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Music for (and against) atheists.

As a popular music historian (of a sort), I am constantly banging head first into hit songs about people's imaginary friends. And, as such, I mourn for the nation and the world.

So ...

Question 1). Which are your most hated god-centric popular songs? (Mine are, in order, "God Bless The U.S.A." (Lee Greenwood), "Jesus Take The Wheel" (Carrie Underwood) and "Jesus Walks" (Kanye West).

Question 2). Do you have any god-centric popular songs that you rather like, despite their theme? (I'll only admit to "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, though there are one or two others.)

Question 3). This one is going to be a stumper, I fear. Aside from "Imagine" by John Lennon, is there/are there another/other popular song(s) which are expressly atheistic/humanistic and specifically don't call upon an invisible friend? (I say "popular," in that there are probably many by a variety of indie artists, but those don't necessarily swim in the mainstream where everyone would have heard it on the radio.)

There are a million reasons why there wouldn't be -- not the least of which it's hard to sing about a negative of something (belief), but maybe I'm overlooking something.

Tags: Atheism, Culture, Music, Pop

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Walsh on December 30, 2009 at 11:43am

I'm gonna just answer number 2 here.. but even though I pretty much dislike country music as a whole I have a soft spot for Go Rest High On That Mountain by Vince Gill. Probably because they played it at every freaking funeral I've been to and I can hold myself together pretty well for the most part, until this song comes on. Then I turn into a blubbering, sobbing moron. Not that I wasn't sad or crying already, it just sends me over the edge and sends a whole new wave of emotion and starts it over again.

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Permalink Reply by Rucareanu Valentin on June 18, 2010 at 1:36am

That's the song I was going to list. I love that song, even though I don't agree with the message. The music is amazing, but the lyrics I could do without. Great song though.

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Permalink Reply by Charles on December 30, 2009 at 12:29pm

I'm very disappointed in what "atheist"music I do hear.I hate metal with a passion and that what I seem to encounter.How about happy songs about not being a non-believer.A few years back I bought a CD of atheist music from the FFRF where Dan Barker sang some nice atheist songs.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Page on December 30, 2009 at 1:13pm

Unfortunately biblical references too often passes for poetic depth. Dylan’s been getting away with it for years. My all time favorite atheist song is probably “Hand Of the Almighty” by John Butler. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLwtqwnI6ko

There are way too many god songs to pick a worst one, at least for me. Although when you throw in some America First crap, like Lee Greenwood, it reaches almost colossal proportions. The ones I like would have great music, or be in a foreign language – if the song is well performed I can make up my own content regardless of how much god is actually in there.

Here’s a song I wrote a few years ago. It may be too folkie for some of you but it gets the point across.

"Mister God"

a little piece of rock came down one bright and shiny day
to fall upon this earthly ground from many million miles away
and the people from the institute, they took it in their stride
they said "it came from the planet Mars and its got life inside”

and what I want to know is what're you gonna do now, Mister God?

Galileo was a scientist who made his matters worse
when he said the earth was not the center of the universe
“oh yes it is,” they said, “and that's where it's gonna stay”
and they arrested him for heresy and jailed him away

and what I want to know is what're you gonna do now, Mister God?

Darwin had a thought, he could not keep it to himself
that he was once a monkey and so was everybody else
“but man is in the image,” they said, “and the image must be true
so if we were once a monkey, god was once a monkey too"

and what I want to know is what're you gonna do now, Mister God?

way down in Arizona land, in a sacred native place
they're building them a telescope for staring into space
and the church is there to bankroll, to help and not to hurt them
should the aliens be heathens they'd like to be the first to convert them

and what I want to know is what're you gonna do now, Mister God?

in matters of reality it's always touch and go
some would like to dam it up and some would let the waters flow
but it’s a simple calculation when the final score is in
between the rock and the water, the water always wins

and what I want to know is what're you gonna do now, Mister God?

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Permalink Reply by Starscream on December 30, 2009 at 5:20pm

One that always confused me is Judith by Perfect Circle. I've had religious people tell me it's about Jesus, but the lyrics sure make me think it's a against religion and blind faith.

And since the internet is so full of information I just read that it was about his mom who had an aneurysm when the song writer was 11, and she could no longer take care of him, but she remained faithful.

