this is gonna sound really silly but...
 

Is there such a thing as secular Gospel? Oxymoronic terminology, I know but I think ya'll get what I mean. Gospel but without the whole religious part :p. Loooooooooove the music, not so much the lyrics. And not necessarily because I'm not Christian but because their just uninteresting/the same thing over and over in every song.

I'd love to hear that sound but with different lyrics or none at all. It's a longshot I know, but I had to ask.

I'm not sure, but I bet you could find gospel sung in a foreign language you don't know. Then you could enjoy just the sound of it without the lyrical content bothering you.

That's a great idea! I wouldn't even know where to begin to look though.

I am intrigued by this idea.

Much of the soul/R&B genre has deep roots in traditional gospel, contemporary gospel is influenced by R&B ,hip hop and funk. Look in those styles but I would say that modern R&B its your answer. something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7BfXDk47ws

+1. I have had a lot of gospel students and I just teach them R&B stylings... because I too cannot stand the lyrics in god rock either... worse drivel than pop music just about god instead of love.

Try New Orleans. Nobody can understand them.

Gospel-style music but with secular lyrics. Sure it exists, not as a scene or trend, but plenty of bands have done it to one degree or another. Not really my cup of tea but the concept is valid.

Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but might be worth a listen.
She has an extraordinary voice. It's a version of Jimmy Cliff's song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Iti-3XTso

Ever heard of Ray Charles?

I always thought this sounded like secular gospel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV5Nkah8nP8

Just to clarify a bit I mean urban gospel/black gospel. That's what I'm after musically, Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton, etc

This is it! I'm looking for more of the upbeat hard groovin stuff but otherwise this is exactly what I'm after! Thanks!

Interesting question. I've always loved the power of gospel music but I agree that sometimes the lyrics can be a bit much. I feel the same way about a lot of reggae...

Not my field of expertise, but that's what I always thought soul music was - gospel techniques with secular themes. Seems like all those great soul singers learned their chops in gospel choirs as kids.

+1 on Ray Charles

I appreciate the suggestions but I don't think I've been clear enough about what I'm after so here are some examples:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RL6be8yN4Y&t=17m20s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_VyA5HoBw

I'm an Atheist and I love Gospel music. I'm really picky about lyrics and most of the time I find them uncreative and unintelligent in any genre of music, so I have learned to block out the words and listen to the melody of the vocals.

Perhaps try Donnie McClurkin, Mary Mary, or Kirk Franklin

My problem exactly.

I'll be sure to check out the other artists but Kirk Franklin IS a gospel artist or has he gone secular in the last few years, haha?

Now that I think of it, it would be kind of cool to see a gospel musician go secular but continue to still make music (nothing hateful, of course, just cool jams sans all the God bits).

They are gospel artist but I find their lyrics not so redundant ,, especially Mary Mary . She got some cool grooves