For the Greater Good of God

i see allot of people saying stuff like "its about how religion causes problems" not only do i disagree that religion causes problems, but i also disagree that its what the song says.

i think the song is saying "God would not approve". i think it is written to all of those who say "for the greater good of God" and then do something that is totally unchristianlike.

ill go about breaking this down: "Are you a man of peace Or a man of holy war Too many sides to you Don't know which anymore So many full of life But also filled with pain Don't know just how many Will live to breathe again"

i think this part is him speculating like allot of uncertain people would about whether or not God is a good God, or a violent one. i think it has allot to do with people saying "Im on God's side" and then doing terrible things (ill call them pharisees from now on). i think it brings up the issue of people rejecting God, because of people who say they are of God, and do terrible things. etc.

"Please tell me now what life is Please tell me now what love is Well tell me now what war is Again tell me what life is"

i believe this part is the main sting of the song. someone earlier said they dont like this, but i think its more than beautiful. i think it is him saying to the pharisees of our day.. i think he is using the Socratic method here to prove his point. i think he is trying to get them to come to the conclusion that war is the opposite of love, and kills life.

"He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn't meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why "

i think this is the closing of the argument. he is pointing out that God is a God of love, and that he would go out, and die, for people who would disrespect and spit on him - go through agony. i think this parallels the point about war, that Christianity is about turning the other cheek, going through hell and back for the same people that kill you. if you lived by this motto, you wouldnt ever really participate in a war.

i think the "for the greater good of God" is him kind of mocking the pharisees who say these things with condescension (if you dont notice it, the way he vocalizes this part is rather harsh, sounds like he is putting anger through it).

i think the motto of the song basically is: God is a God of love. If you are going to do something in the name of God, you better make damn good sure its something God would approve of.

Its not about religion, its about those who corrupt and abuse religion fight wars, such as BUSH.

Are you a man of peace Or a man of holy war Too many sides to you Don’t know which anymore So many full of life But also filled with pain Don’t know just how many Will live to breathe again

These lyrics are directed at false crusaders like him. The following lyrics show that its not meant to be taken as blind religion-bashing like Slayer do: "He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why"

"He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why"

I think that part is amazing, I love Bruce's voice on that part, and he has an amazing voice, on the whole new album in my opinion. I agree with ChildOfTheNight, on the meaning, like "Why is there alot suffering in the world?", "For the greater good of God", saying religon has caused alot of war and violence.

Honestly I think it's a bit of both. Yes, religion has caused wars and endless suffering. The leaders of various religions have all declared their way the one true way, and that all other ways are evil and must be supressed at all costs. I don't exactly think that religion per se has a lot to answer for, but that the leaders of the religions are the ones that have explaining to do. Most of what we know about religion comes from secondary sources, who have in the past twisted and bastardized teachings to the point that what is taught is in direct conflict with what was originally said. The last lines of the song:

He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why

Are the most telling sign that this song doesn't condemn religion. It condemns those who twist it so that the common person does what the leaders want. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that when Jesus Christ was on Earth, he wasn't intending for Crusades to be fought in his name.

This incredible song is about religion and how it has borught upon mankind alot of wars, suffering and pain through the years! Perhaps the best song of, perhaps, the best maiden-album!

Yeah the last verse is just amazing!

"It brings upon us more famine, death and war You know religion has a lot to answer for"

Those lines really sum it all up! I love this song! Bruce is more amazing than ever!

^exeF is right

and ya,bruce's vocals are really good,not as good as the early days,but i think hes singing out of his range,he sounds like hes straining to hit those high notes.he should have sung like how he did on his tyranny of souls album,he sounded PERFECT there.

anyways this song is very nice and the intro is my favorite from the whole album

This song is not attacking Religion, Its saying how people will kill other's over it and why it happens.

In the making of AMOLAD video, Steve Harris says somthing to the effect that he's not anti-religion (nor is he for it) so, it seems to be more of an attack on the abuse of religion (like the Islamo-faschists [sp?]), rather than religion in general. Most religions, like Christianity, preach peace, but some people take things out of context and wage war in the name of God, when in reality, they're doing quite the opposite of what God wants. This song is targeted toward those select few individuals.

Also listen to "In the Name of God" by Dream Theater

Ddadutta: Trying to make this a political thing is really lame and childish. There is no religious war being waged by Bush nor Blair, so an attempt to relate this is feeble and small-minded.

In reality, it shows how the beauty of faith has been perverted by many. Whether it be the Crusades, bin-Laden or countless other bloody acts in the name of religion, it is all contrary to what a loving Go would want from us. The final lines (they bear repeating): "He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why" In other words, Jesus paid the price for all the evil in this world. He destroyed the finality of evil. He won the ultimate battle against it, so why do we, in the name of God, continue to start it all again? This is similar in spirit to the line from U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday": "And the battle's yet begun to claim the victory Jesus won."