# Songs of faith **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915 "2010-10-12T20:17:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/1 "2010-10-12T20:17:23Z")
Inspired by the recent Glee episode. Basically a three parter: 1. Assuming you saw the episode, how did you feel about the selections? I thought “I want to hold your hand” was an appropriate and moving choice for the atheist. Although not really addressing religion, it was still about faith, faith in the people we love. Gospel was an obvious but appropriate choice for the Christian set, although is “bridge over troubled waters” a religious song or just a folk song? Not sure how I felt about the Jewish selections. Billy Joel and Yentl. The Billy Joel song was definitely appropriate for Puck, but it’s kind of weird to think of a song about Catholic girls being sung by a Jewish girl. And Yentl while lovely, is it really representative of popular Jewish music? “What if God was one of us” seemed appropriately non denominational. 2. What songs would you pick as both appropriate/representational of your own faith (including atheism etc), and you know, enjoyable to sing? As an agnostic, I’m really not sure what to choose. Maybe one of the TMBG sciencey songs like “The Big Bang Theory”? Are there any good Spaghetti monster songs? Unitarian songs? Something like “I wanna hold your hand” does seem like a good choice. 3. What songs would you pick as both appropriate/representational faiths (including atheism etc) _other than your own_, and you know, enjoyable to sing? As an agnostic, I’m somewhat fond of “Up the Ladder” (Nylons), “Hymn” (Jars of Clay), and “Maybe God is trying to tell you something” (The Color Purple). Would especially love to hear what people think of as representational popular songs for non Christians. Are there any Muslim pop songs? Having seen a few excellent Indian/Bollywood movies, I’m sure there are a ton of great songs from that culture, although I wouldn’t know which ones have nonsecular themes. How about Sikhs? Scientologists? Discordians? Cat’s Cradle? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/2 "2010-10-12T20:50:54Z")
For atheism, perhaps [Dust in the Wind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH2w6Oxx0kQ&ob=av3n), by Kansas. Imagine, by John Lennon, is a little obvious. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/3 "2010-10-12T23:54:50Z")
Thought of some more after perusing my itunes)- Christianity: Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack (especially Indigo Girls version) Critical of (dogmatic or bigoted/hateful or cultish) religion: “God Thinks” (Voltaire), “Longhaired Radical Socialist Jew” (Hugh Blumenfeld). :Soldiers of Christ" (Jill Sobule), “Teen for God” (Dar Williams), “Under the Disco Ball” (Jill Sobule), “A God Descended” (Dar Williams) Bringing different religions together, or community in general: “Bring Your Own God” (Disappear Fear), “Christians and the Pagans” (Dar Williams), “Seed in the Sahara” (Disappear Fear), “Vrbana Bridge” (Jill Sobule) Being spiritual/moral by focusing efforts on world issues: “I Had No Right” (Dar Williams), “Mary” (Patty Griffin). “Let It Be Me” (Indigo Girls), “Lonely Planet” (The The) Reincarnation: “Galileo” (Indigo Girls), “Resistance Song” (Jill Sobule) Singularianism: “I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Singularitarian” (Charlie Kam) > [@](#): > > I am the very model of a Singularitarian > I’m combination Transhuman, Immortalist, Extropian, > Aggressively I’m changing all my body’s biochemistry > Because my body’s heritage is obsolete genetically, > Replacing all the cells each month it’s here just temporarily > The pattern of my brain and body’s where there’s continuity, > I’ll try to improve these patterns with optimal biology, > (“But how will I do that? I need to be smarter. Ah, yes…”) > I’ll expand my mental faculties by merging with technology Seems spiritual but I’m not actually sure what it’s about: “Lumina” (K’s Choice), “Ray Of Light” (Madonna), “Hallelujah” (Jeff Buckley/Gavin DeGraw), “Chariot” (Gavin DeGraw), “Ring the Bells” (James), Souls" (Chantal Kraviazuk), “Welcome Me”/“World Falls”/“Jonas & Ezekial” (Indigo Girls) Buddhism: “Thank You India” (Alanis Morrisette), anything by Krishna Das, “What Do You Love More Than Love” (Dar Williams) Trying to find meaning or something spiritually higher: “Elegia” (K’s Choice), “Cathedrals” (Jump Little Children), “Caling All Angels” (Train) Sci-fi religion: “Inama Nushif” (Children of Dune), Anathem soundtrack ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/4 "2010-10-13T00:08:54Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > As an agnostic, I’m really not sure what to choose [Let the Mystery Be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaoR5m4L80) works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/5 "2010-10-13T00:17:08Z")
For the relatively generic Christian folks, I’d go with [Simple Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQ_aTjXObs). And _Amazing Grace_. On bagpipes. For myself, first, last, and for evermore, it is always the immortal _Free Bird._ ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/6 "2010-10-13T13:00:34Z")
\*Simple Man \*is one of my faves- love it. I like Nick Cave’s _Into My Arms_- we played it at our wedding “I don’t believe in an interventionist God- but I know, darling, that you do”. _You’ve Got the Love_ works as religious or irreligious _The Power of Love_ _Hallelujah_ ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/7 "2010-10-13T13:44:50Z")
> [@irishgirl](#): > > _Hallelujah_ I don’t know. If Puck sings it, I’ll have to listen to people ask “Jeff Buckley was Jewish?” ---
