One could be forgiven for just assuming a disdain for religion with a surface listen to this song. But I do not think it is as simple as that. Yes, the point of view is of one who was indoctrinated into a strict religion but it is not the point of view of the child, but that of the grown person looking back on what he got out of that experience.
It, to me, seems that what he was taught was to be religious on Sunday. That religion was a suit you wore one day of the week to show others how presentable you could be. The lines specifically say 'one day a week, we turn the cheek' and 'clean it up on Sunday morning'. The implication here is that the other six days you get a pass as long as you do what is expected and are appropriately contrite on the Sunday. That somehow saying I'm sorry one day a week absolves you for perpetual horrid behaviour as a life choice.
The lines 'it's wrong to feel, it's wrong to care' followed by the 'you must not steal, you must not swear' reinforce that as they say it's okay to be selfish and not care about others as long as your outward actions do not go against the group. A disjoint between what you feel inside and how you present yourself to society. The difference between having a solid moral system and simply following the laws.
I do not see this as a rejection of religion but a rejection of religious dogma and hypocrisy. People should do good because it is the right thing, not because it's what others want. It should also be a way of life, not a show you make on Sunday morning.
One could be forgiven for just assuming a disdain for religion with a surface listen to this song. But I do not think it is as simple as that. Yes, the point of view is of one who was indoctrinated into a strict religion but it is not the point of view of the child, but that of the grown person looking back on what he got out of that experience.
It, to me, seems that what he was taught was to be religious on Sunday. That religion was a suit you wore one day of the week to show others how presentable you could be. The lines specifically say 'one day a week, we turn the cheek' and 'clean it up on Sunday morning'. The implication here is that the other six days you get a pass as long as you do what is expected and are appropriately contrite on the Sunday. That somehow saying I'm sorry one day a week absolves you for perpetual horrid behaviour as a life choice.
The lines 'it's wrong to feel, it's wrong to care' followed by the 'you must not steal, you must not swear' reinforce that as they say it's okay to be selfish and not care about others as long as your outward actions do not go against the group. A disjoint between what you feel inside and how you present yourself to society. The difference between having a solid moral system and simply following the laws.
I do not see this as a rejection of religion but a rejection of religious dogma and hypocrisy. People should do good because it is the right thing, not because it's what others want. It should also be a way of life, not a show you make on Sunday morning.