Sooner Or Later (soren's Song)

It's a reference to Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher who was a Christian but struggled with the nature of faith. He was mocked by his peers when he was alive, and only after he died were his works translated and people began to realize he was pretty insightful. There's a little more info about him here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2004/apr23.html.

"Come back and haunt me, follow me home. Give me a motive, swallow me whole" is a prayer to God. He's praying for God to haunt him, consume him, and surround his thoughts, and the word haunt truly describes it. Give me a motive, swallow me whole. This whole song is about the growing distance in his relationship with God, and the idea that sooner or later, those who surround him, will find out that he's not the perfect Johnny christian.

Two comments: 1) Soren Kirkegaard presented faith as the idea of a blind leap in the dark "And I’m taking the leap" This stood in stark contrast to the previous ideas that faith was something built upon knowledge. Soren's view of faith is the mainstream one today as can be seen in many people's view of religion and God. Evangelicals will still hold to the old view that faith is something built on knowledge and previous experience. That is to say faith in Christ isn't a blind leap in the dark, but is based on such things as a) fulfilled promises, b) personal experience, or c) the truth of changed lives that a person can see. This is true christianity, and it is unfortunate that most of the world, Christians included, can not see this. I don't check my head at the door of my church. In fact it is just the opposite, I walk into church and turn the criticism filter way up because the things discussed there, if true, have eternal importance.
Also I will note that Soren was looking for the "hole in the wall" by which he could find a way out of the room of this existance and into the higher world of Reality where faith in God would not be a leap in the dark, but would provide an intellectual basis for faith.

2) I will excuse myself some "reader response interpretation." from the song: Today is ours, condemned to be free Free to keep breathing, free to believe I look to find You, down on my knees Oh, God, I believe, please help me believe How many days do I wish for a robotic experience of submission to God's will. I burn so hot with shame when I fall, sin and have to come back on my knees crying for forgiveness. To be a robot would be so freeing! It would free my desires to serve God without distraction or failing. That would be ultimate, amazing, wonderful freedom. But it is not what God has for me. So I come back and pray "God help me believe." I mean this not just in the theoretical intelectual manner, instead I want to live that belief. To sin against God is to lack faith that He does provide a way of escape from all our temptations. It is to call God a liar, so I want to believe God actively, all the time. Help me believe!

What does the chorus mean?: "Sooner or later You'll find out there's a hole in the wall Sooner or later You'll find out there's a hole in the wall"

I was thinking that part was talking about how eventually they will realize that there is something missing from their life, hence the "hole in the wall", and that something is God.

soren kierkegaard was a danish philosopher in the 19th century. i don't know why exactly the name soren is in the title, but i would assume it is him being referred to. i like the line, "i believe please help me believe." it's a lot like a guy in the bible, who asked Jesus to do something, if he could and jesus told him that all things were possible if he would believe. and the guy said he believed, but needed help with his unbelief/doubt. it's in mark 7 or 9 at the end of the chapter. i really like that because i can identify much more with that than i can of some great statement of faith. below is one of kierkegaard's thoughts, maybe it might have to do something with the song.

"This sickness unto death is marked by the concept of despair. According to Kierkegaard, an individual is "in despair" if he does not align himself with God or God's plan for the self. In this way he loses his self, which Kierkegaard defines as the "relation's relating itself to itself in the relation." (taken from wikipedia - the sickness unto death)

A little late to the party but here goes.

(My opinion)

I don't think this is so much a song about separation from God as it is about depth and a true faith relationship. A loving walk with God.

I get this from the first line - The idea of come back and 'haunt' me seems to me like the author is speaking to the Holy Spirit. (Holy Ghost - Haunt me - Get it?) And his intention in being 'haunted' is to find a 'motive' and to be 'swallowed whole'. Which I translate as desire to act righteously (motive), and cease to be the sinful / doubting person he/she is. (swallowed whole)

People others' tell him he's lost 'it' - It being: Motive / Being dead (Swallowed Whole) to self alive in Christ. And he realizes that he/she is a mockery - and still feels separated from God.

But sooner or later you realize that the wall of separation between us and God, or us and righteousness, has a hole in it. (I see the hole as the cross - which unites us to God / The Holy spirit who we have access to because of the cross who intercedes and connects us with God)

This is the freedom we have once we realize there is a hole in the wall, and we have access to God. We are condemned to freedom, to live and believe. Salvation comes free, but a relationship must be fought for. At the cost of self and everything we hold dear.

If we fight for our lives and rights we will lose God. But if we let go and die to self (shrink) we will discover Him. This is what I think he's talking about in the bridge.

Hope you find yourself shrinking. Shrinking small enough to let go of all you have and fit through the hole in the wall. - The eye of the needle.

This song means living in a world where you're actually finally aware of all the hate and ugliness that lives beside you. And to wish to be ignorant dreams of shrinking/youll find out that youll dream to be that small of all the ugliness again, and to see the beauty within everyone.

When we become Christians, it is an act of faith hoping that God will change us, fulfill us, and show us who we are. Realzing how sinful our world is, being a Christian seems so much more worthwhile.

Does anyone know who or what Soren is?

Why do I love this song so much? It's hard to say...but I can't stop listening to it!