Inspirational Non-Religious Music for Every Occasion?

[Free_Thinker]

Hello,

I grew up fundamentalist Christian and de-converted at the age of 19; I have been happily agnostic ever since (it has been 9 years now).

Over the years I have felt increasingly more and more detached from religious society and culture and wish to engulf myself in a culture that reflects what I believe and feel. Whenever I see someone praying or singing a religious song, I feel nothing whatsoever in my heart because to me, it represents something that society needs to mature from and grow out of; it is all dead to me. I need to positively affirm and celebrate my values through media and culture.

I would like to be able to listen to and sing songs that reflect what I believe; songs perhaps of a humanist nature that reflect the good and the bad of humanity; songs that celebrate the following ideals:

- Standing up for what one believes in
- Free-thinking
- Those who stood up to religious oppressors and overcame
- Tapping into the good parts of human nature
- Aspiring and striving for a better future and a better society that does not have god in it

And other similar and/or related themes.

This section for my fellow Americans:
The Founding Fathers believed that god created us with inalienable rights; but god is a delusion, and I affirm that human rights are innate and that we do not need a delusion such as god to bestow upon us such rights.

Are there any patriotic or human-centered songs that celebrate and affirm human rights and/or pride in country in a deeply-moving manner, similar to the deeply-moving feeling that is evoked by current American patriotic songs, but without the god component?

This also brings about another topic: occasions. Am I odd for no longer wishing to celebrate Christmas, as it is both a pagan and Christian holiday? Christmas does not embody anything I believe in: the birth of Jesus, consumerism, Catholic mass, expected gift exchanges, etc. The entire holiday disappoints me.

And the same for easter. Are there atheist/freethinker/humanist occasions and holidays that I can celebrate instead?

Thank you to anyone who may respond.

P.S. Please, no rap. I can't stand rap.

[Darth]

We celebrated festivus (dec 23) as well as christmas this year, unadorned aluminium pole and everything.

[Rev. Rye]

Well, for what it's worth, Humphrey Bogart was born on December 25th. Maybe it'd be a good idea to celebrate the day as a celebration of one of cinema's greatest actors.