**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:** [October 13, 2010, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/8 "2010-10-13T13:47:27Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Thought of some more after perusing my itunes)- > > Christianity: > Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack (especially Indigo Girls version) And Godspell. NITPICK: I’m assuming by “soundtrack” you mean the movie with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. Otherwise, MUSICALS DO NOT HAVE SOUNDTRACKS. The proper term is “cast recordings.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/9 "2010-10-13T13:49:41Z")
_Badlands_ by Springsteen \*Now I believe in the love that you gave me. I believe in the faith that could save me. I believe in the hope and I pray that some day it Will raise me above these Badlands…\* ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/10 "2010-10-13T14:17:20Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > > [@irishgirl](#): > > > > _Hallelujah_ > > I don’t know. If Puck sings it, I’ll have to listen to people ask “Jeff Buckley was Jewish?” Leonard Cohen is Jewish. Buckley was just one of many singers who’ve covered Cohen’s wonderful song. Contemporary songs concerning faith not yet mentioned: “Spirit in the Sky” Norman Greenbaum “(What if God Was) One of Us” Joan Osbourne “Higher Ground” Stevie Wonder “People Get Ready” The Impressions “Redemption Song” Bob Marley “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark” Death Cab for Cutie ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/11 "2010-10-13T15:05:07Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > For the relatively generic Christian folks, I’d go with [Simple Man](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHQ_aTjXObs). And _Amazing Grace_. On bagpipes. > > For myself, first, last, and for evermore, it is always the immortal _Free Bird._ _Amazing Grace_ for Protestants. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/12 "2010-10-13T15:14:21Z")
Pete Townshend put Meher Baba’s prayer [O Parvardigar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Parvardigar) to music. > [@](#): > > _…You are all-merciful and eternally benevolent. > You are the Soul of souls, the One with infinite attributes. > You are the Trinity of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss; > You are the Source of Truth, the Ocean of Love. > You are the Ancient One, the Highest of the High…_ ---
**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:** [October 13, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/13 "2010-10-13T17:00:00Z")
Pete Seeger’s [Turn, Turn, Turn](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!). Megahit for the Byrds. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/14 "2010-10-13T17:53:42Z")
> [@xenophon41](#): > > Leonard Cohen is Jewish. Buckley was just one of many singers who’ve covered Cohen’s wonderful song. That was kind of my point. ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/15 "2010-10-13T17:58:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > > [@xenophon41](#): > > > > Leonard Cohen is Jewish. Buckley was just one of many singers who’ve covered Cohen’s wonderful song. > > That was kind of my point. Sorry! I guess I’ve seen the song earnestly miscredited so often it’s hard to notice when that’s done ironically. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/16 "2010-10-13T18:31:28Z")
Hehe… no problem. I should have mentioned that last post (people who only seem to know Buckley’s cover) but I was distracted while posting. I came across more abrupt than I intended. 🙂 I made a joking remark to my wife during that episode that they should have sang “Spirit in the Sky” for Kurt’s dad. _That_ would have played well! ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/17 "2010-10-13T18:40:21Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > For atheism, perhaps [Dust in the Wind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH2w6Oxx0kQ&ob=av3n), by Kansas. That’s kind of ironic, because several members of Kansas were Christian and Kerry Livgren, specifically, was in a Christian rock band (AD) after Kansas. Ecclesiastes 3:19b-20 “Man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.” ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/18 "2010-10-13T18:45:19Z")
Sorry I forgot to respond to the OP. I didn’t find any of the chosen songs particiularly spiritual, although “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” was appropriate and beautiful. I think a better song for Finn, instead of “Losing My Religion” (which is not about losing one’s religion) would have been “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2. Mercedes should have done a real gospel number (there are a million good ones) instead of a folks song. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a great song, but not one I would expect from a church choir. The producers missed a good opportunity by choosing very non-spiritual “spiritual” songs throughout. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-faith/556915/19 "2010-10-13T18:57:51Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > > [@jackdavinci](#): > > > > As an agnostic, I’m really not sure what to choose > > [Let the Mystery Be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaoR5m4L80) works for me. This is the one I came in to suggest. Another for either atheists or agnostics would be the sectarian lyrics to _This Little Light of Mine_. It removes references to God, Jesus and Satan so that it’s basically about being the best person you can be.