Ten “Secular” Albums Every Christian Needs To Hear (In No Particular Order)
- “Funeral” by Arcade Fire
(How can an album so bogged down with death be so life-affirming?) - “Time Out Of Mind” by Bob Dylan
(One poet’s conversations with God about mortality and death) - “The Joshua Tree” by U2
(An American spiritual and musical masterpiece by an Irish band) - “Seven Swans” by Sufjan Stevens
(A quiet collection of beautiful songs of spiritual reflection) - “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” by Wilco
(A complete story of a man who breaks a heart, regrets it, and can only
long for what he lost – something tells me it’s about more than just a girl) - “Kid A” by Radiohead
(A dark and hopeless view of an earth without God, eventually ending up in heaven, strangely enough) - “Pop” by U2
(A misunderstood collection of songs reminiscent of the psalms of David… the dark and terrifying psalms, to be exact) - “Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
(A double-album of harsh and sometimes troubling spirituality) - “Civilians” by Joe Henry
(Beautiful prayers and political songs aplenty) - “Love & Theft” by Bob Dylan
(Time Out Of Mind Part 2, just, y’know… more upbeat)
Joel Edwards is the 15 year old son of Paul Edwards and entering the Tenth Grade this fall. You can email him at joel@godandculture.com.