Guest Quigley_Moog Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 What is his religious affiliation, if any? I have never heard him acknowledge a god of any sort. It seems like he may be agnostic or atheist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfuentes Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Hmm. Good question. I would like to know as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 If you try to determine this based only on his lyrics, there are conflicting messages. There are bible quotes (2112) and songs that seem very atheist (Freewill, Roll the Bones). I think the best place to look for his religious affilation would be his books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowdog Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 This has been the subject of debate before, but I believe "agnostic" would be the closest we could come. I don't think Neil really fits definitions in any area of his life, including this one. For the record, the dictionary defines agnostic this way: 1. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God. 2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism. I think the 2nd definition would probably be the closest to his situation. But let's ask someone who knows a great deal more than I about the subject. GG, care to weigh in on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfuentes Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE (Snowdog @ Mar 20 2005, 01:38 PM) GG, care to weigh in on this? GhostGirl would know this for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sawyer Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 I can only state my opinion based on his lyrics, and the books he has written. No! I do not believe his has any affiliation with any religion. I do however believe he understands a certain aspect of human spirit, maybe not spirituality, but that man has a certain depth that Neil does not put a "label" on. Just my eduated opinion, I'd be very interested to others opinions on this as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweezil Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 We can all be spiritual and deep without being affiliated with an organized religion. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/palominodweezil/icon_meditate.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/palominodweezil/icon_meditate.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/palominodweezil/icon_meditate.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Quigley_Moog Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Mar 20 2005, 04:38 PM) If you try to determine this based only on his lyrics, there are conflicting messages. There are bible quotes (2112) and songs that seem very atheist (Freewill, Roll the Bones). I think the best place to look for his religious affilation would be his books. I couldn't agree more with the songs you chose to represent both sides of the argument. Freewill and Roll the Bones are the first one's I'd have chosen to represent his disbelief or unbelief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 There may be some interviews that he has stated his opinions in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test4VitalSigns Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Here is a letter Neil sent to an editor of a paper which did an article of a Christian group which was running some seminar on the "evils of rock music". He pretty much sums up his beliefs as far as religion goes...I believe this was done in 1981. He also talked about this in his book Travelling Music (pages 265-267). http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/sat31.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisibleairwaves Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 As a Christian, I get very annoyed when people will denounce anything that seems a little bit incorrect as satanic, evil, the work of the devil, etc. I have heard of a few groups claiming that things such as rock music, black clothing, the Internet, cable TV are things that only a satanic, foul devil-worshipper would participate in. Sure, there are things related to these items that are evil, but I would never go so far to say that they are totally evil. (Sorry about the rant-I get carried away sometimes.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test4VitalSigns Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE (Quigley_Moog @ Mar 20 2005, 04:43 PM) QUOTE (invisibleairwaves @ Mar 20 2005, 04:38 PM) If you try to determine this based only on his lyrics, there are conflicting messages. There are bible quotes (2112) and songs that seem very atheist (Freewill, Roll the Bones). I think the best place to look for his religious affilation would be his books. I couldn't agree more with the songs you chose to represent both sides of the argument. Freewill and Roll the Bones are the first one's I'd have chosen to represent his disbelief or unbelief. Roll The Bones is considered by some to be the most atheistic album in music history. Robert Price, an atheist philosopher, wrote a book about Rush's lyrics (I believe it was called Mystic Rhythms:The Philosophical Vision of Rush). It is an interesting read but it is only Price's opinion and it is not really a "factual" book but it does bring up some interesting points concerning Neils lyrics... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sawyer Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Mar 20 2005, 01:51 PM)Here is a letter Neil sent to an editor of a paper which did an article of a Christian group which was running some seminar on the "evils of rock music". He pretty much sums up his beliefs as far as religion goes...I believe this was done in 1981. He also talked about this in his book Travelling Music (pages 265-267). http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/sat31.htm Thanks for posting that T4VS. I've only heard about the letter, never read it before, funny how he used the same ending as in TM, "if you don't belive me, just ask my mom!" I love it!! Also in GR he mentions the Christian bikers, he actual entertained the idea of confronting them in a nobel gesture of politeness, but feared proselytizing, and respectfully declined to approach them, but made it clear he did not fault them or their belief. Neil's just a class act!