Schro Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 QUOTE (Cato76 @ Mar 21 2005, 03:41 PM) Any time I see this argument about who is an atheist or agnostic a saying always comes to mind. "There are no atheists or agnostics in foxholes." Hmm, that saying is not completely without merit, but at the same time not wholly true imho. Watch the excellent mountain climbing movie, "Touching the Void" for just one example where the phrase falls flat. There are numerous other real examples throughout history of "atheists in foxholes". This link has a long list: http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/society.html#foxholes Back to the topic of the thread, it has always been my understanding that Neil is an agnostic. I think he isn't convinced there is a God out there, but he doesn't completely rule it out either, humbly acknowledging his understanding of the universe is limited. In the same vein, he tries his level best to respect people of all beliefs, knowing it's possible they could be right, even if he respectfully disagrees with them. Incidentally, this is the way I think as well. Cheers all, Schro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaine mac Roth Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I don't know if you're interested, but there was a short discussion about Roll the Bones from an agnostic point of view here. It passed the time for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schro Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 QUOTE (Slaine mac Roth @ Mar 22 2005, 12:45 PM) I don't know if you're interested, but there was a short discussion about Roll the Bones from an agnostic point of view here. It passed the time for a while. Thanks, Slaine, I found that thread very interesting to read. We should get together for a beer sometime to talk about this stuff lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Mar 21 2005, 07:24 AM) QUOTE (Indica @ Mar 21 2005, 03:58 AM) QUOTE (Quigley_Moog @ Mar 20 2005, 04:29 PM) I have never heard him acknowledge a god of any sort. no hero in your tragedy no daring in your escape no salutes for your surrender nothing noble in your fate Christ, what have you done? - N. Peart IMO Neil was just using Christ's name as an expression of horror or disbelief at what the song's suicidal character done...he wasn't actually acknowledging a god per se.... Agreed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Bird Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 QUOTE (spirit of radio @ Mar 21 2005, 10:15 AM) QUOTE (dweezil @ Mar 21 2005, 08:29 AM) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/palominodweezil/jesus.gif I don't think it's important what Neil believes. What he brings as a musician and man is enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilPeartFan2112 Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 QUOTE (Neil Bird @ Mar 22 2005, 04:29 PM) QUOTE (spirit of radio @ Mar 21 2005, 10:15 AM) QUOTE (dweezil @ Mar 21 2005, 08:29 AM) http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/palominodweezil/jesus.gif I don't think it's important what Neil believes. What he brings as a musician and man is enough. Cheers to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaine mac Roth Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 QUOTE (Schro @ Mar 22 2005, 07:18 PM) QUOTE (Slaine mac Roth @ Mar 22 2005, 12:45 PM) I don't know if you're interested, but there was a short discussion about Roll the Bones from an agnostic point of view here. It passed the time for a while. Thanks, Slaine, I found that thread very interesting to read. We should get together for a beer sometime to talk about this stuff lol. I'd love to but Texas is a looooooooooong way away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
physics23 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 Cool thread. I think all of the Rush albums with Peart suggest a tendency toward atheism, that is the renunciation of God in the Judeo-Christian/Muslim sense of a deity that has communicated with man and is continuously involved in the workings of the universe. At the same time, one certainly gets a feel for his awe and wonder towards the Eastern philosophies, that mystical notion that there is more to life than what we can perceive physically. In "Ghost of a Chance" there is the line, I don't believe in desitny Or the guiding hand of fate I don't believe in forever Or in love as a mystical state I don't believe in the stars or the planets Or angels watching from above... That's a pretty unequivocal rejection of metaphysics. And there are of course many other similar examples, like It seems to me it's chemistry where he seems to be expressing his faith in science. But problems start when you try to analyze Vapor Trails. There he does drift off to the world of the occult and seems to incorporate it into his Weltanschauung. Ultimately, my impression is that the conflict between the rational-material world and the emotional-spiritual world (explored extensively in Hemispheres of course) still hasn't resolved itself in Peart's ever-churning mind. Then again, that may be just my own prejudiced interpretation, having wrestled with these question myself in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuppetKing2112 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 I'm pretty much like Neil...I don't really believe in a God or a Satan, but I don't fault others for their beliefs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrushfan01 Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 A friend of mine is agnostic. Its not that they dont believe in god they just...dont know what to think about, or if there is really one. Being agnostic does not mean you worship the devil or anything like that, its just you dont know what to believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gopherman Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 I consider myself a Christian. Well, I go to church on a semi-regular basis, anyway. I don't know what Mr. Peart's belief system is, but it sure seems positive to me. I for one receive great comfort from his lyrics. Interestingly enough, my wife is "more of a Christian" than I am, and her favorite Rush CD by far is Roll The Bones. Labels generally suck. Living in Truth is what it is all about, and there sure seems to be a lot of truth in Neil's lyrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonymcl Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 On the DVD of "A work in Progress" there is a chapter call "Good is in the details". Peart describes that the phrase/title is his "atheistic" take on "God is in the details". I am sure he says "atheistic" or "atheist". Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fountain of lamnEthan Posted April 8, 2005 Share Posted April 8, 2005 i just finished traveling music today and he talks about it. He seems to come off as not beleiving in god or any of that. I dont know and i dont really wanna make any assumptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fs2112 Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Maybe he just believes in the teachings of Rush, like I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nosefilxela Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 I think I'm 99% sure he is just aethiest ( i hope i spelt that right ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanzo Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 "nose" whoever that is as your pic,delete it right dont and not be so disrepectful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanzo Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 maybe I was ott there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted April 9, 2005 Share Posted April 9, 2005 Yes, I'd have to agree that he's probably atheist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hap Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 I think so as well. The lyrics of Freewill are pretty clear in this sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
physics23 Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 I don't know if "Freewill" can be construed as an atheist manifesto. It seems to me rather to be a rejection of determinism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweezil Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 'isms" are pointless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 QUOTE (dweezil @ Apr 10 2005, 01:34 PM) 'isms" are pointless This is true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
physics23 Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Apr 10 2005, 01:37 PM) QUOTE (dweezil @ Apr 10 2005, 01:34 PM) 'isms" are pointless This is true. How are they pointless? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweezil Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 Pancakes are round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted April 10, 2005 Share Posted April 10, 2005 QUOTE (dweezil @ Apr 10 2005, 02:02 PM) Pancakes are round This is also (usually) true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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