Religiously Skeptical Gems 2.0 | Playlist

9. The 1975, “If I Believe You”

Album: I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It, 2016

“I’ve got a God-shaped hole that’s infected / And I’m petrified of being alone now / It’s pathetic, I know.”

It’s no secret that The 1975 frontman Matthew Healy isn’t a believer.  Healy appeared 12^th on one of my final evergreen articles penned for StarPulse, 15 Musicians Who Oppose Religion.  Healy is both an atheist and a humanist.  In this particular article, the focus was the song “Antichrist,” which appeared on the band’s EP, Facedown.  After publication, The 1975 would release another skeptical gem, “If I Believe You.” “If I Believe You” features gospel music cues, yet questions putting faith and stock in God.  In my review of the album, also penned for StarPulse, I called “If I Believe You” a “humanist’s skeptical petition to God/a higher power.”

“And if I believe you / Will that make it stop? / If I told you I need you / Is that what you want? / And I’m broken and bleeding / And begging for help / And I’m asking you Jesus, show yourself.”

10. Accept, “Koolaid”

Album: Rise of Chaos, 2017 | Previous Playlist Appearance: 10 Songs About Cult Leader Jim Jones & Jonestown

Veteran metal band Accept lands on this updated edition of religiously skeptical gems by way of a previous playlist, 10 Songs About Cult Leader Jim Jones & Jonestown. On the song “Koolaid,” Mike Tornillo and company focus on the horrid happenings at The People’s Temple in Jonestown, the infamous cult led by Jim Jones. Tornillo takes on the character of an ex-member to portray the horrors.  He highlights the infamous mass suicide that occurred in 1978, singing:

“He [Jim Jones] said / We’re gonna mix it up / Add the cyanide / Then we’ll drink it up / You’re gonna feel so fine.”

Naturally the band discourages partaking of this communion, while in the same token, seem to be making an argument about church and religion in general. In the context of Jim Jones and Jonestown, they definitely have a point.

“Don’t drink the Koolaid / Don’t taste the holy water / Don’t drink the Koolaid / No matter what the preacher says.”

11. Hozier, “Take Me to Church”

Album: Hozier, 2014 | Previous Playlist Appearance: 26 Notable LGBTQ Songs Since 2010

There is really no need to beat a dead horse in the water.  If anyone believed that Hozier was singing about God on “Take Me to Church,” they weren’t paying close attention.  This is not a praise joint – Hozier wasn’t trying to get his praise on by any means! That said, “Take Me to Church” isn’t necessarily a middle finger to the church.  Still, we all know that sex seems rarely fits into the order of service traditionally.

“My church offers no absolutes / She tells me ‘worship in the bedroom’ / The only heaven I’ll be sent to / Is when I’m alone with you / I was born sick, but I love it / Command me to be well.”

Plenty has been written about “Take Me to Church.” The Pop Song Professor spends an entire video and article on one of the best songs of 2014.  The Reflector clearly states the song ‘conveys deeper meaning.’

12. Black Sabbath, “God is Dead?”

Album: 13, 2013

Black Sabbath are no strangers to religious skepticism within their music. The Satanist rumors have been going around for years.  They only reignited the skepticism on their 2013 comeback album, 13, which featured five skeptical songs.  The chief amongst sinners is “God is Dead?” which toys with the idea of the God’s existence or not, thanks to the question mark.

“The blood runs free / The rain turns red / Give me the wine / You keep the bread / The voices echo in my head / Is God alive or is God dead? / Is God dead?”