Well, I suppose gospel music is popular among folkies - but most folkies I know sing gospel for fun, not for religious purposes. I love gospel, but won't sing it in church.

African-American spirituals are popular with folkies, too. I think people sing them because of the beauty of the music, not as a religious experience.

I think a reasonably tolerant person can sing gospel or spirituals without having religious or antireligious sensitivities offended. If not, maybe they should do a "tolerance check."

Many folk-genre songs I know of that have religious overtones are irreverent, like
Plastic Jesus or Has Anybody Seen J.C.?. I suppose that non-religious people could feel uncomfortable singing irreverent songs, for fear of seeming intolerant. There's an interesting dynamic involved there.

-Joe Offer-