The ONLY thing I don't love about BS....

slightofjeff

Kenny Olav wrote:

One of the things that has always drawn me to Pearl Jam's music, is that it is spiritual without being religious.

Bingo.

So when Eddie sings about "the other side" and saving souls, I don't hear that as Christian beliefs, because I know they are not... EV has been quite clear about that. These are concepts that predate organized religion, and exist outside of religion. You can discard or disregard your soul... many people do... and later, something brings it back, and some people think it's Jesus or Allah or Buddha that saves it, but I think it's something much more real than that.

And double bingo.

It's sort of like in LATG, after Faithfull (another Christian song ) where ed raises a toast to "a belief in something greater", then backtracks and changes it to "A belief that it's all going to work out."

darthvedder81

One day Ed will find Jesus and then I will enjoy watching the fireworks here on the forums.

So what if he references some religious themes in the lyrics? I thought we were all tolerant liberals here.

fisttothejaw

Man, it's amazing how such a poorly thought-out rant can spawn such a long, drawn-out thread

aspoonfulweighsaton

I wish there were more references to these things. Fuck the political rhetoric.

This album is huge step in the right direction for those things.

Wilds

csickels wrote:

Riot_Mac wrote:

You are really stretching here. I find it funny. You do know that Ed doesn't believe in god.

how do you know? save the Garafolo article. I realize he DIDN'T. There's know way for either of us to know if he DOESN"T. Unless you are his wife or something.

Someone might have already addressed this point, but in 2008, at MSG I think he referenced God and within the same breath said "Who I don't believe in".

Someone can correct me if it was a different show.

The issue here though seems that you are reeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy reaching to connect anything from Backspacer to Christianity and by extension Eddie's belief system.

Now for the record there are a couple Christian references in the lyrics. We live in a Christian society, with religion jammed down our throats for much of our lives. Of course there are going to be cultural references in our daily lives.

Fuck I say "God Bless you" whenever anyone sneezes. And I'm as far away from Christianity as they come.

Kanye East

Its evolution baby

Backspacer_Backer

Wilds wrote:

csickels wrote:

Riot_Mac wrote:

You are really stretching here. I find it funny. You do know that Ed doesn't believe in god.

how do you know? save the Garafolo article. I realize he DIDN'T. There's know way for either of us to know if he DOESN"T. Unless you are his wife or something.

Someone might have already addressed this point, but in 2008, at MSG I think he referenced God and within the same breath said "Who I don't believe in".

Someone can correct me if it was a different show.

The issue here though seems that you are reeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy reaching to connect anything from Backspacer to Christianity and by extension Eddie's belief system.

Now for the record there are a couple Christian references in the lyrics. We live in a Christian society, with religion jammed down our throats for much of our lives. Of course there are going to be cultural references in our daily lives.

Fuck I say "God Bless you" whenever anyone sneezes. And I'm as far away from Christianity as they come.

yeah, same here. lol.

ok, i appreciate the debate we've had here. hope i didn't offend anybody too badly. if it mattered as much to me as maybe i led all of you to believe, i wouldn't have listened to the record about 400 times since Friday. i can't tell if i really love BS as much as i think i do - i mean, my brother in law asked me for an objective opinion today. i told him i love it, but if they put out an album of pig calling and moo-ing, i'd probably love that too. but this really does seem like a special record. even with all the bible thumping ed does.

mrmojorisinca

dude who started this message...Have you every heard the word Spiritual?

Because you can be without being religious in anyway..

just curious..

soulsinging

csickels wrote:

Not looking to complain or criticize, I'm just curious if this bothers anybody else. I love the album, have listened to it nonstop since Friday, and the more I listen, the more I like the ENTIRE record from start to finish.

But as that process goes on, and i familiarize myself with the lyrics, Eddie's apparent new willingness to include religious (even Christian) messages in the music is a turn off to me. I don't mind anybody's religion, I just don't like it in my rock music. That's called Christian rock, and it's something I don't get into. I am glad that Ed is happy with his current life situation, and if that includes being born again or just more comfortable writing about his faith, great for him. For me as a listener, that's the one thing I would change about Backspacer. Too many soul saving and prayer references for my taste.

Pretty sure Ed's not a born again Christian and never has been Christian, so I think those lyrics are meant in a very secular or humanistic sense... Kurt Vonnegut style.

soulsinging

darthvedder81 wrote:

One day Ed will find Jesus and then I will enjoy watching the fireworks here on the forums.

So what if he references some religious themes in the lyrics? I thought we were all tolerant liberals here.

We are, but it's still a blast to poke fun at religion, it's just so easy. Like how it apparently bothers you so much that Ed isn't Christian and you keep coming around here to tell everyone that one day Ed will believe in Jesus just like you do and it will make some huge difference for the world.

Shawshank

I'll start by saying that I'm a Christian. Not as a part of some "religious group", but in regards to my belief in Jesus Christ and the acceptance of the sacrifice He made for us. As far as I'm concerned, "religion" is the root of all evil. I have come to hate the word. One of the very reasons Jesus Christ was crucified to begin with was because of his disdain for religion and how legalistic it had become. Church leaders of the time, didn't really appreciate that. Many of today's church's reflect nothing of what Jesus taught; be humble, not proud and boastful, willing to serve, forgive others (for everything), give to those in need, love others, etc. etc.

