Okay, as some of you have failed to notice, I'm not really taking a position here. I started this thread by askimg if I was being silly with my reaction two nights ago to someone singing Amazing Grace at a session, and I asked this community what other people think of this. I have benefited from this chat and will now say that whatever Don Firth says, I agree with, (don't say anything stupid now, Don.)

I still think Newton was a bad boy, a really really bad boy, murderer and all that, (yeah, chaining folks up in the hull of your ships knowing full well that some will die on the journey is murder) and he was probably not fully repentant, (though I may have too few facts to claim to know for sure about his regrets.) That view of Newton will perhaps forever get in the way of ME PERSONALLY enjoying his music. Or maybe I'll get over it some day. For many others (apparently many many others,) it's not an issue.

In the meantime, I really hope not to hear Amazing Grace in the near future, or even in the intermediate future.

Thanks for being mostly civil in responding to my inquiry.