Songwriter Famous for Christian Music is Secretly an Atheist

Tim

Tim

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I wonder if this is real. And if so, any idea who the artist could be?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/06/21/ask-richard-songwriter-famous-for-christian-music-is-secretly-an-atheist/

    Dear Richard,

    I?m an atheist, and although I?ve only been reading The Friendly Atheist for a couple of months, I suspect my situation is unique: I?m actually famous, literally, for the Christian music I used to write and perform.

    I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the son of a conservative, Christian pastor. I began writing Christian songs as a child. As a teenager, my music was already being performed on Christian TV programs. After attending a well-known Christian university in the Midwest, I headed for Nashville, where I wrote songs for (and recorded or performed with) many of Christian music?s biggest stars: Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and many others. I?ve won Dove Awards (Christian music?s highest award) and even a Grammy Award, all for Christian music. Church congregations around the world sing my music. Music that was written by an atheist.

    Even as a child I?d questioned religion, but I was always admonished to ward off those ?evil thoughts.? Finally, while in Nashville, I allowed myself to embrace my inner atheist (privately) all the while writing and recording Christian music. Eventually I tired of that double life, however. So, I moved to the east coast. Although I continue to have success as a songwriter, I no longer write Christian music. It was never more than a gig; I did it for the money. I now write songs for major country and pop artists.

    My dilemma is this: because I recorded a couple of Christian albums, years ago, both certified gold, I have a following; people recognize me and assume I?m still a Christian. I have a Facebook fan page, where I can let fans know what I?m up to. But so many of them are devout Christians who post messages like, ?Continue to do the Lord?s work!? and ?We thank the Lord for your ministry!? But I don?t have a goddamned ministry! If they merely write ?God bless you? or something, that?s fine. But I?ve been deleting the more sanctimonious messages, because I just can?t stand them.

    While most of my fans are aware of my pop and country work, they don?t realize I?ve abandoned my Christian writing, all together. And sooner or later, they?re likely to figure out I?m singling out the religious posts on my Facebook page for deletion.

    Although I?ve done well financially, I?m not independently wealthy. So, it?s important I maintain my fan base and keep them informed about new projects. I may even record a new solo project, something they?ve been asking me to do, but of course it won?t be religious music. Who knows what?ll happen once they realize that.

    So, I?m trapped: If I ?come out? as an atheist, I?ll lose fans in droves. But by not doing so, I?m ?condemning? myself to the ?torture? of fans who assume I?m still a Christian. It?s not that I can?t hold conversations with Christians. Of course I can. What?s driving me nuts is the fact that so much of their conversation is God-centric. They can?t simply say, ?Hello.? Instead, they greet you with, ?Praise the Lord? and such. (Ugh.)

    I?ve seen you advise others, so eloquently, about not being in a rush to reveal their atheism to friends and family. Or that if they do so, they must be prepared for the consequences. My problem is that I?m, pardon the expression, ?damned if I do and damned if I don?t.? How do I come to terms with this?

    Sincerely,
    The Autographing Atheist
 
Amy Grant.  Old news.
 
Well ... at least here we have a name behind confession.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/01/21/i-co-founded-one-of-the-most-popular-christian-rock-bands-ever-and-im-now-an-atheist/

I always felt uncomfortable with the strict rules imposed by Christianity. All I wanted to do was create and play rock and roll? and yet most of the attention I received was focused on how well I maintained the impossible standards of religion. I wanted my life to be measured by my music, not by my ability to resist temptation. - George Perdikis
 
Tim said:
Well ... at least here we have a name behind confession.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/01/21/i-co-founded-one-of-the-most-popular-christian-rock-bands-ever-and-im-now-an-atheist/

I always felt uncomfortable with the strict rules imposed by Christianity. All I wanted to do was create and play rock and roll? and yet most of the attention I received was focused on how well I maintained the impossible standards of religion. I wanted my life to be measured by my music, not by my ability to resist temptation. - George Perdikis
Click to expand...

