Some of the best music ever written has religious words or was written for religious purposes, often because the composer had to earn his living that way. The greatest example, I think, is Bach's B Minor Mass. I have a lot of time for Handel's oratorio Saul, too. Good story and wonderful music.

Sure.
I like joining in on Handel's "Messiah", and I really enjoy singing the hell out of Palestrina's double-choir a capella pieces, just for the challenge.

(What if "god" IS us?)

I was classically trained for me college degree in Music Performance. I sung solo in some great religious works with orchestra and choir and it was great. some of the greatest music in history was sacred music. To me, the words were only incidental to the music, and while I did not agree with the words, I still enjoyed singing the music. I like the Lisa Loeb song too!

I have degrees in music. I believe that the "message" of a song is in the music and not the words put to the music. Some times, being pressed for time, hymn writers would take a popular song of the day, put religious text to it and change it to sound a piece of church music. Its the same with folk music. People used music to tell of the events that they experienced or heard of.
I too can enjoy music without excepting the actual words being used. One of my favorites is "Amazing Grace".

I love that song, most Jesus jumpers find it sacrilegious .

It makes you happy so why not

I think it's fine, though I'm reminded of this gem from King of the Hill:

Yes it is fine, I listen to a lot of Mike Pinto and he has a lot of lyrics thanking god but I just really like the music and the vibe. Then you have the Christian metal bands I get into, not big on the lyrics but the music is gnarly! lol

Gosspil (of any type) is meant to be up-lifting...get in on it!!! Groove to the music. They made it that way! I have an entire play list of religious music just to groove and clean house too.

I like alot of religious music. I'm not going to go to concerts or buy their music, but good music is well, good. I have gone to see Shelly Segal and I did make a point of buying a cd from her personally just to show my support.

I like old time blues - lots of religious references.
Also a fan of kingsX, and their solo works...they got a bit godsy but man that guitar tone, plus the band kicked ass.

I used to enjoy watching "Joan of Arcasia", which used that music as its theme. When I was doign Extra Work, I actaully worked on that show for a day or two. It was fun.

I think atheists can apreciate good music or other entertainment for itself, even if they don't (totlly) agree with the message(s).

I don disagree with songwriters lyrics... it is their body of work and inspiration.

I don't believe in gods of any kind -- never did. But I love music: many of the old hymns and some modern ones, like Lisa's song are really great. I think Creed's 1st two albums were fantastic -- the words could apply to many religions -- then they became sappy and I stopped listening to them. I've listened to modern Christian music and have found no 'soul' within the words or the music. There are lot of religous music in popular groups: Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Simple Man', Jeff Becks' 'People Get Ready' (with Rod Stewart).

Well it really is a song that evangelicals would write if they really cared about the things they claim to care about. Or used to claim they cared about anyway.

If you want to serve god, serve your fellow man. That works for people who believe in god and those who don't.

It's creepy to evangelicals because it smacks too much of the heresy that humans are evolving toward godhood, or it does in their minds anyway. That's not the point of the song however. It's really a riff on "If you do it to the least of these [humans] you do it to me."

I absolutely love everything about that song, including the lyrics.

Not Familiar with Lisa Loeb but I will listen. Try youtubes duet, Broderick Smith and Patience Hodgson's 'God may not be with us'.

This isn't like a religion - do whatever you want, you don't need to ask permission.

I like that song too.

Yes, definitely.

of course

Actuary Joan Osbourne but still a great somg

Joan Osborne sang "One of Us", not Lisa Loeb.