Having eliminated traditional romantic love songs, the next problem is how to treat traditional hymns. Clearly it would be good to draw upon songs that have already worked in the past in bringing people together to sing over the long-term. However, references to deities or other contentious notions such as messiahs, angels, devils, heaven or hell are likely to divide the chorus of singers or raise unease.
The pantheon of hymns is however rather large and varied. There are many songs that have been performed in church which don't explicitly reveal religious ideas. There are even grey areas surrounding some songs that might at first sight be viewed as 'religious'. The traditional of negro spirituals is perhaps the most obvious. These songs have remained widely sung even in non-religious settings.
Examples include:
'Swing low, sweet chariot'
'Abide with me'
'Amazing grace'
'Jerusalem'
The lyrics to these songs can be cut down to exclude the most religious verses or even adapted. That may be considered 'sac-religious' by some. The alternative is turn a blind eye to references to, for example, 'angels' on the basis that this is a figure of speech widely used.
The pantheon of hymns is however rather large and varied. There are many songs that have been performed in church which don't explicitly reveal religious ideas. There are even grey areas surrounding some songs that might at first sight be viewed as 'religious'. The traditional of negro spirituals is perhaps the most obvious. These songs have remained widely sung even in non-religious settings.
Examples include:
'Swing low, sweet chariot'
'Abide with me'
'Amazing grace'
'Jerusalem'
The lyrics to these songs can be cut down to exclude the most religious verses or even adapted. That may be considered 'sac-religious' by some. The alternative is turn a blind eye to references to, for example, 'angels' on the basis that this is a figure of speech widely used.
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