Never heard of him.
 
Tim said:
Well ... at least here we have a name behind confession.
Click to expand...

George Perdikis left the Newsboys years before anyone had heard of them and renounced his faith in 2007.  In other words, whatever his history with the band was, their success had pretty much nothing to do with him, and as a "prominent Christian band has an atheist member" type story, it falls pretty flat.
 
Ransom said:
Tim said:
Well ... at least here we have a name behind confession.
Click to expand...

George Perdikis left the Newsboys years before anyone had heard of them and renounced his faith in 2007.  In other words, whatever his history with the band was, their success had pretty much nothing to do with him, and as a "prominent Christian band has an atheist member" type story, it falls pretty flat.
Click to expand...

But David Cloud will be sure to get plenty of mileage out it.  ::)

Worse will be the folks who buy into whatever conclusion he draws from this information.  :-\
 
I imagine it can't be too hard to narrow down the possibilities in the OP, if anyone really cares. There can only be so many artists who have recorded with Sand(i|y) Patt(i|y) and Amy Grant, are well known as songwriters, and have recorded two albums of their own that have gone gold, and won a Dove and a Grammy.

And since I know you're already thinking it, I feel it's a pretty safe bet we can pre-emptively eliminate Michael W. Smith from the running. :)
 
Tim said:
I wonder if this is real. And if so, any idea who the artist could be?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/06/21/ask-richard-songwriter-famous-for-christian-music-is-secretly-an-atheist/

    Dear Richard,

    I?m an atheist, and although I?ve only been reading The Friendly Atheist for a couple of months, I suspect my situation is unique: I?m actually famous, literally, for the Christian music I used to write and perform.

    I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the son of a conservative, Christian pastor. I began writing Christian songs as a child. As a teenager, my music was already being performed on Christian TV programs. After attending a well-known Christian university in the Midwest, I headed for Nashville, where I wrote songs for (and recorded or performed with) many of Christian music?s biggest stars: Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and many others. I?ve won Dove Awards (Christian music?s highest award) and even a Grammy Award, all for Christian music. Church congregations around the world sing my music. Music that was written by an atheist.

    Even as a child I?d questioned religion, but I was always admonished to ward off those ?evil thoughts.? Finally, while in Nashville, I allowed myself to embrace my inner atheist (privately) all the while writing and recording Christian music. Eventually I tired of that double life, however. So, I moved to the east coast. Although I continue to have success as a songwriter, I no longer write Christian music. It was never more than a gig; I did it for the money. I now write songs for major country and pop artists.

    My dilemma is this: because I recorded a couple of Christian albums, years ago, both certified gold, I have a following; people recognize me and assume I?m still a Christian. I have a Facebook fan page, where I can let fans know what I?m up to. But so many of them are devout Christians who post messages like, ?Continue to do the Lord?s work!? and ?We thank the Lord for your ministry!? But I don?t have a goddamned ministry! If they merely write ?God bless you? or something, that?s fine. But I?ve been deleting the more sanctimonious messages, because I just can?t stand them.

    While most of my fans are aware of my pop and country work, they don?t realize I?ve abandoned my Christian writing, all together. And sooner or later, they?re likely to figure out I?m singling out the religious posts on my Facebook page for deletion.

    Although I?ve done well financially, I?m not independently wealthy. So, it?s important I maintain my fan base and keep them informed about new projects. I may even record a new solo project, something they?ve been asking me to do, but of course it won?t be religious music. Who knows what?ll happen once they realize that.

    So, I?m trapped: If I ?come out? as an atheist, I?ll lose fans in droves. But by not doing so, I?m ?condemning? myself to the ?torture? of fans who assume I?m still a Christian. It?s not that I can?t hold conversations with Christians. Of course I can. What?s driving me nuts is the fact that so much of their conversation is God-centric. They can?t simply say, ?Hello.? Instead, they greet you with, ?Praise the Lord? and such. (Ugh.)

