Jesus and Eddie: someone has to say it

SpinTheWishlist · April 2010

Seek My Part wrote:

..People who say they are one religion or another have just reached the point of never questioning anything or themselves again. They have already hit the end of the journey and have said that I am "this" or I am "that," and they want everyone else in the world to make a decision right now or else. They have to know. For what reason do they have to know. If it is out of curiosity than ok, but it never is. It is about "Are you with me or are you not?" ... Why don't you do something that is harder then praying for us and just accept us and try to challenge yourself to evolve.

i wish

SpinTheWishlist · April 2010

onawizardonawhale wrote:

One of the biggest reasons I connect with this band is the fact that they, and Eddie in particular, aren't afraid to question their "beliefs." Osho said "Doubt is not a sin, it is a sign of your intelligence." It seems like typical Christian arrogance to try and take religious meaning from the lyrics. My understanding from the collective lyrics, is that Ed trancends either believing or not believing in god. There's no need to label it. By saying one believes in god, aren't you inferring that it's possible for god to not exist? It doesn't really matter in the end. One believing or not believing has no effect on what "is." It's an entirely personal journey, and all about perspective.

Religion divides, spirituality unites. There's a higher spiritual plane when you get past so-called beliefs. From the lyrics and interviews, it seems like Ed is at that place, and it is beautiful. Peace, love, and Pearl Jam.

actually this says it all so much better than i ever could.

whispering hands · May 2010

jones wrote:

DEAR GOD DON'T STRIKE ME DEAD FOR LAUGHING MY ASS OFF AT THIS PICTURE..

whispering hands · May 2010

As a Christian myself, I have come to learn that patience is the key to life, just allow things to fall into place, and do what YOU as an individual ( and sometimes as a church) are supposed to do, and your life will be honored by those around you.. I have also learned VERY well that other people hate being preached at, so while I carry my Bible with me everywhere, I have long since quit thumping people's heads with it. All I can say is my interpretation of the whole thing is.. Ed is responsible for his own beliefs, just as we are for ours. No one really knows what happens after we die. Regardless of what anyone says, I am inclined to wait, and see for myself...upholding the responsibility I object myself to through my beliefs, and taking what comes.

I have also learned that EVERYTHING in life not just the Bible or music is open to interpretation, this I believe has made me a better person, and as consequence, a better Christian.. Alot of my church thinks I'm a hypocrite for going to church and listening to secular music (Pearl Jam of course) on THE WAY there. But like I said it's ALLLLLLL open to interpretation, mine is this: God knows who we'll most likely listen to, therefore he puts those people [ or in this case] bands in our lives to give us the inspiration and drive to continue moving forward in our lives. Present Tense changed my life just like becoming a Christian changed my attitude and my outlook on life and other people..Of course God still has His work cut out for him there... cause I still pretty much hate the rest of the outside world, so.. LOL Anyhow neat thread..

pandora · May 2010

I don't know if Eddie believes in God but God believes in Eddie and is quite proud of how he brings us together in love. It is the plan.

Cradles Broken Glass · May 2010

Oh God, here I am on a religious topic

LOL

Anyway, here is the way I see it:

I think Ed makes a point to not take a stance on one side of the fence. If you look at the lyrics, there are lyrics that could lead you to believe either way. It seems to me he is a master at taking himself out of the situation and looking at it objectively. I don't think he has ever said either way and I'm sure that's how he wants it to be. However, from my humble viewpoint, he is not a Bible thumper, but to say he is an atheist is a stretch too. If I had to go on lyrics only, I think there is more to support that he has a belief in something or at least some faith in something higher. However, he is very critical of it, as people on both sides of the argument make it very easy to be at times. Also, look how much his life has changed in the past few years (wife and children), people change, so who knows if he believes the same way he did 10-20 years ago? Not many of us do. Anyway, I think he want's his own personal religion to remain private. He is very respectful of our beliefs and I think we should be the same toward him. I've read several previous post and it seems to me that many are finding a small remark made years and years ago and holding on to that. Some of them I read I could make at least two or three interpretations of the meaning of the statement. So, my thoughts are that his religion (or lack of religion) is part of his private life and that is how he means it to be.

