon the words (standard 19th-century Christian themes) mean something to you, but finally you stick with it because of the fellowship with the other singers.

We’ve experienced all of these phases, but mainly we love the music and we love the other people who sing it.

I imagine that the experience of gospel music must be much the same. A spiritual pleasure shared.

In our adopted singing tradition, people of all religious backgrounds, including atheists, are welcome (the motto is, “check religion and politics at the door”). This ecumenicism is what makes us feel at home.

35

If the people extending the invitation (the choir, or some element of it, I presume) are fairly comfortable with the idea and you want to do it, I’d say go ahead; singing words that you do not actually acknoledge as factually true is something people do all the time; for example - it is not actually raining men.

If you think the choir members might at some point get vexed about the idea of an athiest in their ranks, then you might want to avoid it; not necessarily to protect their beliefs, but just to avoid an unpleasant conflict.