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sawyer Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Neil Peart said on the "Roll The Bones Radio Special": "The Big Wheel is a good example on this album; where it seems to be autobiographical. The Big Wheel Well, I was only a kid - didn't know enough to be afraid Playing the game, but not the way the big boys played Nothing to lose - maybe I had something to trade The way the big wheel spins Well, I was only a kid, on a holy crusade I placed no trust in a faith that was ready-made Take no chances on paradise delayed So I do a slow fade Playing for time Don't want to wait for heaven Looking for love For an angel to forgive my sins Playing with fire Chasing something new to believe in Looking for love The way the big wheel spins Well, I was only a kid, cruising around in a trance Prisoner of fate, victim of circumstance I was lined up for glory, but the tickets sold out in advance The way the big wheel spins Well, I was only a kid, gone without a backward glance Going for broke, going for another chance Hoping for heaven - hoping for a fine romance If I do the right dance Wheel goes round, landing on a twist of faith Taking your chances you'll have the right answers When the final judgment begins Wheel goes round, landing on a leap of fate Life redirected in ways unexpected Sometimes the odd number wins The way the big wheel spins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostGirl Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 He is an agnostic...deeply spiritual but spurning organized religion and its trappings. He speaks of being moved by a choir of nuns at a vespers service he attended when in Africa, by the grandeur of a baroque cathedral, and by the warmth of the human spirit. But for the most part: Angels and demons dancing in my head, lunatics and monsters underneath my bed...media messiahs preying on my fears, pop culture prophets playing in my ears... I believe in what I see, I believe in what I hear...I believe that what I'm feeling changes how the world appears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indica Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test4VitalSigns Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dweezil Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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...
Tom Sawyer Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 QUOTE (Test4VitalSigns @ Mar 21 2005, 04:24 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.... Yes, John Lennon did this in The Ballad of John and Yoko. "Christ you know it ain't easy" was repeated 5 times in that song. It's really doesn't matter. Neil is a master lyricist and drummer, excellent writter and sensible guy. That's what I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra sneachta Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 PersonallyI am a practicing Roman Catholic, and I regard Neil's lyrics as vitally important, because they challenge me. They challenge me to look beyond the structures of my religion and base my decisions not on what a book or a preacher says, but on what I believe to be right. The teachings of my church and my religion inform my conscience, but ultimately I too must choose Freewill, I must make my own decision and live my life freely as best I can. Neil's core problem with organised religion as far as I can see is it can provide a cop-out, and remove the need for choices and decisions. I fully agree with that, and see no contradiction between exercising free will and being a christian. What does Neil believe? - To be honest, I'm not particularly bothered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit of radio Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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...
Guest Quigley_Moog Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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. I am certainly not going to judge Neil by his beliefs, mine was just curiousity of the purest form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmejim Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Oh,Quigley-love the Taurus pedals-What a great piece of kit.Yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sawyer Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 QUOTE (madra sneachta @ Mar 21 2005, 06:49 AM) PersonallyI am a practicing Roman Catholic, and I regard Neil's lyrics as vitally important, because they challenge me. They challenge me to look beyond the structures of my religion and base my decisions not on what a book or a preacher says, but on what I believe to be right. The teachings of my church and my religion inform my conscience, but ultimately I too must choose Freewill, I must make my own decision and live my life freely as best I can. Neil's core problem with organised religion as far as I can see is it can provide a cop-out, and remove the need for choices and decisions. I fully agree with that, and see no contradiction between exercising free will and being a christian. What does Neil believe? - To be honest, I'm not particularly bothered. That's the best way to put it! QUOTE (Quigley_Moog @ Mar 21 2005, 07:39 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. I am certainly not going to judge Neil by his beliefs, mine was just curiousity of the purest form. I can't imagine a Rush fan doing that either. I'm glad you brought it up though. Good dialogue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato76 Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.