RUSH the band- are they atheists ??

[drteeth]

This thread can only go wrong.

To add some actual content: I don't care about the beliefs of musicians as long as they do not push their beliefs into their music.

 

[Relic]

Rush is great, their beliefs hardly matter. /thread

Just a note though - starting a thread about it here however will only bring out the pro-religious folks who will immediately go defensive and the rabidly anti-religious folks who will ironically preach about how much they hate religious folk's preaching...

It's kind of entertaining in a ridiculous sort of way.

 

[RedCoatMonster]

This thread can only go wrong.

To add some actual content: I don't care about the beliefs of musicians as long as they do not push their beliefs into their music.

So we want our musicians to be creative as long as that creativity doesn't venture into their beliefs? That sounds a bit unrealistic considering a musicians beliefs(religious, anti-religious, philosophical, etc.), just like anyone else, is often assumed to be the foundation of their life. Asking a musician to keep their beliefs out of their music is a bit arrogant and rude IMO.

 

[RedCoatMonster]

Rush is great, their beliefs hardly matter. /thread

Just a note though - starting a thread about it here however will only bring out the pro-religious folks who will immediately go defensive and the rabidly anti-religious folks who will ironically preach about how much they hate religious folk's preaching...

It's kind of entertaining in a ridiculous sort of way.

Ive always wanted to see what a thread like that would end up like if a mod just turned a blind eye to it. Its like a car crash...cant...look....away!

 

[MakiSupaStar]

I agree with this up to a point - I will listen to music made my anyone with any beliefs, but I don't listen to music which actively pushes a religious message, for example Christian bands who write songs praising God, Jesus, etc.

The lyrics clash with my beliefs, so I don't listen. It's the same as me not listening to bands who write songs with racist messages - I don't agree with it, so I don't listen to it. There are plenty of other bands out there to listen to instead.

There's a lot of reggae and bluegrass that push a religious message. I still dig it.

 

[blendermassacre]

The lyrics clash with my beliefs, so I don't listen. It's the same as me not listening to bands who write songs with racist messages - I don't agree with it, so I don't listen to it. There are plenty of other bands out there to listen to instead.

I'm going to say that it's not the same as listening to a band with a racist message... being agnostic does not have the same gravity as being racist. Being agnostic means that you believe the truth is unobtainable. It's not anti anything or anyone.

 

[bassguppy]

I don't care about the beliefs of musicians as long as they do not push their beliefs into their music.

I feel the same way about others who have influence on the masses.

 

[lamarjones]

Religious lyrics (not being a real religious person) don't bother me to a point. There are many tunes that aren't straight up Christian music that make references to God that don't bother me one bit. Christian music doesn't really bother me much either, but admittedly I don't pay that much attention to lyrics. I won't let that stop me from enjoying a few Gospel grooves.

That said, I can completely see that lyrics slanted in one way or another can turn people off, and I have no reason to try to change anyone's mind about that nor call it foolish.

 

[jaywa]

I believe Geddy Lee is Jewish -- at least by ethnicity if not religous upbringing -- so you can throw that into the mix as well.

 

[RedCoatMonster]

Religious lyrics (not being a real religious person) don't bother me to a point. There are many tunes that aren't straight up Christian music that make references to God that don't bother me one bit. Christian music doesn't really bother me much either, but admittedly I don't pay that much attention to lyrics. I won't let that stop me from enjoying a few Gospel grooves.

That said, I can completely see that lyrics slanted in one way or another can turn people off, and I have no reason to try to change anyone's mind about that nor call it foolish.

+1

No one is making anybody listen to anything.

 

[Gard]

You can read Neil's feelings on the subject of religion, and a lot of his own personal philosophy, in Ghost Rider. It's an excellent read. For a Christian, it was interesting to watch, through Neil's own eyes, God repeatedly reaching out to him, and Neil rejecting Him.

Having said that, yeah, they're either atheist or agnostic. Some songs, like "Faithless," push it more than others, but you can see a skepticism if not outright disdain for religion as far back as 2112. I just skip past the tunes that bother me and enjoy the rest of them; there's plenty of material in their catalog to choose from, and I don't see a reason to chuck my copy of Signals out because I don't like or agree with the sentiments spelled out on later albums.

Maybe you're imagining that "god" was reaching out to him and he was just not seeing your imagination in his life experience. He can't reject what is not there for him. Perspective is a marvelous thing, isn't it?

What "disdain for religion" you see is typical of two types:

1) Rejection of ORGANIZED religion in general.

2) Rejection of pre-destination/pre-determination based on religious belief ("Freewill" is a sparkling example of this).

You can find a respectful commentary on personal faith in "Jacob's Ladder".

"The shifting shafts of shining
Weave the fabric of their dreams"

Nothing in the band's work ever dismisses or diminishes PERSONAL FAITH, just those that use faith as a method of manipulation or control.

Tossing out your Rush recordings because of their personal outlook on the universe would be the equivalent of me tossing out my collection of Bach recordings because he wrote them for his "God"; or, refusing to root for my favorite NFL team because they're the "Saints".

In other words, silly.

 

[jeremyr]

Why is it wrong for the OP or anyone to know exactly what it is he's listening to?

If the OP doesn't want to listen to something that goes contrary to his beliefs (Religious or NOT) then so be it, no one else should be bothered by it. He's not telling you to not listen to it, but rather trying to get a hold of what they are about or possibly singing about which happens to be something that will occupy space in his mind.

Tossing out your Rush recordings because of their personal outlook on the universe would be the equivalent of me tossing out my collection of Bach recordings because he wrote them for his "God"; or, refusing to root for my favorite NFL team because they're the "Saints".

I would have to disagree wholeheartedly, however there isn't any room for this discussion on TB so I'll just leave it at that.

 

[cdginger]

I believe Geddy Lee is Jewish -- at least by ethnicity if not religous upbringing -- so you can throw that into the mix as well.

In their movie/documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage Geddy and Alex both said what you said basically.

 

[john turner]

yeah. religious discussion is banned in OT. you guys know this, right? i mean, it's posted pretty prevalently, not to mention part of the rules of the site.