What it's like to be an atheist who listens to country music.

FraternityMan · 3 months

I love country music, I feel weird singing along with the religious parts. I suppose its the same feeling when a white privileged boy sings along to gangsta rap...

VonIsengard · 3 months

Ha. I listen to it, too. Oddly enough, I love the song "God gave me you". I think it's a sweet, romantic idea, the same way I think Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are sweet without believing any of it could actually happen.

And I figure if Miranda Lambert keeps rescuing stray dogs out of ditches, she can sing about Jesus all the wants.

MrStuff · 3 months

Upvoted the hell out of this. You get through some great songs (personally I go in for great older stuff like Wild Irish Rose) and then something like Way Out Here or Jesus Take the Wheel comes on the radio. It's like trying to take a relaxing stroll through a field of landmines.

.

Edit: Might as well add this while I'm the top comment, because it's relevant and damn hilarious. :D

ramirrezdoeverything · 3 months

GREAT SCOTT, MARTY.

Kowcow · 3 months

Good to know there are more atheist country fans!

TheVetrinarian · 3 months

As someone who generally hates country music, I don't know that feel.

Payne4 · 3 months

There's no denying that 'One flew over the cucoo's nest' has some great faces in it.

LawlCzar · 3 months

I'm in a state of shock that other non-religious people listen to country music.

schmiegola_mcbain · 3 months

All my roommates listen to country. It's not too bad, but to me it comes off as straight up propaganda.

sludgefiend504 · 3 months

Hank Williams III, 'nuff said.

GeekOfDoom · 3 months

This is excellent, it's basically the same look I get. Does anyone know what this is from?

MaeveningErnsmau · 3 months

That's the experience I have listening to Sufjan Stevens.

DrDicknips · 3 months

Is that a young Christopher Lloyd? He looks kinda like Bill Hader.

CorFace · 3 months

There's a lot of brilliant country that in no way include religious messages.

JimRJapan · 3 months

I'm a banjo player, and some of my favorite tunes to pick are spirituals...good music is good music, even if you don't buy into the message.

cteez910 · 3 months

The problem I have with country music is basically that its pretty much all waaay too idealistic. The world isnt like that. I understand that you might want to be taken back to a time in your teenage years where you didnt give a shit about life and you could just enjoy the moment in your ugh "hitched up pickup truck with the windows down and cold ones in the bed." But every other song doesnt have to be about that or the nice girl who you pickup at prom and spend an incredible night with. I have strong feelings against country music, and it sucks because i live in Georgia and go to school at the University of South Carolina. /rant

fearlessly · 3 months

The only ones that bother me are the ones where someone has cancer, and then something something JESUS FIXED 'IM.

No, science fixed him.

I just roll my eyes and carry on with my day.

seancolorado · 3 months

I love country music! Even if it has Jesus references, as long as the music is good then I'll swallow those lines just to listen to the rest of the song!

Morfesto · 3 months

Check out Liquor and Whores!

AgentKilroy · 3 months

I have to ask; what movie is this from?

joshisneat · 3 months

"God is great, beer is good... and people are crazy.."

brattonWVU · 3 months

So, basically, just like being a Christian on reddit.

[deleted] · 3 months

You shouldn't feel weird for the music parts, and I've never been more ashamed to call myself an atheist than when I see these posts about country music (/s part over).

Just replace the names with other names, and you'll see it sounds perfectly natural. Replace "Jesus" with "Baal", "Mighty God" with "Mighty Mammon" and "Holy Ghost" with "Spirit of Asmodeus". And instead of being the cult of Jesus Christ, think of these songs in terms of the cult of the Seven Princes of Gothic Halja. It sounds totally fine when you just change the names to something unfamiliar, it doesn't sound like a creepy superstitious cult at all!

Woops, guess I wasn't done with the sarcasm after all.

asspril · 3 months

I was just thinking how funny it is that one of my favorite songs it "Long Black Train" by Josh Turner.

Talphin · 3 months

I have fantasies of starting an atheist country band, and making it big. And then I come back to reality.

