Hey, Ernest:

People respond to the beat and a good chorus for many tupes of music. Not everyone who sings sea chanties has worked on a ship. Or even rowed a boat. I've done gospel workshops at Folk Festivals where I was the only performer who believed in God. I've sat next to Jews in Gospel workshops, as well as Atheists. They like the music. My group was even asked to sing at a jewish memorial service for a woman who was Jewish but loved black gospel.

Several years ago, our tenor couldn't make a performance we were doing at a folk festival and we asked Sandy Paton to fill in on a song. We all had such a good time that he ended up singing tenor harmony with us for the full 50 minute concert.. singing many songs he'd never heard before. Sandy was an Atheist, last time that I checked.

Just don't ask me to sing any Republican songs.. :-)

Jerry