Popular music is categorized thus because it is catchy and appeals to the masses. In many cases this means that the lyrics end up feeling rather superficial. In fact, do an experiment right nowturn on your radio to a pop music station and jot down the first lyrics you hear. (I took up my own challenge and heard California rest in peace/Simultaneous release, soyou know) But sometimes pop artists try for something a little deeper. It doesnt always work and frequently ends up sounding cheesy, but every once in a while they can tap into some emotional truths that allow their music to make you think in addition to dancing and singing along. We could highlight effective songwriting on many different topics, but Im choosing the always controversial topic of religion. Specifically I am featuring three songs that have lyrics promoting an atheistic or anti-religion stance. I am certainly not composing this article with the goal of necessarily proclaiming these songwriters as right, but I do think they are providing us a service by opening the discussion of religion in our society. I had a college dorm-mate who loved Sarah McLachlan's music, but being a conservative Christian refused to actually purchase any of her work (particularly after she heard McLachlan's cover of the second song on this list). You may end up feeling similarly or you may become huge fans of the following performers. Either way, theyve started a conversation and we are continuing it.