Although I don't see where Ed has been overly spiritual in the lyrics, I do believe he has a spiritual side. That's just my opinion. If you've ever seen the episode of Iconoclasts where he and Laird are sitting watching the waves come in, he says something to the effect of "it's hard not to believe in something bigger". Also, just last week there was a post from the stalker (I say that jokingly) who followed him around a bit and then got to talk to Ed a little before he left. He told Ed about his dad having passed away, and Ed said something to the effect, "now you're dad and my dad are up there (pointing to the sky) looking down on us". So I would say that there is a possibility that he is a little more spiritual than he may acknowledge. I still find it funny that some of you seem to give the impression you would no longer be fans if that was the case. Talk about shallow. Just because he said something back in 1998, doesn't mean he still holds onto that belief today. Aside from that, someone's spirituality is a personal thing, and I don't know that it's any of our business what he believes.

soop

In a vast sea of stupid threads, this might be the stupidest. Really.

soulsinging

Shawshank wrote:

I still find it funny that some of you seem to give the impression you would no longer be fans if that was the case. Talk about shallow. Just because he said something back in 1998, doesn't mean he still holds onto that belief today. Aside from that, someone's spirituality is a personal thing, and I don't know that it's any of our business what he believes.

that's why I'd not like it if the band suddenly started cranking out christian rock. spirituality is personal and i don't like being preached at. so if the band started doing that, i'd stop listening.

force-10

Shawshank wrote:

I'll start by saying that I'm a Christian. Not as a part of some "religious group", but in regards to my belief in Jesus Christ and the acceptance of the sacrifice He made for us. As far as I'm concerned, "religion" is the root of all evil. I have come to hate the word. One of the very reasons Jesus Christ was crucified to begin with was because of his disdain for religion and how legalistic it had become. Church leaders of the time, didn't really appreciate that. Many of today's church's reflect nothing of what Jesus taught; be humble, not proud and boastful, willing to serve, forgive others (for everything), give to those in need, love others, etc. etc.

Although I don't see where Ed has been overly spiritual in the lyrics, I do believe he has a spiritual side. That's just my opinion. If you've ever seen the episode of Iconoclasts where he and Laird are sitting watching the waves come in, he says something to the effect of "it's hard not to believe in something bigger". Also, just last week there was a post from the stalker (I say that jokingly) who followed him around a bit and then got to talk to Ed a little before he left. He told Ed about his dad having passed away, and Ed said something to the effect, "now you're dad and my dad are up there (pointing to the sky) looking down on us". So I would say that there is a possibility that he is a little more spiritual than he may acknowledge. I still find it funny that some of you seem to give the impression you would no longer be fans if that was the case. Talk about shallow. Just because he said something back in 1998, doesn't mean he still holds onto that belief today. Aside from that, someone's spirituality is a personal thing, and I don't know that it's any of our business what he believes.

I haven't read the whole thread, but i think you nailed it right with your comment. I am not a religious kind a guy. but very ofeten say stuff like what you mentioned.

This is not a stupid threasd. just someone giving their point of view, man.

Backspacer_Backer

mrmojorisinca wrote:

dude who started this message...Have you every heard the word Spiritual?

Because you can be without being religious in anyway..

just curious..

yeah, in fact i used the word if you read my posts. no worries, as has been pointed out, SOME of the lyrics are overtly religious (not just spiritual) like Original Sin, etc.

Danimal

Like Pilate I have a dog....

I think Ed is singing about Beastiality.

Backspacer_Backer

Shawshank wrote:

I'll start by saying that I'm a Christian. Not as a part of some "religious group", but in regards to my belief in Jesus Christ and the acceptance of the sacrifice He made for us. As far as I'm concerned, "religion" is the root of all evil. I have come to hate the word. One of the very reasons Jesus Christ was crucified to begin with was because of his disdain for religion and how legalistic it had become. Church leaders of the time, didn't really appreciate that. Many of today's church's reflect nothing of what Jesus taught; be humble, not proud and boastful, willing to serve, forgive others (for everything), give to those in need, love others, etc. etc.

Although I don't see where Ed has been overly spiritual in the lyrics, I do believe he has a spiritual side. That's just my opinion. If you've ever seen the episode of Iconoclasts where he and Laird are sitting watching the waves come in, he says something to the effect of "it's hard not to believe in something bigger". Also, just last week there was a post from the stalker (I say that jokingly) who followed him around a bit and then got to talk to Ed a little before he left. He told Ed about his dad having passed away, and Ed said something to the effect, "now you're dad and my dad are up there (pointing to the sky) looking down on us". So I would say that there is a possibility that he is a little more spiritual than he may acknowledge. I still find it funny that some of you seem to give the impression you would no longer be fans if that was the case. Talk about shallow. Just because he said something back in 1998, doesn't mean he still holds onto that belief today. Aside from that, someone's spirituality is a personal thing, and I don't know that it's any of our business what he believes.

very good explanation.

Backspacer_Backer

Danimal wrote:

Like Pilate I have a dog....

I think Ed is singing about Beastiality.

i thought it was "Like Pilate I have ate dog"

so I always thought he was Korean.

BinFrog

Shawshank wrote:

I still find it funny that some of you seem to give the impression you would no longer be fans if that was the case. Talk about shallow. Just because he said something back in 1998, doesn't mean he still holds onto that belief today.

If that is aimed at me, you twisted my words. I said the day PJ turns into a Christian Rock band is the day I move on.

NewJPage

csickels wrote:

mrmojorisinca wrote:

dude who started this message...Have you every heard the word Spiritual?

Because you can be without being religious in anyway..

just curious..

yeah, in fact i used the word if you read my posts. no worries, as has been pointed out, SOME of the lyrics are overtly religious (not just spiritual) like Original Sin, etc.

he says "original sin" in johnny guitar, a song about a made up situation about a guy that is not ed. its a fairy tale. fake. false. like religion

seriously, you could pick out "examples" like you gave from any PJ album. ed is not religious. stop worrying about it.