to enjoy certain hymns, even though I am not a Christian ?

[vienna1981]

Lyrically, hymns are largely meaningless because of their subject matter. However, there are some very fine tunes to be found within. I like the commonly known stuff such as All Things Bright And Beautiful, Immortal Invincible and The Lord Is My Shepherd (we had the latter at my mum's funeral).
My favourite, however, is Abide With Me. The melody is gorgeous. But am I a hypocrite to have a fondness for something I don't believe in ?

Also, do Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art count as hymns. The latter strikes me as an African American spiritual. I don't know if it is . Thankyou.

I love "I'll sing a hymn to Mary", Faith of our Fathers, Jerusalem the Golden.....to name just a few. I loved school assemblies with the hymns.

The Day Thou Gavest

I sing in the church choir and I'm an atheist. They all know at church and nobody mind's.

When my children (primary age) as what religion we are I say that culturally we're Christian, in that we celebrate Christmas, Easter and are from Christian heritage (and Jewish) but mummy and daddy don't believe in God.

I'm not especially religious, but there are lots of hymns I love. I've also discovered that I really enjoy gospel music (via the choir at work).

On the flip side there are some hymns I dislike immensely. Particularly 'love divine all loves excelling' which seems almost obligatory at weddings - I have to resist the urge to put my hands over my ears or leave the church hastily.

The old wooden cross (not sure if that's the right name).
Oh Lord and Father of Mankind.
Morning has broken.
"We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land
and it is fed and watered on God's almighty land".

YANBU. I was raised Jewish but I love hymns. Wednesday hymn practice was the highlight of my week at primary school and perhaps unsurprisingly I now sing in a choral society, a good old Requiem or Passion being my favourites. There are a multitude of reasons why I no longer practice Judaism btw but the music just isn't as good...

Guide thee o thy great Redeemer
He who would valiant be
How great thou art
Teach me o Lord

Super.

I also sing in a church choir and am now an atheist. I find I can sing all sorts of words praising God etc but cannot speak the worlds so I stay silent during prayers etc, I do however join in with the choir when they up to the altar for communion although I don't partake. The reason being is that it would cause too much of a faff to have to stay behind as we then walk to a different part of the church. Thr vic just pats me on the head and says a blessing, means nothing to me and he knows it, I see it as just dping something I love I.e. Singing and also helping to keep the numbers up.

Not been struck down by lightening so far

Woulld add that I also ring thre church bells. Again it's more of keeping the numbers up and enabling the bells to continue rather than a religious thing,

Three mins to run down the steep tower steps. Chuck my robe on and get in line to,walk in.,..easy

I also ring church bells

We'd never have guessed, Grandshiredoubles

YANBU. I love several Christmas Carols despite not being religious.

I think of it this way - if there's no God it doesn't matter anyway; if there is a God, then they'll be pleased you like their music. Win win.

Not sure who originally said it, but there is a quote that goes something like: "Why should the devil have all the best tunes?"...!!!

I'm not religious either, but a lot of hymns are really good pieces of music, and I can appreciate good music in various forms (I just try to ignore the religious parts of the lyrics!).

of course you are not being unreasonable. most of hymns were composed by people who were commissioned by the church anyway as no one else would sponsor them. maybe

Ooo I'm singing most of these in my head now

I vow to thee, my country is my favourite - it was my school hymn.

I'm not religious either but at christmas i love listening to carol service, silent night gives me a lump in the throat!

And i love Amazing Grace, such a beautiful song, played this at my nanas funeral, i love it

(I'm not sure any of those are actually "hymns" or just songs)

Love a hymn but atheist through and through.

my fave was always 'when a knight won his spurs' which didn't even seem that religious. I like a good service if it has a couple of good hymns - its just the talking bits inbetween that get on my nerves.

I love a lot of the hymns mentioned above.

One of my favourite hymn lyrics are:

'Hills of the North rejoice
Mountains and valleys sing...'

As an atheist I find a lot of beauty in the way that people have celebrated their faith. I can be moved to tears by beautiful music or intricate churches and buildings of worship, and the commitment and emotion that each have demonstrated. I hope/feel that that is respectful of their belief, though I don't share it.

I was raised as a nonconformist and that means hymns are part of my language (some of you are misquoting ) . One thing about them is that unlike anthems they were mostly written to be singable by ordinary people.

As I've been an atheist for many years now I only go into a church for weddings, funerals and the odd carol service and enjoy the hymns still.

I'm atheist and love singing hymns and religious choral music - nothing like a good requiem!
The day thou gavest
Abide with me
My song is love unknown

As a child my favourite was one which has probably fallen out of favour these days which included the deathless lines: "by the light of burning martyrs, Christ thy bleeding feet we track". I kid you not. I thought it was brilliant.

yanbu.

I'm not religious but I also like hymns. I find them quite comforting as they remind me of childhood. Love christmas carols especially.

I am an atheist, yet one of my all time favourite songs is Oh Holy Night, especially when sung by a full on choir.

I also sing christmas carols and other hymns to my kids as just part of the general repetoire of stuff I chunter on about.

I am also an atheist but love lots of hymns....especially Christmas carols. Hark the Hereald being my all time fave.

I used to sing in a cathedral choir in my early 20s and sang evensong every week and absolutely loved the beautiful tunes, although very simple. I love listening to plainsong.....sooooo relaxing.

Fascinating. Makes me wonder how many churchgoers are agnostic or atheist, and just go for the music .

Oh definitely love a good hymn!

Lots of good suggestions on this thread, reminds of being back at school and hymn practice.

Lord of the Dance
Dance then, wherever you may be
I am The Lord of the dance said he...
Oil in my Lamp
Everybody 'sing hosanna, sing hosanna...'