An Old Man Takes A Look At Neil Young's Religion
In a blog post titled "Old Man Take A Look At My Religion", The Mighty Barrister (10/24/05) takes a few hard shots at Neil's comments on religion in the recent interview on NPR's World Cafe, which we highlighted yesterday.
In the interview, Neil revealed some rather personal observations on faith and politics. And The Mighty Barrister is not happy and displays some rather "un-christian hate-like" behavior. Hmm, the irony.
"What annoys me more than [Prairie Wind's] insipid lyrics and banal melodies is Neil Young's self-righteous spirituality.
After saying that everyone is entitled to practice his or her own religion, he attacked the Bush administration on the basis that it is "almost 100% Christian." That would be news to Ari Fleischer, David Frum, Ken Melman, Josh Bolten, Paul Wolfowitz, Elliott Abrams, Michael Chertoff, Matt Schlapp, and a host of other non-Christians filling some of the most important roles in the administration. His song "When God Made Me" is admittedly a not-so-subtle attack on the Bush administration, and on Christianity in general. What is it about Christianity that bothers Young? There's "just too much of it" in the White House. How does that harm Neil Young? Because they don't respect his right to worship the way he sees fit to worship.
How many times did Bushhitler and his Christianazi Flying Monkey Swarm of Death descend upon poor old Neil Young and interfere with his right to worship a rock?"
Not really sure what that last bit of nonsense is all about? Talk about paranoia... But aside from the standard tactic of twisting a quote to suit one's purpose, it looks like The Mighty Barrister has also seen fit to cherry pick a quote out of context. Now really. It almost seems that The Mighty Barrister is threatened by Neil's faith. All of the Bush figures cited by MB (Ari Fleischer, David Frum, et al) are NOT cabinet appointees, but republican staffers, contrary to Young's point about Bush's cabinet.
Clearly, The Mighty Barrister has missed Young's point completely regarding the separation of chuch and state. And how in the world did he conclude that "When God Made Me" is "admittedly a not-so-subtle attack on the Bush administration, and on Christianity in general"? A very close analysis of the lyrics reveals nothing of the sort. There's been quite a bit of debate about the lyrics and here's what commenter Togu posted about "When God Made Me" lyrics:
"This is an incredible song because of what Neil achieves with the lyrics and music combined.Blogger Dave Faulkner offers a much healthier and even handed comment from the Christian community on the song. His comments come in the context of similar comments that Neil made in an interview in Word Magazine:
It is a warm melody and rendition, so you can't say that Neil is out to argue. The song is disarming because of its plaintive melody and questioning. It makes you ask: can God who is so great and so gracious really be as limiting as we humans often make him out to be? The song also celebrates the incredible diversity of persons that God created and the wonderful gifts God gave to each person and asks what those gifts are meant to be used for. It also asks why don't we cherish these gifts in the way they were meant to be used? I'm a Christian myself and I'm sorry to see how some feel the need to peg this as a Christian or non-Christian song.
Listen to the music first and let its honest questions move you."
"Rather than dismiss Young due to those apparently strange views it would be better to look seriously at what he says.
Of course as a Christian I don't believe that the doctrine of God making humankind in his image is about conceit or arrogance: it's an act of pure grace and it should not make us careless with the rest of creation. But the problem is, that is precisely the way it has been taken for centuries and we now have an environmental problem.
We need to hold this together with Young's statement that 'We're all here together, we're all nature', except that I would just change that last word from 'nature' to 'creation'."
So stop hating. Start participating.
Neil Young in "Mansion On The Hill" videoLabels: neil young, religion
by thrasher@PermaLink: 10/26/2005 12:23:00 AM
5 comments
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5 Comments:
One writers comment "read God's book " since when did God become an author? And once everyone frees their mind to the idea that jesus was just a man like the rest of us, then maybe the song will begin to make more sense. " God made me"? might be the better questions. Because if he did would he have put all these limitations into our character, I think not.
The Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit and God says that the only way to Him is by Jesus Christ He is the way the truth and the life and true religion is to help those orphans and widows in need and lend to the poor so Neil is partly right and partly wrong (according to believe any religion in diversity) it's more like God's diversity of creation in Christ who is a member of the Godhead and also involved in the creation--the whole bible is about Jesus coming to destroy the works of Satan who is here to steal, kill and destroy but Christ came to give us life and more abundantly now and forever if you except Him in your heart than He is your hero and we become like minded with Him because we emulate Him the highest form of respect-everything else that is antichrist is a mask Satan wears in the name of God, Satan is a wolf in sheeps clothing to lead astray-that is why we are living with war it is really done in the name of Satan in disguise.
Praise the Lord oh my soul!!!!!
Please be fair and put this one up
I first heard the famous song yesterday and assumed that Neil Young had converted to Christianity, not that he was slagging it. I am a pretty serious Christian and what he said is certainly in line with my Christian faith.
In reply to the first person to respond, yes, indeed, Jesus was just a person, like the rest of us. All Christians believe that. However, Jesus was ALSO the incarnation of God, the Christ, the annointed one, Immanuel ("God with us"). This is what makes Christianity such a human faith.
I liked that song, "When God Made Me". I kinda turned it around and threw it in God's face. I get that way sometimes. I think, "why do I have to respond to you - you can respond to me". Certainly selfish on my part but it was Christmas and I was alone and drinking. Just the way I thought I liked it.
I like that sign on Neil's piano that said, "God appreciates me when I work but he loves me when I sing". I love it when you sing too. I'm trying to love God.
Religion$ default to scams based on bronze age campfire tale mythology about walking on water and a lake of fire. Follow the money unless you want to pretend that arsons produce afterlives and that atheists burn in hell for all eternity instead of only trapped inside of house fires. 🔥🔥
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