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There is clearly a Christian New Testament tradition that warns against praying loudly in the front of the temple where everyone can see you.

One needs occasionally to stand aside from the hum and rush of human interests and passions to hear the voices of God.

You put something you like on really loud, and you feel godlike.

The physical voice we use in prayer need not be great nor startling; even should we not lift up any great cry or shout, God will yet hear us.

I am a Christian, and since the age of five I have been singing... chanting hymns containing the word 'Hosanna.'

You'll never even catch me doing that 'soft atheist' thing of very softly singing along or just mouthing the words, looking down at a hymn sheet every few seconds to check the words. To state the obvious, as an atheist, the hymn sheet is no use to me. So I just stand there, looking straight ahead or up at the ceiling, and do nothing.

It always helps to have a bit of prayer in your back pocket. At the end of the day, you have to have something, and for me, that is God, Jesus, my Catholic upbringing, my faith.

I went to a church where you could not sing out loud in the service until you had been saved.

Now God has never shouted out to me. I've never heard God speak audibly. He doesn't have to.