1. Imagine by John Lennon
Significant lyrics: Imagine there's no heaven/It's easy if you try/No hell below us/Above us only sky/Imagine all the people living for today Imagine there's no countries/It isn't hard to do/Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion too/Imagine all the people living life in peace Certainly the best known of the songs in this list, Imagine is not so much an atheist song as it is an anti-religion song. Ultimately what Lennon is describing is a utopia where identifying characteristics like nationality, religious affiliation, politics, etc. arent present to give rise to disagreements and wars. Lennons difficulty with the my God is better than your God mentality is a driving force behind the song. Imagine has been a hugely successful song, ranking number two on Rolling Stones list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and continuing to be popular even forty years after its release as is evidenced by its use during the Closing Ceremonies of last years Summer Olympics in London. It has become an anthem of peace, but that description ignores the fact that Lennon states that to achieve peace, we need to do away with organized religion. So, let the debate begin. Are these good songs? Do you have to agree with their religious stances to appreciate them? What other atheistic songs are out there? And on the flip side, what would be the strongly pro-religion songs that could serve as a foil for these pieces?