Dave was raised a Quaker, but is Agnostic. Here's an excerpt from a 2001 Boston Globe interview:
""'It would be safe to say that I'm agnostic,' Matthews says. 'However, I do feel as though we owe a faith to the world and to ourselves. We owe a grace and gratitude to things that have brought us here. But I think it's very ignorant to say, Well, for everything, God has a plan.' That's like an excuse. ... Maybe the real faithful act is to commit to something, to take action, as opposed to saying,Well, everything is in the hand of God.'"
My take on this song may be a little different from what Dave intended, but I instantly related to it. I was raised in a Christian Fundamentalist-type church, which fervently believes in a literal interpretation of the Old Testament and New Testament. I've not gone to church for about 5 years, and in that time, my views have changed completely. (I always had nagging doubts about what I was taught as a child anyway.) I am now somewhere between Agnostic and Atheist. I have learned so much since escaping that suppressive state of mind, and the more I learn, the more I evolve as a person.
While I don't regret changing my views, there are times I wish I could revert to the Christian state of mind, because sometimes it made life easier to be able to say "God has a reason for everything and Jesus is taking care of me." As they say, "Ignorance is Bliss." It's kind of like wishing to be a child and believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I grew up, though, and have learned to embrace the beauty in the not knowing. You can never go back home.
Also, refer to the song "Dive In" on this album. I love the part that says:
"though we would like to believe we are
we are not in control
though we would love to believe"
Eh-Hee, What You Are, Proudest Monkey, One Sweet World come to mind regarding the subjects of religion and evolution.
People love clinging onto the idea that they have all the answers. They want to believe that they can be forgiven for the crap they can't forgive themselves for doing (sin) or "wash away" all the things they regret. People want to believe they'll go somewhere better when they die. That's a basic emotional need, and God fills it for some people. I understand this. I know why people do it. Maybe Dave sometimes wishes life could be that easy. Just my thoughts, but I'm probably a fucking nut job. :p
Dave was raised a Quaker, but is Agnostic. Here's an excerpt from a 2001 Boston Globe interview:
""'It would be safe to say that I'm agnostic,' Matthews says. 'However, I do feel as though we owe a faith to the world and to ourselves. We owe a grace and gratitude to things that have brought us here. But I think it's very ignorant to say,
Well, for everything, God has a plan.' That's like an excuse. ... Maybe the real faithful act is to commit to something, to take action, as opposed to saying,Well, everything is in the hand of God.'"My take on this song may be a little different from what Dave intended, but I instantly related to it. I was raised in a Christian Fundamentalist-type church, which fervently believes in a literal interpretation of the Old Testament and New Testament. I've not gone to church for about 5 years, and in that time, my views have changed completely. (I always had nagging doubts about what I was taught as a child anyway.) I am now somewhere between Agnostic and Atheist. I have learned so much since escaping that suppressive state of mind, and the more I learn, the more I evolve as a person.
While I don't regret changing my views, there are times I wish I could revert to the Christian state of mind, because sometimes it made life easier to be able to say "God has a reason for everything and Jesus is taking care of me." As they say, "Ignorance is Bliss." It's kind of like wishing to be a child and believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. I grew up, though, and have learned to embrace the beauty in the not knowing. You can never go back home.
Also, refer to the song "Dive In" on this album. I love the part that says: "though we would like to believe we are we are not in control though we would love to believe"
Eh-Hee, What You Are, Proudest Monkey, One Sweet World come to mind regarding the subjects of religion and evolution.
People love clinging onto the idea that they have all the answers. They want to believe that they can be forgiven for the crap they can't forgive themselves for doing (sin) or "wash away" all the things they regret. People want to believe they'll go somewhere better when they die. That's a basic emotional need, and God fills it for some people. I understand this. I know why people do it. Maybe Dave sometimes wishes life could be that easy. Just my thoughts, but I'm probably a fucking nut job. :p