Stately_Gentleman · 3 months

I enjoy the oldies like Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn. There is a lot to be said for their songs of heartbreak.

waterbabies3 · 3 months

Drop kick me, Jesus, through the goal posts of life. Ahhhh - good times.

Epithemus · 3 months

And remember theres someone, up abooooovvvee

And be a simple, kind of a man

Or be someone, you love and understand

ecmmyers · 3 months

Same here, I listen to metalcore and there are a number of good, Christian bands. I can enjoy the music without endorsing the message.

Drewu271 · 3 months

I surprisingly LOVE Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum. I think that is the artist. It isn't country but it relates.

Eppsmayne · 3 months

Yeah. Country music gets so out of hand sometimes. Listening to Carrie Underwood is EXACTLY like walking through a minefield.

Archae23 · 3 months

You know I grew up with country and I still love it,but being an atheist does make it difficult to stay focused.

holloway · 3 months

Not sure what his beliefs are but Smog has a few nice songs, like Mother Of The World

Whether or not there is any type of god

I'm not supposed to say

And today

I don't really care

God is a word

And the argument ends there

ElAyDubleZee · 3 months

Same reaction when my mom found out "that guy" on How I Met Your Mother is gay IRL.

thedarkpurpleone · 3 months

I usually just ignore the lyrics when the song starts getting religious. Like "Long Black Train" I just love the sound of Josh Turners voice, don't even care what the lyrics are saying.

SolomonGomes · 3 months

Any Bob Dylan fans here? I love most his albums but listening to "Slow Train Coming", "Saved" and "Shot of Love" is hard work for an atheist.

btinc · 3 months

Being an atheist who is also gay, liking country music is a double-whammy for me.

oddballodd · 3 months

Today's "country" music is just hip-hop for rednecks.

PneumonicFungus · 3 months

I feel the same way, Blues being my favourite type of music.

kittysparkles · 3 months

This is how I feel as a Christian who likes black metal.

bscoder · 3 months

I don't like country music, but I always upvote this gif regardless what it's associated with.

ImBatginge · 3 months

I fucking love One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
I believe Johnny Cash is the only good country singer.

AutumnEmber · 3 months

Glad I love rock music. I don't think I could deal with all of that.

TrickTrolld · 3 months

My favorite country line:

This house is protected by the Lord... and a gun.

If you can find which song this belongs to, you get a *cookie.

*upvote

thegreatgazoo · 3 months

Atheists have pickup trucks that break down and dogs that die. Atheists don't mind being called darling even if you don't have to or don't know their name.

Probably not many have their momma get run over by a train the day she leaves prison. But everyone has their problems.

TheDreadCat · 3 months

Same here, being in Texas, and I just laugh allllll day long at the people here. Love me some country though. Edit: Took out random words.

spiderlandcapt · 3 months

I listen to a shit ton of music and to me some of the most energetic and rock n roll music is old gospel. The lyrical message becomes just part of the music itself.

Stuff like this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il2xXRSJLmc

xoites · 3 months

My boss swears that if you play Country Music backwards your dog comes back to life and your ex wife stops drinking.

high5sexwhoa · 3 months

What it's like being an atheist being bombarded with FB screen shots and constantly being reminded that the atheists on Reddit are the most intolerant of all...http://i.imgur.com/vhN7Y.gif

BlastMeBagpipes · 3 months

What film is this clip is this from? Cookoo Nest?

xMidnitex · 3 months

I think I've seen this clip somewhere before. Anyone care to tell me?

dreambmcgee · 3 months

ha! for some reason I love the shit out of bible music. I listen to it while cleaning and while getting waisted.

lianodel · 3 months

I don't listen to a lot of country, but if I love Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. I know all the words to every song, and often sing along with them—no exceptions.

twowheels · 3 months

Of course, there are sometimes some good ones... one of these days I want to play some Willie Nelson when my mom's in the car (her favorite)... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboys_Are_Frequently,_Secretly_Fond_of_Each_Other

geek_loser · 3 months

Watching the music video for Concrete Angel is a tear jerker.

