omg, i just randomly came across these lyrics, too, and wow...i'm a christian, and my HUGE pet peeve is when people claim they are christians when they have no idea what that means, or when ...ahhh, just everything that this song is saying. even though it's written by athiests, and probably is not supposed to mean that, that what's i think
Don't get to excited Greg Graffin is a rabid atheist. His self stated mission is to pull young people away from God and to get them to lead secular lives. look at the song from that perspective.
Don't get to excited Greg Graffin is a rabid atheist. His self stated mission is to pull young people away from God and to get them to lead secular lives. look at the song from that perspective.
Bad Religion has always been very confrontational about what they think are false and destructive beliefs and tendencies in the masses.
Bad Religion has always been very confrontational about what they think are false and destructive beliefs and tendencies in the masses.
Start from the beginning line, "It's all right to have faith in God..." yes, a lot of people read the song as being just anti-religious, but actually it's pro-critical thinking.
Start from the beginning line, "It's all right to have faith in God..." yes, a lot of people read the song as being just anti-religious, but actually it's pro-critical thinking.
"you're living on a mound of dirt,
but you can't explain your reason for existence
so you blame it on god."
"you're living on a mound of dirt,
but you can't explain your reason for existence
so you blame it on god."
-This is about creationism, religious thought-terminating cliches, and abusive theology (Calvinism and the doctrine of Total...
-This is about creationism, religious thought-terminating cliches, and abusive theology (Calvinism and the doctrine of Total Depravity). You blame your misunderstandings about reality, your frustrations with life on God, thinking that you can never achieve happiness or discover purpose because you're waiting on some trumpet from heaven.
"so much hatred in this world and you can't decide
who's pulling the strings
so you figure it's god."
You are born into a storm of hatred, you get caught up in nationalism, racism and other bigotry, thinking that God wants you to hate certain people, you get marched into the army, you chant the pledge of allegiance, you sign on the dotted line and you kill for this system of bigotry that you settled for.
"your whole life foreshadows death
and you finally realize you don't want to die alone
so you'll always have god."
This is a memento mori, a reminder to make something of your life so that this empty consolation won't be the only thing left for you. This is basically giving "I'll be done being a selfish bastard when I can no longer act on my worst impulses," and that's no way to live life.
"there's people in the world today
who say they're Jewish, Christian and such,
they're all ignorant fools.
they'll tell you you can't have your own way
unless you pay money and dedicate your life
or you'll be damned in hell.
don't be feeble like all of them,
you have your own brain full of thoughts and choices,
so use it don't let them use you."
Speaks for itself. Don't be another follower with a bent back looking down and afraid of knowledge and afraid of your own thoughts, is what he's saying. Greg Graffin wrote about overcoming the limbic system in his "punk manifesto". The doctrine of hell as many religious institutions preach it is meant to scare the wayward back into the pews, and to scare their coins back into their coffers. It's not just religious groups that use the human limbic system to their advantage anymore though, but politicians and influencers trying to sell you stuff.
Huh "rabid atheist" - Greg actually prefers the term naturalist and is agnostic. He's just a human being, but as much as you hate them apparently, you can't deny that the lyrics of Bad Religion are brilliant, thought provoking and original. I'm a Christian today. But to tell the truth I am glad I discovered Bad Religion in my 20s, at a defining point in my life when I could have either settled for a normal life with my brain and thoughts dictated by the world we live in ... or chose a different path. I'm glad I chose to question things instead of settling for predetermined answers.
omg, i just randomly came across these lyrics, too, and wow...i'm a christian, and my HUGE pet peeve is when people claim they are christians when they have no idea what that means, or when ...ahhh, just everything that this song is saying. even though it's written by athiests, and probably is not supposed to mean that, that what's i think
Don't get to excited Greg Graffin is a rabid atheist. His self stated mission is to pull young people away from God and to get them to lead secular lives. look at the song from that perspective.
Don't get to excited Greg Graffin is a rabid atheist. His self stated mission is to pull young people away from God and to get them to lead secular lives. look at the song from that perspective.
@Punk2R0ck3Prncss @Punk2R0ck3Prncss
@Punk2R0ck3Prncss @Punk2R0ck3Prncss
Bad Religion has always been very confrontational about what they think are false and destructive beliefs and tendencies in the masses.
Bad Religion has always been very confrontational about what they think are false and destructive beliefs and tendencies in the masses.
Start from the beginning line, "It's all right to have faith in God..." yes, a lot of people read the song as being just anti-religious, but actually it's pro-critical thinking.
Start from the beginning line, "It's all right to have faith in God..." yes, a lot of people read the song as being just anti-religious, but actually it's pro-critical thinking.
"you're living on a mound of dirt, but you can't explain your reason for existence so you blame it on god."
"you're living on a mound of dirt, but you can't explain your reason for existence so you blame it on god."
-This is about creationism, religious thought-terminating cliches, and abusive theology (Calvinism and the doctrine of Total...
-This is about creationism, religious thought-terminating cliches, and abusive theology (Calvinism and the doctrine of Total Depravity). You blame your misunderstandings about reality, your frustrations with life on God, thinking that you can never achieve happiness or discover purpose because you're waiting on some trumpet from heaven.
"so much hatred in this world and you can't decide who's pulling the strings so you figure it's god."
You are born into a storm of hatred, you get caught up in nationalism, racism and other bigotry, thinking that God wants you to hate certain people, you get marched into the army, you chant the pledge of allegiance, you sign on the dotted line and you kill for this system of bigotry that you settled for.
"your whole life foreshadows death and you finally realize you don't want to die alone so you'll always have god."
This is a memento mori, a reminder to make something of your life so that this empty consolation won't be the only thing left for you. This is basically giving "I'll be done being a selfish bastard when I can no longer act on my worst impulses," and that's no way to live life.
"there's people in the world today who say they're Jewish, Christian and such, they're all ignorant fools.
they'll tell you you can't have your own way unless you pay money and dedicate your life or you'll be damned in hell.
don't be feeble like all of them, you have your own brain full of thoughts and choices, so use it don't let them use you."
Speaks for itself. Don't be another follower with a bent back looking down and afraid of knowledge and afraid of your own thoughts, is what he's saying. Greg Graffin wrote about overcoming the limbic system in his "punk manifesto". The doctrine of hell as many religious institutions preach it is meant to scare the wayward back into the pews, and to scare their coins back into their coffers. It's not just religious groups that use the human limbic system to their advantage anymore though, but politicians and influencers trying to sell you stuff.
Huh "rabid atheist" - Greg actually prefers the term naturalist and is agnostic. He's just a human being, but as much as you hate them apparently, you can't deny that the lyrics of Bad Religion are brilliant, thought provoking and original. I'm a Christian today. But to tell the truth I am glad I discovered Bad Religion in my 20s, at a defining point in my life when I could have either settled for a normal life with my brain and thoughts dictated by the world we live in ... or chose a different path. I'm glad I chose to question things instead of settling for predetermined answers.