Verified answer

i have taken the liberty of looking up the lyrics for ya. here's a little peep at the good parts:

The Lord has promised good to me...

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be...

as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

a life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years...

bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise...

then when we've first begun.

maybe the school's administrative staff doesn't understand the meaning of the word "religious". this means you have much bigger things to worry about than your child's being asked to sing this song.

Yes, its a song for goodness sake. Dont single your own child out for your beliefs.

Yes, written by a former slave ship captain, and later, slave, John Newton. He was so hated by the crew of the slave ship he served on, he was given to a slaver when they reached Africa, and was made a slave for six years. He was rescued by a sea-captain, who was asked by Newton's father to look for him.

Yes

Yes, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. Amen!

Yes it's a Christian song.

It is a Christian song. It even says, "Praise God" in the lyrics and what could be more appropriate for a holiday show? I know, there are secular Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, etc.; and those are all good and fine as well. But, the religious songs should also count because that's what the holidays are all about; and I would suggest you leave your kid in the show, so he/she can learn that and to be more tolerant of other's beliefs. But, you can raise your child however you want. I mean no disrespect, by the way. That's just my opinion.

Amazing Grace is unquestionably a Christian hymn, and was in fact written by an Anglican clergyman, John Newton.  Whoever told you that it was not was simply trying to browbeat you into submitting.  Public schools are required to remain neutral about religion, therefore such a piece has no place in the program.

At one time, but it's used so much that it's more in the "popular music" category, as far as most people are concerned.

Mention or implication of god/religion does not automatically make a piece a religious work; if it did, eg. Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky", George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" and Black Sabbath's title track "Black Sabbath" would all be in that category.

yes, it is a religious song

"The Lord hath promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures."

what holiday is the program for?