    I?ve seen you advise others, so eloquently, about not being in a rush to reveal their atheism to friends and family. Or that if they do so, they must be prepared for the consequences. My problem is that I?m, pardon the expression, ?damned if I do and damned if I don?t.? How do I come to terms with this?

    Sincerely,
    The Autographing Atheist
Click to expand...

I couldn't find any one in this Grammy list that fits the profile
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Gospel_Song

 
brianb said:
Tim said:
I wonder if this is real. And if so, any idea who the artist could be?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2010/06/21/ask-richard-songwriter-famous-for-christian-music-is-secretly-an-atheist/

    Dear Richard,

    I?m an atheist, and although I?ve only been reading The Friendly Atheist for a couple of months, I suspect my situation is unique: I?m actually famous, literally, for the Christian music I used to write and perform.

    I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, the son of a conservative, Christian pastor. I began writing Christian songs as a child. As a teenager, my music was already being performed on Christian TV programs. After attending a well-known Christian university in the Midwest, I headed for Nashville, where I wrote songs for (and recorded or performed with) many of Christian music?s biggest stars: Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and many others. I?ve won Dove Awards (Christian music?s highest award) and even a Grammy Award, all for Christian music. Church congregations around the world sing my music. Music that was written by an atheist.

    Even as a child I?d questioned religion, but I was always admonished to ward off those ?evil thoughts.? Finally, while in Nashville, I allowed myself to embrace my inner atheist (privately) all the while writing and recording Christian music. Eventually I tired of that double life, however. So, I moved to the east coast. Although I continue to have success as a songwriter, I no longer write Christian music. It was never more than a gig; I did it for the money. I now write songs for major country and pop artists.

    My dilemma is this: because I recorded a couple of Christian albums, years ago, both certified gold, I have a following; people recognize me and assume I?m still a Christian. I have a Facebook fan page, where I can let fans know what I?m up to. But so many of them are devout Christians who post messages like, ?Continue to do the Lord?s work!? and ?We thank the Lord for your ministry!? But I don?t have a goddamned ministry! If they merely write ?God bless you? or something, that?s fine. But I?ve been deleting the more sanctimonious messages, because I just can?t stand them.

    While most of my fans are aware of my pop and country work, they don?t realize I?ve abandoned my Christian writing, all together. And sooner or later, they?re likely to figure out I?m singling out the religious posts on my Facebook page for deletion.

    Although I?ve done well financially, I?m not independently wealthy. So, it?s important I maintain my fan base and keep them informed about new projects. I may even record a new solo project, something they?ve been asking me to do, but of course it won?t be religious music. Who knows what?ll happen once they realize that.

    So, I?m trapped: If I ?come out? as an atheist, I?ll lose fans in droves. But by not doing so, I?m ?condemning? myself to the ?torture? of fans who assume I?m still a Christian. It?s not that I can?t hold conversations with Christians. Of course I can. What?s driving me nuts is the fact that so much of their conversation is God-centric. They can?t simply say, ?Hello.? Instead, they greet you with, ?Praise the Lord? and such. (Ugh.)

    I?ve seen you advise others, so eloquently, about not being in a rush to reveal their atheism to friends and family. Or that if they do so, they must be prepared for the consequences. My problem is that I?m, pardon the expression, ?damned if I do and damned if I don?t.? How do I come to terms with this?

    Sincerely,
    The Autographing Atheist
Click to expand...

I couldn't find any one in this Grammy list that fits the profile
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Gospel_Song
Click to expand...

I was thinking that as well. Leaving me to agree that this letter is perhaps trolling on that website. But, if true, how tragic!
 
brianb said:
I couldn't find any one in this Grammy list that fits the profile
Click to expand...

That particular award only goes back to 2006. I think that if you actually want to figure out who the Mystery Atheist is, you have to go back to the 1980s, which is when Amy Grant and Sand(i|y) Patt(i|y) were at the peak of their popularity.
 
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