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Monday, October 24, 2005

World Cafe Interview: Inside Neil Young's Faith

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Last week on NPR's World Cafe, Neil Young was interviewed on the new "Prairie Wind" CD. 

In the interview with World Cafe's David Dye, Neil revealed some rather personal observations on faith and politics. And long time readers of Thrasher's Wheat know that we have a particular fondness for the collision of politics and religion. The question was a lead-in to "Prairie Wind"'s "When God Made Me", a song with lyrics that have provoked a wide range of reaction

Here's a partial transcript:

YOUNG: "I think religion and freedom of religion and people’s relationship with God is something that should not be hijacked by any certain political party.

The Founding Fathers of this country, there were only a couple of them that were religiously-based or were God-fearing. And now, in the Bush cabinet, you have almost, like, a hundred percent Christian. I just think it’s out of balance. I respect their religion, I respect the way they feel, I respect everything about the way they want to worship, I respect their right to do whatever they want. But, I just want to be respected for my right and have my relationship with God, and I don’t want any political party to be accused of not being faith-based or to be anti-faith because they don’t happen to agree with some Christian ethics or some Christian ways of life.
Christianity can be respected just like Muslim religions, like Jewish religion, just like any other religion.

Your relationship with God is about your relationship with God. When you go to Heaven, or wherever you go, you... it’s between you and God. It’s not between, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t, you know, I could be called a pagan, I suppose, but if you go back far enough, you’ll find that pagans really are people who believe in the Earth, they’re people who believe in the harmony of nature. They’re like the Indians, they’re like the Great Spirit, they believe in the Great Spirit, and it was the insecurity of Christianity that turned paganism into a negative term. 
And, if you go back to the roots of these things, and see where they came from, you know, I respect everyone’s right to do whatever they want to do, but I think that, this particular administration, and in the country this time, and it’s only a temporary thing – I have faith in that – but, ah, I think they’ve just hijacked people’s right for freedom of religion and, they’ve confused the separation of church and state.

Prayer meetings in the White House, um, all the time, you know, all of these things. There’s nothing wrong with having a prayer meeting, but, and obviously there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a prayer meeting, I wouldn’t, you know, be against that under any circumstances, but it’s a little bit too focused in one place, and it seems to be that, that, you know, Christianity has taken a turn here, attendance is down in churches, there’s a disbelief, it, it’s been hijacked, I feel like something is totally out of whack, and I think we’re going to get it back, I think there’s going to be a rebound, it’s a pendulum, and but the way it’s going right now, there’s just too much of it, you know, I’d like my kids to grow up free, to live the way they want to live and to worship their own, worship the way they want to worship without pressure in the United States of America."

The interview took place shortly after the Nashville concerts in August 2005. More interviews with Neil Young

 

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Labels:


10 Comments:

At 12/27/2005 11:17:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a long time pagan I always felt based on the lyrics of Young's songs that he had an affinity for nature worship. It's nice to hear him say it as well.

Phil Hawn

 
At 4/26/2006 04:28:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As an Xian, I find it offensive to here our government compared to Xiananity, From what I can see in GWB's actions, any faith he once had has been perverted by power and pride. If he is a good example of Xian living, then I renounce that title.
(oh no I am in a cult now)

 
At 7/31/2006 04:46:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been a neil young fan for nearly 36 yrs. He has refered to God in so many songs.And, especialy in the last line of Thrasher.Star o Bethlehem, and countless others.This time it's different.I can feel it and hear it in when God made me.I'm also a Christian,even before I was a fan.Neil, God needs good bands in glory! Hope to see you there.

 
At 1/03/2007 02:24:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Kids revolt against perceived injustice. Adults either abandon it or attempt to preserve it, but what man is a qualified to be a judge of men, or who can judge God? I've always liked Neil's music because it has heart, but even the most sincere heart can be deceived. Perhaps the most sincere hearts are those most easily decieved as lies don't come easy to them. Neil's right about one thing, relationship with God is the most important thing, but how big is your God and did you create him or did He create you?

 
At 7/22/2008 11:59:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

THERE SHOULD BE MORE CHRISTIANS IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THATS WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS, NOT JOHN LENNON IDIOT LIBERALS THAT RUINED THIS COUNTRY. NEIL BETTER GET GOOD WITH GOD BEFORE HE CROAKS OR ELSE ITS THE FIERY PITS FOR HIM. GOD SAVED HIM ONCE FROM THE BLOOD CLOT THING.
JESUS SAVES.

 
At 11/29/2018 07:41:00 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Demonstrate, without any room for ambiguity, that jesus was the one who saved Neil from "a blood clot thing", and not Allah, Vishnu, or the prevailing of modern science.

 
At 9/15/2019 05:14:00 PM, Blogger wesdesman said...

Thats easy...Jesus the Christ is basef on historical facts...not religious truths.

 
At 10/18/2020 09:36:00 AM, Blogger Dee said...

Every knee shall now and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! He is Absolute Truth....He is God and we are not and the only way to understand that truth is to be born of the Spirit of God....to receive the Mind of Christ... He is faithful to forgive us and bring us unto Himself in perfect Peace if we ask in belief and sincerity of heart!

 
At 12/14/2020 10:01:00 PM, Blogger Tucker said...

I was a hippie at the time of the Kent State thing. Those were heady times.I learned that human governments can't be trusted. Luke 4:5, 6 tells why.
Interestingly, government by God is the theme of the Bible. The "Model Prayer" (Matthew 6:9,10)that many are taught as a child puts the doing away with human governments, second in importance.
Whatever Mr. Young is religiously, I do not believe he is a hypocrite. I have enjoyed his music all these years and have often wanted to tell him how much. Buying his Cd's doesn't seem enough.I'm a Jehovah's Witness since 1975 now; and I will say, if you call yourself a Christian but you're not all shot up and hip deep in shrapnel then you're probably not doing something right. God bless you Neil! Tucker Spurgeon

 
At 8/07/2021 12:05:00 PM, Blogger Jillmarie said...

Hello- people who do not have deeper understanding of the Greek and Hebrew meanings of words in the Bible like to threaten with fiery pits. Hell is living in the absence of God. Another word used for hell alluded to Jerusalem’s trash dump. Living without communion with God either directly or through his Son is what these words tried to convey. No one should be threatening fiery pits— it’s eighth grade theology historically used by some to threaten others.

 

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