The lyrics:

You're such an inspiration
For the ways that I will
Never, ever choose to be
Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your savior has abandoned you

Fuck your God, your Lord, your Christ
He did this, took all you had and
Left you this way, still you pray, never stray, never
Taste of the fruit, never thought to question "Why?"

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a hateful spear into his side
Praise the one who left you broken down and paralyzed

He did it all for you...
He did it all for you...

Oh so many ways for me to show you
How your dogma has abandoned you

Pray to your Christ, to your God
Never taste of the fruit, never stray, never break, never
Choke on a lie even though he's the one who
Did this to you, you never thought to question "Why?"

It's not like you killed someone
It's not like you drove a spiteful spear into his side
Talk to Jesus Christ as if he knows the reasons why

He did it all for you...
He did it all for you...
He did it all for yo

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Permalink Reply by Olga Spelts (Human Bean) on June 19, 2010 at 2:49pm

I despise that song. I remember having to listen to that horrible song in the 90's when I was in elementary school and my mom and step dad would take me to the baptist christian church!!Ugh, made me wane for the catholic church and all their bloody pics of jesus hanging and the quiet hypocrisy of the catholics.

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Permalink Reply by Michael on June 18, 2010 at 8:08am

Eulogy from Tool was always nice. Some say its about Jesus, some say L. Ron Hubbard, others say a number of other things. I guess it is for the listener to decide.

He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.
We'll miss him.

He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.
We're gonna miss him
We're gonna miss him

So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren't afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don't cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We'll miss him.
We'll miss him.

Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart.
We'll miss him.
We'll miss him.
We're gonna miss him.
We're gonna miss him.

No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me,
Like I care at all.

But you were so loud.
You sure could yell.
You took a stand on every little thing
And so loud.

"I'm too smart when you're invisible by the bone and the symbol on you. So he bashes his skull through the window while over looking the sea. Twilight amber ego. We were amused by this"

Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I'm so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me.

Will you? Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don't you fuckin lie.

Don't you step out of line.
Don't you step out of line.
Don't you step out of line.
Don't you fuckin lie.

You've claimed all this time that you would die for me.
Why then are you so surprised when you hear your own
Eulogy?

He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.
He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.

Come down.
Get off your fuckin cross.
We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

To ascend you must die.
You must be crucified
For our sins and our lies.
Goodbye!!!

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Permalink Reply by Coughcool on June 18, 2010 at 9:55pm

I don't know if the members of Slayer are Atheists. But I'm pretty sure they aren't Christians. Last couple of CDs have had some killer lyrics. Christ Illusion & World Painted Blood CD song samples from "Cult & Hate Worldwide" Powerful stuff.

"Cult"
Oppression is the Holy Law
In God I distrust
In time His monuments will fall
Like ashes to dust
Is war and creed the master plan?
The Bible's where it all began
Its propaganda sells despair
And spreads the virus everywhere

[Refrain:]
Religion is hate
Religion is fear
Religion is war
Religion is rape
Religion's obscene
Religion's a whore

The pestilence of Jesus Christ
There never was a sacrifice
No man upon the crucifix
Beware the cult of purity
Infectious imbecility
I've made my choice
666!

"Hate Worldwide"
I stab you right between the eyes
You awaken from the lies
I said it ever since the inception
Where the masters of deception
I'm a godless heretic
Not a god-fearing lunatic
That's why it's become my obsession
To treat God like an infection

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Nicole on June 19, 2010 at 10:27am

Ugh, I hate Jesus Take the Wheel with a passion. And just thinking about it gets it stuck in my head. >.X So excuse me while I go smash my head into a brick wall to make it leave.

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Permalink Reply by Olga Spelts (Human Bean) on June 19, 2010 at 2:46pm

Concur there!

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Permalink Reply by Tom Thompson on June 19, 2010 at 11:21am

#3) Rush has lots of anti-religion songs.

The other questions, who cares.

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Permalink Reply by Olga Spelts (Human Bean) on June 19, 2010 at 2:45pm

Otep! Its metal but one of my faves on that one is The Lord Is My Weapon",
"The lord is my weapon
And I see him shoot pawns
Woman is the devil
Your god is a fraud
Everyone you knew
Everything you've ever done
Suffer for your freedom
Die by the law"

Theres also Unveiled by Otep. She mentions Gods like Kali but only in the sense of destroying all the Gods of today. Theres also Blasphemous Girl My Ruin or 100% by Angelspit.