TheOnlyPolygraph · 3 months

I feel this way about P.O.D. Not exactly country, no, but really catchy songs that don't preach at you too much (save for Satellite, but that song is too good for me to give a damn).

FreeThinkerLee · 3 months

I love country music, so I know exactly what you mean, I wish there were secular country music stations.

C_Hodges · 3 months

Squirrel?

dclowd9901 · 3 months

I love gospel music for its tradition, harmonies and vibrancy. I see no conflict.

Corrik · 3 months

Please don't associate the pop country crap on the radio with all country. Check out a band called O'Death for proof.

kerelberel · 3 months

Try listening to the brand of country music featured in films like Easy Rider. Try The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers or Gram Parsons. Whether they're religious or not doesn't matter that much, it's not a big theme in their music.

moths · 3 months

Lee Hazlewood!

moths · 3 months

High on Jesus?

kencat1 · 3 months

Yeah I listen to metalcore and I feel the same, but it doesn't usually bother me.

GreenElite87 · 3 months

This is why I either listen to melodic music only or I just listen to the sounds of their voices, without hearing the meaning of the words...I feel like I listen to a couple songs already that I'm morally against, but they're pleasing to the ear.

Ematrix56 · 3 months

Meh, I don't give a damn.

AFewSecondsAgoDouche · 3 months

Excellent.

Have an upvote, from all of my accounts <3

storycoolbro · 3 months

i just watched this movie earlier today...well i guess yesterday now

blackjesus75 · 3 months

God gave me you, every time but I still sing along.

wittyusernameplease · 3 months

I always feel really odd about liking Carrie Underwood and Faith Hill. Now I don't feel so bad. Thank you, r/atheism.

faceinthegrass · 3 months

The same face was made when I found out Spirit in the Sky was about Jesus. (As if the name didn't give it away already)

MrBurd · 3 months

What it feels like as a gay atheist listening christian country.

TooManyCoffee · 3 months

The best title for this .gif was "Drunk at 4 in the morning when I realize I have to be to work by 7."

SupersonicSnail · 3 months

I listen to all kinds of music, some having religious lyrics. While I despise all religion, I enjoy art. And personally, as long as I enjoy a musicians work, I don't give the slightest fuck what his believe or ideology in any way is.

adieuSpaceCowboy · 3 months

I'm not an atheist but I still thought the gif was hilarious. BTW I feel like everyone does that when they listen to country haha.

creepymouse · 3 months

I have a list of approved topics for Country music. I think it all should be about drinking, cheating, fighting, trains, or truck driving.

Unapproved topics are Jesus, dead children, America, and grandmothers.

todenyyrgoal · 3 months

This is totally me haha. Great gif for the situation.

GregorMendel · 3 months

Hahaha, love it.

Shredder13 · 3 months

Huh?

MasTacosPorFavor · 3 months

In terms of country music, I like the Texas/Oklahoma Red Dirt scene. While there's an occasional shout out to Jesus in the songs, it's a lot less preachy than a lot of the mainstream stuff. Sets country hipster switch to off.

And then there's always Hayes Carll's She Left Me For Jesus

Lay-Z-Bones · 3 months

I would like to recommend to you then Voltaire ( the singer not the other one ) I personally enjoy his one country album hate lives in a small town. Its a good listen if you have time.

MicFury · 3 months

This happens to me all the time. It's nice to know I'm not the only one.

laskuraska · 3 months

now i wonder what a country song would even sound like without god in it...

oh wait!! I know!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq2eeJMt2YE

Doughb0y · 3 months

My friend is quite the redneck, loves nascar, loves country and is an atheist. Kind of a mind fuck when i only have 2 other atheist friends and they are te definition of college liberal

RickRay1 · 3 months

Whenever I used to buy albums when I was younger (I'm 63) of country artists, you'd always get one religious song on it. Somehow, in my atheist mind I couldn't bring myself to listen to it. If the story or message is preachy or godly I kinda turn it off! Other than that, I do enjoy my country music. But, old rock & roll of the 50's, 60's, 70's is what I listen to a lot more now that I'm an out of the closet atheist. Fuck I'm getting old!

queenlikememo · 3 months

I attended my cousin's wedding last october. The theme of her wedding was "rustic" and my whole family and I had to endure listening to country music for three and a half hours. I felt like the young kid in "cuckoo's nest" who wanted to slash his wrists.
On the ride home, my boyfriend and I jammed to Rick Astley just to scrub our brains from listening to the most twangy, jesusy country music i've ever had the displeasure of listening to.

