What are your favorite songs that have a message about atheism?
I think the first song I remember hearing that had a clearly atheistic message was Freewill, by Rush.
I found this one more recently: Shine a Little Light, by The Black Keys. I like The Black Keys, but hadn’t heard this album before. The lyrics are describing a person struggling with their faith. I like the part in the second verse about not being recognized by your old community.
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I don’t think I know any, unless maybe A Perfect Circle’s Judith counts. It’s definitely anti-god.
Or possibly Thoughts of a Dying Atheist by Muse.
Big Houses by Squalloscope is a song about leaving formal religion while having appreciation for the human aspects that modern religion is distinct from. My favourite line is “I have a soft spot for your ancient book of horror stories.”
I enjoy Tim Minchin’s fun piano playing and cheeky lyrics: Tim Minchin - Thank You God
God Was Never On Your Side by Motörhead. Lemmy was always highly critical of religion, and I think that is his definitive statement on the matter. He’s an underappreciated writer.
origin of species by mc frontalot
All these comments and nobody’s basic-bitch enough to mention Imagine by John Lennon? I don’t know if it’s the best song, but it’s the obvious first one I thought of when I read the question.
Heh. I played this at a Christmas street party years ago, and I had a gaggle of bitter old women march towards me, intent on causing trouble. They told me the song’s satanic because “imagine no religion” is exactly the same thing as “imagine no God/spiritual presence”. I replied that the song is actually about the kind of religion that turns people nasty, like them. I turned around to get support from my band, only to see them half a mile down the road. Very memorable Christmas street party, that one.
Thank You God by Tim Minchin
I love Steve Martin.
I hadn’t heard this one before, that was amazing. :D
Two of my favorites are kind of tangential; but certainly involving atheism as a main theme:
Vampire Weekend “Unbelievers”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJd5EMB9im0
Death Cab For Cutie “I Will Follow You Into the Dark”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iV_1ESMHaI
Maybe “Dear God,” by XTC?
NIИ - The Hand That Feeds https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qn7HvnMJZd4&pp=ygUjdGhlIGhhbmQgdGhhdCBmZWVkcyBuaW5lIGluY2ggbmFpbHM%3D
“No Gods & Precious Few Heroes” by Dick Gaughan. A lot of his stuff is similarly themed: “Revolution” and “Stand Up for Judas” also come to mind. He’s a Scottish communist folk singer.
Bad Religion have a few, but that’s pert’near cheating.
Right? I was going to put a couple of NOFX songs but that seems too easy too.
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Pantera has a couple of nice ones. More about anti religion than atheism per se, but still.
Heresy: https://youtu.be/rc-19z52Da0
Slaughtered: https://youtu.be/8DnUwNops-E
Panthera
Vulgar Display of Purr
Thanks for a laugh!
