Bob Dylan's 'religious' period (1979-80/81) used to be referred to as his "born again Christian period" but has latterly come to be known as his "gospel period". Why is this? "Gospel" obviously sounds more credible in musical terms, but the music never changed. What happened?

I'll make a million dollahas...

What about Country? Johnny Cash's religion was pretty fundamental to his art, especially in his late LPs.

You'll find loads of biblical references in Bob Dylan's non-(cough) 'gospel' material. And how about that early label -and labels are there to be disregarded, but still - 'spiritual'? Listen to some of the stuff on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. Some of it's pretty religious. Sorry, but the more I think about this, the more I realise that the argument hinges on one's acceptance of musical pigeonholes. Which I think shouldn't really be done, as a rule. Where would you put Joan Osborne's One Of Us, off the top of my head? Even the title of this thread reminds me of a blues song.

What about seventies reggae? Almost every song by Burning Spear and Bob Marley (to name but two) had its roots firmly in Rastafarianism. Impossible to separate this music from its religious and spiritual influences.

Also, while you wouldn't necessarily describe Nick Cave's music as religious, it clearly is heavily influenced and informed by Biblical imagery.