I love the music! I can ignore the words because it's most of the crap I grew up with.

I never really went to church, but I do like some choral music. Some of it is just so haunting and beautiful, especially if it's sung in a different language, then I don't have to think about the god part ?

Eeew! I couldn't stand Gospel music even decades ago when I hadn't fully decided to dump Christianity. Unless the songs were bluegrass, religious songs annoyed me.

some of the old country gospel is so beautiful. I love the o brother where art tho sound track

I actually listened to and downloaded some today. Its so weird I had the same thought process as you too. I no longer believe but the music still moves me I feel conflicted aboutit but it is what it is!

Its some pretty good music from some people with hope

You don't have to "believe" to enjoy. Music tells a story. It doesn't have to be a true story. What you feel here is probably similar to what I feel when I hear the Bach B-Minor Mass. The music is glorious, and enjoying it does not change how I feel about those who take it literally.

i have the canton spirituals on my cd.. i downloaded it for somebody else but i don't fast forward thru it.. there's one they do called 'it's gonna rain' i smile every time i hear it because it starts off just like 'come together' by the beatles...not the words but the guitar intro.... here it is:

Since I love so many different kinds of music, I find many that are moving and Gospel music is to me just a different type of music from Country or Blues or Classical or Rock. So to find Gospel Music joyful is to feel the music, not to believe the doctrine.

I love Italian Renaissance music and early Baroque. Pretty much all of it is religion derived. Luckily I can’t understand a word of it. ? Either way I don’t mind the spiritual context but can’t tolerate bad music. Christian pop/rock is terrible for the most part imo. Some genres, like the ones you mentioned, can pull it off.

good music is good music

Hi Keyboard - Mama !! I'll keep this one short.. Gospel music for me is like..mmmhh nope. I wish I could elaborate more since I like to talk a lot (must have been a politician in a previous life ) but this topic really eludes me. Cheers !!! ( Yes I am the same dude as yesterday with the weird fake name but we are passed that, remember? ?)

Yes, I feel exactly the way you do and the types you mentioned are the two I prefer. I love listening to the Carter family.

Music is a link to my soul. No associations or supernatural beings.

Weirdly, in almost any form, xstian music turns me off...and sometimes I don't even know it is xstian....I really wonder about that...like, I can listen to some black metal and I am fine with it...find it humorous and energetic....but christian death metal and I turn off...I know this isn't what you were meaning, but I find it the same way, mostly, with xstian orchestra...though that dark Omen movie type xstian (which I think was greek orthodox?) is pretty moving...always exceptions.