PANTSoRAMA · 3 months

Does anyone else watch "The Voice". I was agog at the guy who sang Jesus Take the Wheel. He dedicated it to his mom who died in a car crash.

Stunning, and the last thing I want on the road is some addled moron in the midst of a potential car wreck, throwing up their hands, and letting God do the work.

Owlsrule12 · 3 months

This is legit. I make the exact same expression when listening to decent music that references religion. I usually look around to see if anyone else heard + is atheist. success kid when I do see someone else making the expression

EvelynJames · 3 months

Rap too. Or the Blues, Gospel, Soul...well just about everything. Hell even Metal. Aint no Satan without God.

Goldenelm · 3 months

Doc!

whale_omelette · 3 months

Clearly you are not listening to the right country music: Robbie Fulks

0ffGrid · 3 months

I sort of like bluegrass, and folk

VinceViegel · 3 months

TIL that is Christopher Lloyd in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

EvilBosom · 3 months

It's the same with hip-hop. My favorite artists like 2Pac and Nas are really religious.

zrodion · 3 months

What it's like to be a christian who listens to orthodox black metal.

BoColdBlooded · 3 months

This is how I feel about listening to Elvis' gospel albums. I could listen to "How Great Thou Art" & "Crying' in the Chapel" on repeat, but it really does feel weird singing along.

Tmanthegreat1 · 3 months

I saw this on Brad Paisley's facebook page and I was pleasantly surprised by the message written. I don't know if it was actually him that wrote this or some PR person, but for someone who talks about god and Jesus in his songs, I was surprised that his memorial day post didn't have anything about 'God bless America' or something like that

sam4059 · 3 months

I don't like country or rap. Good guy rock and roll doesn't try to make it illegal.

JusLykeAspen · 3 months

Many of George Jones' songs, such as "Will You Visit Me on Sundays?", are glaringly non-religious.

If you know anything about some of the old Honky Tonkers, you'd know that their lifestyles were anything but "God Fearing" and the tales of their drinking, drugging, cheating, orgies, prison, violence, etc. make Hendrix, Joplin and Jagger look like straight-up amateurs when it comes to sinning.

I think most aging Honky Tonk musicians become scared of dying and are beset by guilt for not living a "Christian Lifestyle" for the majority of their lives. They try to make up for it by releasing gospel music, traditional hymnals and other overtly religious dreck before they die. Johnny Cash is a prime example, and was the impetus for me to divide my musical collection into "Classic country" and "Gospel Country".

Hank III is always a safe bet if you don't want to hear Jesus-Freak rhetoric.

MotherFuckinMontana · 3 months

As someone who lives in a land dominated by cowboys and indians, country sucks.

Bluegrass however, is the tits.

Rieklin · 3 months

I prefer 50's western. It's happy upbeat, and fun to listen to.


New posts:	New	Rising
Self posts:	New	Relevant
Non-image posts:	New	Relevant


GodlessWomen	YoungAtheists	AtheistParents
BlackAtheism	AtheistGems	DebateAnAtheist
skeptic	agnostic	freethought
antitheism	humanism	Hitchens
a6theism10	tfbd	AdviceAtheists

Events
10/5-6	NAPCON2012 - Boston
08/11	Regional Conference - St. Paul MN

Ex* Groups
ex-Muslim	ex-Catholic	ex-Mormon
ex-JW	ex-Jew	ex-SistersinZion
ex-Bahai	ex-Christian	ex-Adventist

atheism

MODERATORS

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login