(On a side note, I attend church some and yes, there are even some thieves and lairs that sing in the choir, it's just how it is. Not only Ed, but the Bible recognizes that.)

Gern Blansten · May 2010

pandora wrote:

I don't know if Eddie believes in God but God believes in Eddie and is quite proud of how he brings us together in love. It is the plan.

Thanks for giving us your opinion.

pandora · May 2010

Gern Blansten wrote:

pandora wrote:

I don't know if Eddie believes in God but God believes in Eddie and is quite proud of how he brings us together in love. It is the plan.

Thanks for giving us your opinion.

you are welcome, you know I love you oh scary one

BhagavadGita · January 2012

Seek My Part wrote:

Why does everything have to be religious? Let me ask it again, why does everything have to be religious? Religion is an absolute. People who say they are one religion or another have just reached the point of never questioning anything or themselves again. They have already hit the end of the journey and have said that I am "this" or I am "that," and they want everyone else in the world to make a decision right now or else. They have to know. For what reason do they have to know. If it is out of curiosity than ok, but it never is. It is about "Are you with me or are you not?" The funny thing that with almost every religion (especially Christianity) the basis for that religion is accepting everyone and love. Religion should be personal and the whole community aspect of it causes people to feel a need to categorize themselves. Well, I personally think that deep down inside, Eddie and the rest of PJ are still on the journey. They have accepted some things as true in their minds, but have not made any absolute answers and have not categorized themselves. They respect the process of continuously added to their ideas of religion, spirituality, etc. What I think they do know for sure is that typical religious people are so set in their ways that they never evolve and are now so far behind reality . Yet, they accept you and don't categorize you. However, they are categorized for that as atheists or ant-religious. Well, if continuing to better yourself and to follow love and to never reach an absolute ending truth is anti-religious then "LETS' CATEGORIZE THEM AS ANTI-RELIGIOUS" and I be the first one to join them. Anti-religion is the new religion and we don't need anyone praying for us. Why don't you do something that is harder then praying for us and just accept us and try to challenge yourself to evolve.

Religious people are so afraid about how the world will end and if they are ready, when in fact they are the ones who may cause the world to end.

There is a difference between religion and spirtuality. Religion was invented to control people with a judging God. Religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell, spirtuality is for those who have been there already.

happiness · January 2012

Wow, what a thread. Me, I think everyone is welcome to their views on religion or spirituality and that no one view is right, better than the other, worse... If you're thinking you're better or smarter than someone because of your views or ideas you believe in, that's just your ego defining it self by an idea/belief. I see lots of spiritual things (..not religious) in pearl jam songs...but that's me wearing my life experience/belief "goggles" that colour what I see and make a connection. Everyone wears goggles that impact their perception and cause them to make connections that they do...and as you age and grow as a person your goggles and views may change. I'm sure EV's views on life have changed as he's aged.

I think alot of PJ songs are purposefully vague/cryptic and open to interpretation..and what makes them so great and a reason so many of us connect with the music. the lyrics mean many different things depending on what road you've travelled and what you've experienced in your life. Since we all belong to this forum, we have something in common. no reason to send hate, insulting, or dismissive comments to anyone here. Reading views written by someone with a different point of view can open your mind and maybe see that your cookie cutter image of a christian, athesist, buddhist, muslim is just that. I was tempted to gloss over posts that don't match my beliefs but thought what the hell I might learn something.

With that i leave you with this article on a chemist who won a Nobel prize this year for discovering something he was ridiculed for by his peers. Keep that mind open.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44788406/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/vindicated-ridiculed-israeli-chemist-wins-nobel/#.TwU6goH-tn8

sven82 · January 2012

There are several quotes out there that proof he's an atheist, some from interviews others from concerts, e.g.: "we played here with Bad Religion...Religion is still bad!" or "I would thank God, but I don't believe in it."
Even the lyrics show that: "I'm a thief, I'm a liar, There's my church I sing in he choir"...
I'm glad he is an atheist.

sven82 · January 2012

Gern Blansten wrote:

Vedderwt wrote:

I'll trust Eddie's own words from his Nashville solo show.

