I love how people on here constantly claim authority on what a band would never "say sincerely".
I also love (laughing at, in a sad way) how most of those who comment on Bad Religion's songs, fail to recognize that BR's music is laced with Biblical reference and influence time anad time again. Ever heard of the book of Ecclesiastes? For those that haven't, it's in the Old Testament, ie. pre-christian (Hebrew), part of the Bible.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” - Ecc 1:2
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief. - Ecc 1:18
14 The wise have eyes in their heads,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.
15 Then I said to myself,
“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself,
“This too is meaningless.”
16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
the days have already come when both have been forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise too must die! - Ecc2:14-16
The only place I see a potential departure from the writer of Ecclesiastes would be the source of the historical significance of one's life. The conclusion is still, in essence the same. Both conclude that there is meaning in life, but the line "I don't fear the consequence" tends to negate the last part of the following passage (while the rest of the song echoes the sentiment);
15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. - Ecc8:15
Additionally, the futility of the Ecclesiastes passage;
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? - Ecc3:18-22
...is summed up in BR's sentiment, "If life makes you scared and bitter, at least it's not for very long".
Ironically, the Bible as a whole, both Old and New Testaments (Hebrew and Christian), echoes the prophetic message that "we pitch in to help it die", but for different reasons.
I'm not saying that BR couldn't have come up with this prior to reading Ecclesiastes. We all read things that echoe our own personal feelings or thoughts all of the time. But given the fact that so many other BR songs scream themes parallelling other Ecclesiastical ideas (Pity the Dead, for one), and knowing that another of their often mentioned influences, Thomas Wolfe, considered Ecclesiastes to be one of the best pieces of LITERATURE of all time, I have no doubt they have read it. That's what makes them one of the most intelligent bands ever. They read, they ask why, and then decide for themselves what they believe. Everyone's free to believe what they want as long as they ask themselves why they believe that. But until you ask why you believe what you do, investigate the matter, and then come to your own decision, you're already a slave.
Yes, you!
Besides, no ideas are original, Ecclesiastes was written about 3,00 years ago, "...there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecc 1:9"
You are my favorite person on the internet. I wish I could meet you one day. When I wander this site there is always one gem of a human being who isn't irrrational and retarded as most people who comment here. I'm not one of such gems, but I appreciate the ones I see. :)
You are my favorite person on the internet. I wish I could meet you one day. When I wander this site there is always one gem of a human being who isn't irrrational and retarded as most people who comment here. I'm not one of such gems, but I appreciate the ones I see. :)
I love how people on here constantly claim authority on what a band would never "say sincerely".
I also love (laughing at, in a sad way) how most of those who comment on Bad Religion's songs, fail to recognize that BR's music is laced with Biblical reference and influence time anad time again. Ever heard of the book of Ecclesiastes? For those that haven't, it's in the Old Testament, ie. pre-christian (Hebrew), part of the Bible.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” - Ecc 1:2
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. - Ecc 1:18
14 The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. 15 Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.” 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die! - Ecc2:14-16
The only place I see a potential departure from the writer of Ecclesiastes would be the source of the historical significance of one's life. The conclusion is still, in essence the same. Both conclude that there is meaning in life, but the line "I don't fear the consequence" tends to negate the last part of the following passage (while the rest of the song echoes the sentiment);
15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. - Ecc8:15
Additionally, the futility of the Ecclesiastes passage; 18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[c]; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? - Ecc3:18-22
...is summed up in BR's sentiment, "If life makes you scared and bitter, at least it's not for very long".
Ironically, the Bible as a whole, both Old and New Testaments (Hebrew and Christian), echoes the prophetic message that "we pitch in to help it die", but for different reasons.
I'm not saying that BR couldn't have come up with this prior to reading Ecclesiastes. We all read things that echoe our own personal feelings or thoughts all of the time. But given the fact that so many other BR songs scream themes parallelling other Ecclesiastical ideas (Pity the Dead, for one), and knowing that another of their often mentioned influences, Thomas Wolfe, considered Ecclesiastes to be one of the best pieces of LITERATURE of all time, I have no doubt they have read it. That's what makes them one of the most intelligent bands ever. They read, they ask why, and then decide for themselves what they believe. Everyone's free to believe what they want as long as they ask themselves why they believe that. But until you ask why you believe what you do, investigate the matter, and then come to your own decision, you're already a slave.
Yes, you!
Besides, no ideas are original, Ecclesiastes was written about 3,00 years ago, "...there is nothing new under the sun. - Ecc 1:9"
You are my favorite person on the internet. I wish I could meet you one day. When I wander this site there is always one gem of a human being who isn't irrrational and retarded as most people who comment here. I'm not one of such gems, but I appreciate the ones I see. :)
You are my favorite person on the internet. I wish I could meet you one day. When I wander this site there is always one gem of a human being who isn't irrrational and retarded as most people who comment here. I'm not one of such gems, but I appreciate the ones I see. :)