The message here is in line with sentiments presented by Dostoevsky and Camus regarding an omnipotent-omniscient deity and humans' free will. As stated by Dostoevsky in I believe "Demons," if an interventionist God exists, by the concept's very design and definition we can do nothing outside of His will. Only if He does not exist are humans truly independent and free. To claim we are all part of God's divine plan, but to also maintain in the same breath that we have free will is an innate contradiction, which is what I think Richey is pointing out here with bitter sarcasm. For many who do not recognize the blatant discrepancy, when something beneficial occurs, it is because God caused it to happen; when something harmful takes place, it is because humans choose of their own free will to do evil. What Dostoevsky and Camus pointed out--and, again, what Richey is echoing, at least in my interpretation of this song--is you can't have it both ways. Either everything comes from God or from us.
You clearly misunderstand Dostoevsky's writing but I see where you are coming from.
You clearly misunderstand Dostoevsky's writing but I see where you are coming from.
"They are little children rioting and barring out the teacher at school. But their childish delight will end; it will cost them dear. They will cast down temples and drench the earth with blood..."
"They are little children rioting and barring out the teacher at school. But their childish delight will end; it will cost them dear. They will cast down temples and drench the earth with blood..."
The message here is in line with sentiments presented by Dostoevsky and Camus regarding an omnipotent-omniscient deity and humans' free will. As stated by Dostoevsky in I believe "Demons," if an interventionist God exists, by the concept's very design and definition we can do nothing outside of His will. Only if He does not exist are humans truly independent and free. To claim we are all part of God's divine plan, but to also maintain in the same breath that we have free will is an innate contradiction, which is what I think Richey is pointing out here with bitter sarcasm. For many who do not recognize the blatant discrepancy, when something beneficial occurs, it is because God caused it to happen; when something harmful takes place, it is because humans choose of their own free will to do evil. What Dostoevsky and Camus pointed out--and, again, what Richey is echoing, at least in my interpretation of this song--is you can't have it both ways. Either everything comes from God or from us.
You clearly misunderstand Dostoevsky's writing but I see where you are coming from.
You clearly misunderstand Dostoevsky's writing but I see where you are coming from.
"They are little children rioting and barring out the teacher at school. But their childish delight will end; it will cost them dear. They will cast down temples and drench the earth with blood..."
"They are little children rioting and barring out the teacher at school. But their childish delight will end; it will cost them dear. They will cast down temples and drench the earth with blood..."