I have no problem reconciling it all. I sang The Messiah with my college chorale. Bach gives me earworms. My entire first year of art history was religious iconography, after we got past cave painting. If it's beautiful, it's beautiful.
This is a favorite:

Gosh, I find nothing wrong with music which may have been inspired by, or is in tribute to, a religious notion. "Hallelujah" is among my favorite songs ever. "Carol of the Bells" is sublime.

Interestingly, a friend who was not at all religious wound up marrying the girl next store (literally), who was very much religious. And she learned an appreciation for his hard core heavy metal music (Ozzy Osborne and such, this was the 1980's lolz). She read the lyrics, and found a way to relate to them within her own belief system.

There's a lesson to be learned from every experience in life, if we choose to find them. It's matter of will. Whether that be Rush's "Free Will" or God's will. I choose to remain open to inspiration from any source, including religious ones. I may not believe in God, but I definitely believe in inspiration, and I don't care how one finds it.

What difference does it make. I sing some Gospel music. I like Christmas music. There is some fantastic art painted by the masters that is religious themed. I am reminded of the Marc Cohn song Walking in Memphis....."Now Muriel plays piano Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would,
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might, she said,
Tell me are you a Christian child?
And I said Mam, I am tonight

Never worry about art or music be religiously inspired. If I like it, that is fine. And I can get past the words of songs mostly. No to "washed in the blood of a lamb". I have my limits.

I have no problem at all reconciling my love for the old world religious music, (think Montverdi's 1610 Vespers) with my atheism. I acknowledge that it was the old world religion of Europe that was the catalyst for so much beautiful compositions of 'yestercenturies' To me , music is a 'absolute ' enjoyment if you understand what I mean..

Gasoline, kerosine, diesel, alcohol: they all burn, and the fire can't tell them apart.

Inspiration is like that.

Great point. Is it needed that there be a reconciliation? If so, perhaps it helps to remember that we are all more alike than different; the proof of that is in our music? Does that work for you?

Agreed.