"I don't believe in a god"

Jesus isnt coming back.....find a new philosophy.

really? I didn't catch that

I'm not surprised...it is pretty evident in his writings

I'm convinced that at some point popular figures will emerge and be honest about their beliefs....this will lead to many more people doing so...atheism isn't as taboo as it used to be.

Over the years civilizations have created and worshiped many different gods....there is a famous quote that "atheists only believe in one less god than you do" which always made perfect sense to me

See signature

pennylane106 · January 2012

pandora wrote:

I don't know if Eddie believes in God but God believes in Eddie and is quite proud of how he brings us together in love. It is the plan.

well said. his religious beliefs are HIS business, end of story.

SxDx1982 · January 2012

BhagavadGita wrote:

There is a difference between religion and spirtuality. Religion was invented to control people with a judging God. Religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell, spirtuality is for those who have been there already.

I like that. :thumbup: I believe in a higher power and in the afterlife, but I don't go to church because they only want to judge us and control our lives. I believe in love, and all they teach is hate. :evil:

BinFrog · January 2012

satansbed wrote:

eddie seemed to believe in god during the writing of yeild, which might be were the religous refrences came from, but here at around 4:50 we see he does not(as of 1998 anyway) anymore

I'm not sure we are listening to the same "Yield". Yield (influenced partially by the book Ishmael) is as un-religious as you get??

M.Y.T.H. is…
Belief in the game controls that keeps us in a box of fear
We never listen
Voice inside so drowned out

And more a few people over the years have tried to compare GTF to the story of Jesus. I can see parallels, but it's a stretch to cite that song as a direct nod to religion and Jesus. And on the flip side: it is possible to reference the story of Jesus without acknowledging him as a god or even acknowledging your religious leanings.

I even remember someone trying to say Ed "just had to be religious" because the word "god" appears in Sometimes (No Code, but still).

How many times has Ed said in concert or interviews that he's not religious or doesn't believe in god? How many more times does he have to say it?

I honestly don't know, or really care, what Ed's religious convictions are. But i would question my status as a fan if they started coming out with overtly religious songs. That's me being honest.

It's hard for me to see posts like this and not stick my $.02 in. I'm not trying to rile anyone up. If you take meaning from songs and it helps you in some way, then far be it for me to try and shoot you down. But this whole idea always seems like more than a stretch to me. I just don't buy it, and it always seems like people trying to force meaning into songs to fit their own beliefs.

SxDx1982 · January 2012

BinFrog wrote:

If you take meaning from songs and it helps you in some way, then far be it for me to try and shoot you down.

I agree. I don't think there's anything wrong with finding different meanings in songs, but it becomes downright creepy when people start dissecting lyrics and finding things that "prove" that he does or does not believe in god or whatever. :? They're lyrics, they could be about anything or anyone.

pandora · January 2012

I love this song... so beautiful ... the last words ...

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

for me, there has never been a more hopeful line written

DinghyDog · January 2012

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pandora · January 2012

DinghyDog wrote:

pandora wrote:

I love this song... so beautiful ... the last words ...

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

for me, there has never been a more hopeful line written

My comuter's not letting me watch it. I don't suppose you could share what song and line you are talking about. I would really like to know.

oh ... and you know it well ... it is simple and means so much to me

Just Breathe (Lyrics)

Artist: Pearl Jam
Composer: Pearl Jam
Lyrics:

Yes I understand that every life must end, aw huh,..
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw huh,..
I’m a lucky man to count on both hands
The ones I love,..

Some folks just have one,
Others they got none, aw huh,..

Stay with me,..
Let’s just breathe.

Practiced are my sins,
Never gonna let me win, aw huh,..
Under everything, just another human being, aw huh,..
Yeah, I don’t wanna hurt, there’s so much in this world
To make me bleed.

Stay with me,..
You’re all I see.

Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
As I come clean.

I wonder everyday
As I look upon your face, aw huh,..
Everything you gave
And nothing you would take, aw huh,..
Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.

Did I say that I need you?
Oh, Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn’t now I’m a fool you see,..
No one knows this more than me.
I come clean.

Nothing you would take,..
Everything you gave.
Hold me till I die,..
Meet you on the other side.

DinghyDog · January 2012

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Jesus and Eddie: someone has to say it

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