Can't stand E.J. ever since he pledged allegiance to the E.U. and denigrated patriotic British citizens.

In my book (soon to be published, visit your favorite bookstore), "Holy Moses" is no more religious than "Holy shit!" or "Jesus H. Christ", or, in extreme cases, "Jesus H. Christ on a jumped-up, motorized, chariot-driven crutch." Enjoying a song with an Old Testament name in it does not make you religious.

(My book may be a little delayed, actually. It's my life story. All I have so far is the title: "Sit Down Before I Knock You Down." )

Some of the greatest music in history is inspired by religion.

I always thought of "Holy Moses" as an exclamation like "Jesus H. Christ" Granted the subject of the exclamations may have religious origins, but as exclamations they are seldom used in a religious context.

The song Closer by NIN has the lyric "You bring me closer to God" but I assure you that is not a religious song lol.
There are a lot if song that sound and are likelt religious: "God only knows", "Spirit in the Sky" "Your time is gonna come" "Hallelujah" "Amazing grace" "innagadadavita"

Good music is good music.

Its funny that no fanous classical music is considered religious. Atleast ive never heard if it.

I don't think it was the writer's intent. From Blue Moves, you have "If There's a God in Heaven, What's He Waiting For?, and from Honky Chateau, you have in an interesting order two songs, Salvation, followed by the song Slave . . . "Hold on strong to the love god gave, slave . . . . That seems to be pretty convincing to me, there are other examples here and there.
Another interesting little thing about Elton's music, his first album, Empty Sky, in the title track, Empty Sky, if you listen to the start of the words to the song, you will hear probably one of the clearest examples of backtracking. "I'm not a rat to be spat upon" becomes "And all I have to do is add rhythm!"

There's a river running sweat right through our land, through our land,
Driven by a man with a bullwhip in his hand, in his hand
And I've taken just as much as I can stand, I can stand
Oh, we've got to free our brothers from their shackles yeah if we can, if can
Most nights I have to watch my woman cry, oh she cries
Every day I watch the colonel smile, oh he smiles
His painted ladies riding in from town, in from town
Oh I swear one day I'm gonna burn the whore house to the ground, to the ground
Slave! Slave.
To fight the violence we must be brave,
Hold on strong
To the love God gave, slave
There's a rumor of a war that's yet to come, yet to come
That may free our families, free our families and our sons, and our sons
It may lay green lands to barren wastes, all the waste, all the waste
Oh the price of release is a bitter blow to face, ah to face
Slave! Slave.
To fight the violence we must be brave,
Hold on strong
To the love God gave, slave
Slave! Oh slave.
To fight the violence we must be brave,
Hold on strong
To the love God gave,
Slave! Slave.
To fight the violence we must be brave,
Hold on strong
To the love God gave, slave

"Jesus Fuckin' Christ!" also perhaps sounds religious. It isn't.
Taupin and John are fantastic. I never tire of their music.
God is a metaphore, anyway. So long as cultures are influenced by religious ideas and verbage, art, which music certainly is, will reflect that. Music is a mirror held up to some aspect of society.

Shoot, there are quite a few religious Xmas songs I like and always will. ....even if I would love to hear alternative lyrics sometimes. (...am hearing Mahalia Jackson in my head as I type this, lol)

There is nothing wrong with things that have something or other to do with religion that we like. Why throw the baby out with the bath water. If it gives you peace or joy then just enjoy it. There is a very good book by Alain du Botton called Religion for Atheists. I think you would benefit reading it.

My first time listening,

Phil Spectre chucked someone out of a party. They’ve sworn off water, it wasn’t good, (moonshine, spiked punch?), only drinking champers where the bottle’s opened in front of them from now on?

‘He’s my brother, let us live in peace’
Sounds pretty straight forward

Lyrics, like the bible can be interpreted lols.

There is religious music that is also great music.

Handel's 'Massiah', Thomas Tallis's 'Spem in Alium' and so on. Being atheists doesn't mean you have to reject great art.

Lyrics for most of Elton John's songs were by Bernie Taupin.
Religious overtones or not, I love this song. Haven't heard it in a long time. Thanks for bringing it up.

It's a great song.
You don't have to defend the music you like,
to anyone.

I like Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky".
It's a great song, too.
The guitar riffs are awesome.

Sir Elton Hercules John ... an enduring icon!

"Holy Moses, let us live in peace
Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease
There's a man over there, what's his color? I don't care
He's my brother, let us live in peace, oh
He's my brother, let us live in peace, oh
He's my brother, let us, let us live in peace"

Wore out my Yellow Brick Road LP in my youth. Great share ... thank you!

I think EJ is one of the greatest musicians of all time. He is also non-religious. I never tire of him.

Saying "holy Moses" doesn't make the song religious. It's about inclusion/diversity; nothing more, nothing less.