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A friend of mine and I were talking about music the other day. I told her that one of my favorite songs is Hallelujah, sung by Jeff Buckley. She was appalled that I would listen to "Christian" music. I told her that is so much more than that. It is religion, sadness, love and searching. I think it is beautiful. Does anyone else like /love it? I also like Appalachian music, a lot of which is religious. I love all kinds of music.

Wisewoman3 7 Apr 18
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47 comments

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1

Ssome of the most magnificent classical music is 'religion' themed, Handel's Messiah as just one example. Gospel has some of the most incredible vocals around! Sometimes the 'lyrics' or theme can be ignored. Sometimes a very human message is inherent in the words, religion based or not. I'm not a fan of most 'church' music "onward christian soldiers" disgusts me, but take it one song at a time!

True John Newton was a slave ship captain but he already was a christian. (christianity had no problem with slavery. In fact it was viewed as the white mans burden to bring it to negroes). Later he became a staunch abolitionist but amazing grace was not initially written about this. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Africa and rescued, hence the " saved. "

7

"Remember when I moved in you"...

Yeah. That's super religious. snort

"Oh God... Oh God..."

And the Holy Ghost was moving too????

7

I absolutely love the song as well. I don't see it being religious. From Leonard Cohen, the writer: Leonard Cohen explained: "Hallelujah is a Hebrew word which means 'Glory to the Lord.' The song explains that many kinds of Hallelujahs do exist. I say: All the perfect and broken Hallelujahs have an equal value. It's a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way but with enthusiasm, with emotion."

k. d. lang's version is spine-chilling. Search "K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah" on Youtube. The last full minute of the video is a standing ovation.

agree on the KD Lang. Her voice usually overwhelms me whatever she is singing

I love that version too. She is an amazing artist. I like Leanord Cohen's version, but there is such a simple purity about Jeff Buckley's that it is my favorite.

I have heard several artists versions but not k.d. Langs’s....I’ll look it up

6

I love it, I'm agnostic, not stupid, the world is full of wonderful things.

Kitz Level 4 Apr 19, 2018
6

I adore that song! Along with Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum....I love the bass.

Please don’t hold this against me. I’m super embarrassed to admit this. But I also like Jesus Take the Wheel cringes in embarrassment

I love Spirit in the Sky and chose it for my brother's funeral ceremony.

5

She's obviously never heard the lyrics. This attitude seems to reek of book burning.

5

We shouldn't ignore our history. There is beauty in paintings with religious themes, music with religious themes, and even some writing. We don't have to follow the preaching in the art, but I think it is acceptable to appreciate the creation of the art.

5

Good music is good music, period. I remember, some years ago, there was ciontroversy about Israel playing Richard Wagner's music in concerts, both because he was an anti semite, and because he was Hitler's favorite composer. Thankfully, rational opnions ruled the day, and Wagner's magnificent compositions were played there.

5

I've always felt this song was way more about intimacy - not religious in the least.

5

Hallelujah is a great song. The original is great, but Jeff Buckley's version is my favorite. That kid nailed it.

5

Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah is one of my favorite songs.

5

I love it too. My favorite carole is O Holy Night. I love to sing it because it is beautiful. Why should anyone be appalled by you liking something pretty. It doesn't mean you are be unfaithful to your beliefs. I say OMG but it doesn't mean I believe in him.

5

It was written and performed by Leonard Cohen. Nothing to do with religion.

4

@hemingwaykitten You wrote ""Hallejuah," written by Leonard Cohen, is not a Christian song. He said this in interviews. Christians often mistake it for one. Tell your friend it was written by a brilliant Jew who sought to capture the feeling of a religious song in secular situations." Your comment implies that the author of this post has to explain away her song choices - it's not necessary to know the origins or history of a song be it secular or Christian. If her friend takes offense to her music choices that is on her. Just like if you take offense to my comment which was in no way offensive - that's on you. It's not my responsibility to take everyone's sensibilities or fragile ego into consideration before I leave a comment.

OH like this one? ?
"if god is good & god is great
why is your heaven so small?" ?

4

It's just music, Singing it by no means makes you a Christian or a believer.
To prove this just observe so-called believing Christians.
They sing hymns often and still don't appear to be real believers or Christian.

3

k d lang sings it best. ...THE TURTLES SING A SONG ENTIRELY of bible verses: TURN TURN TURN. ...our Atheism is not about sterilizing religious influences out of life.....our Atheism is about science, passion for truth and creativity unleashed from heaven bribes & hell threats. ... the good of religions come from caring communities and healthy commitment to greater values or purpose....Hallelujah is pure celebration longing and love redeeming one another. ...adding a non-existent alleged gawd to the mix is mere placebo

3

Yes. Written by a nice Jewish boy.

3

Thought you might appreciate a song co-written and sung by Jeff's father, Tim Buckley. it is also about love, searching and sadness. Tim appeared on the monkees tv show in '68 and sang this hauntingly beautiful song which touches me in a way that's hard to describe. Tim died of an overdose when Jeff was about 6, and tragically, Jeff drowned...which makes this song, Song to the Siren, even more gut wrenching.

here are the lyrics:

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you

Did I dream you dreamed about me ? Were you hare when I was fox ? Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
For you sing
'Touch me not, touch me not
Come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shies from the sorrow'

I am puzzled as the oyster
I am troubled as the tide
Should I stand amid your breakers ? Or should I lie with death my bride ? Hear me sing
'Swim to me, swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you'

This is absolutely beautiful. Very haunting. Thanks for sharing it.

3
3

I love listening to "Can the Circle be Unbroken" and "Amazing Grace"

Oh, me too. I remember every word to them.

3

When my friends and I criticise each others music, we hit each other in the face. Though we have a very different relationship than most folks. Your milage may vary.

3

That's ridiculous, you can still be non-religious or anti-religious and still listening to music that puts "spiritual" beliefs in the limelight. A lot of bands I currently listen to either believe in god, or have some sort of new age belief. Even if I don't believe in any of that its about separating yourself from the artist and the art itself.

3

If we are to disregard music because it has religious references or meanings we will have to throw out the vast majority of classical music, early American music, negro spirituals that shaped so much of our modern jazz music, and country music. Then we need to get rid of religious references in literature, film, and theater. And don't forget the great works of art. Just because we choose to not be religious doesn't mean we can't appreciate beauty wherever it is to be found. One of the things that led me out of religion was my search for truth wherever it was. We shouldn't be afraid of beauty communicated in religious work.

I was able to view the Sistine Chapel ceiling and many cathedrals while I was stationed in Germany, just simply awe inspiring work.
The first two photos were taken in the Fulda Dom Cathedral, in the town I was stationed.

@MacTavish, I'm envious! I will make it to Italy one day. Would anyone ever say we should not look at the works of Michelangelo, or Da Vinci, or any other great artist because they depict biblical characters? When I was a Christian, church people would ask me how a Christian could listen to Led Zeppelin. I'd say, "Like this." And then I'd turn it up.

3

I love listening to the original Carter family, most of which is gospel music, and also the kind of foot-stomping handclapping gospel music that is performed in many African-American congregations.

3

I grew up on religious music, blue grass & the like. I love the harmonies & the echos of the old country in the music. I'm not a fan of gospel as far as the message is concerned but the harmonies & musoc itself can be appreciated. I don't see why a lack of religious belief means I can't enjoy Gregorian chants, classical music that was specifically written as church music, or any other genre of music.

2

Music has no religion has only lyrics that may be associated with religion lyrics.
Enjoy the music is the vibration that makes music

Rosh Level 7 Apr 19, 2018
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