.

If you go to a graveyard right now, and dig up a christian, a protestant, a jw, a jew, an athiest, etc, you'll find the same thing, a corpse.

Prince should realize when he and other self-righteous people preach about their beliefs being better than everyone else's, its seperates us more than brings us together.

i agree, IceNine. and i still love the man's music but i can't stomach his 'philosophy' these days, or his disregard for opinions other than his own.

he seems to have become as narrowminded as those he used to deride. and, to make matters worse, it seems like he has decided that the NPGMC is in part a showcase for his religious views. again, that JW 'witnessing' requirement.

now, if you and i were in business for ourselves we'd would know better than to publicly air stuff like that on our marketing website (or if we didn't our friends would set us straight) but self-criticism is not prince's strong suit and the people with whom he's surrounded himself have far too much to lose should he ever wake up and realize the real truth of what's happening to him.

Prince is a Gemini and some times thay can't help them selves from starting a fight. I all so am the same sign and do it all the time. we like 2 sit back and see what comes of it. So don't take it 2 heart.
D2

actually, i disagree that prince is a 'giant asshole' -
i just think he's going through some major changes that are hard to follow

IceNine said:

SensualMelody said:

I know an atheist and he wouldn't have found anything wrong with this joke. He understands that the concept of atheism is still foreign to the majority of people. On the other hand what do you expect Icenine, from a man that says in public God is Love, Love is God. I'm sure to know he has fans that are atheists when he has always no matter what he referred to himself as, has aknowledged God, makes him uneasy. Why is this a shock to you? Why don't some people on this site realize that just because Prince uses his site to promote and sell his music, doesn't mean he is an assemblyline robot? That is why he does it from HIS site because when he was with a major record company he didn't feel free to be and individual and have his own way of doing things. I am not a Jehovah witness or whatever religion Prince is unless he is a Christian. However I realize he believes his beliefs are true and no other is. That doesn't offend me. If he makes a joke about Christianity I really wouldn't care because I am just that secure in it. I know he is just a man not a machine and he will always have character flaws, but in this case I think it was a joke that was funny unlike some of the threads started here about JW and Jesus. Get over it. When it boils down to it, it is his site and he can say what he wants because that is his whole reason for having his own site! It's his business, done his way and I think that is what he REALLY cares about.

adorable2 said:

I think that you have missed my point. I am not offended by the joke...

That particular joke has been told by about 1.5 billion christians in a feeble attempt to assert their imagined superiority over atheists and it has never offended me, all it has done is make me laugh because they feel superior. The problem is that the NPGMC site is Prince's business site and he is making exclusionary comments about a sector of society.

Prince has been very self-righteous lately, so I am not bothered by his stupidity, I am just concerned about his complete and total lack of business acumen.

So, once again... as I stated many times earlier... I am not offended by this stupid joke, I am making a comment about Prince's complete lack of tact, understanding and business sense.

Please read the topic before commenting.

One thing that I don't really get is why some Christians do not live the way they preach... If one believes that God is Love then why not spread Love... this is how I always understood the greatness of Jesus's teaching - spreading the word of love to every human being, without any concern who this person is and what his or her faults are. As much as I am aware of Jesus's teachings he did not reject anybody because someone did not believe in God or believed in gods.

So, if Prince is so concerned about teaching about God why doesn't he spread the word of love, instead of posting a silly joke on his website, which apparantly annoys a bulk of people.

I'm an agnostic and I don't think that this kind of behaviour should win my appreciation. I also believe that NPGMC is no place for religious remarks but if he really wants to, maybe he could simply share the joy and the goodness of Christian ideas - the ideas of kindness, tolerance, understanding, compassion and forgiveness. And please note - the ideas as presented in the New Testament. Most religions tried to impose those ideas with an awful effect on too many of human lives - and generally because the followers believed that they possessed the one and only Truth. That's also one of the reasons I do not subscribe to any organized religion.

The values mentioned above are a part of human condition - whether we are Christian, Buddist, atheist and agnostic. If one is able to follow them then his or her religion doesn't matter.

So Prince, do not try to convert me by telling I am wrong. Your chances would be much higher if you could show me that your ideas make people happy. As this thread suggests, you got awfully lot to learn yet.

adorable2 said:

Do you honestly think it was just a joke and not a jab at atheists?

Giant asshole? more like a little twat.

Maybe he should have a 'beliefs' section on his site, if you're a JW and wanted to read that shit, he could put it in there exclusively for the 'godbotherers' only.

I think calling him an asshole is a little overboard though.Personally,i'd just say i was a little disappointed in him.

Yep. Obnoxious.

My athiest ass actually thinks it's amusing, though not any more amusing than the aforementined 'counter-joke', but it irritates me that I paid $100 to have my religious views made fun of.

I heard him make a comment one time that "I don't even want to be in the same room as somebody who can't see the intelligent design in the world", and there I was in the room. And then at one of his shows, "if you don't believe in God, you can leave now", or something like that, and there I was. It isn't a big deal, I don't care what he thinks of me personally, but I have to admit, there was this momentary sting: Oh gee, this artist whos work I so love and who I've paid mucho hard-earned bucks to be here for is totally dissing me.

You know what I wish he would do? Don't fucking beat around the bush. If you only want people who think just like you do to surround you and be involved with your art, fine. Say that. You can have your own little flock and never have your beliefs challenged again.

OR, you can live in the real world like the rest of us, and have your beliefs challenged (as you've done in this very one-sided way on your website), and stand up for them, and feel better about them at the end of the day because of it, and feel especially great that you can have meaningful, positive relationships with people who think differently than you do.

WHATEVER. But he should decide. Because I'm not going to keep shelling out cash I don't have to be ridiculed.

I would like to add a technical note: Prince is not a giant asshole. He's a very tiny one. Barely hits 5 feet in heels. . .eeety biiity asshole. Which explains some things.

Doves,
Mel!ssa

tackam said:

Very well said!

Well, are atheists going anywhere when they die? I thought the atheist belief was that you don't go anywhere. So post something like, "All dressed up, and going to heaven!" for the Christians, if it's a problem. It's not like he said, "All dressed up, and going straight to hell." It's a joke.

P.S. Prince didn't write that, it's been around for years and years.

How u can b up in arms over a tame joke like that is beyond me! At best it's supposed 2 raise a laugh, at worst perhaps intended 2 provoke discussion (it's certainly succeeded in the case of the latter!).

One thing i can assure u is that it is not intended 2 b disrespectful 2 the fans ! Perhaps, if u r going 2 level criticism at our man over this, it may b most accurate 2 say he was a little tactless (in the light of folks' sensitivity when broaching issues like death & faith or lack of it).


That's just my opinion, ok? Before y'all start jumping down my throat!

Its a joke, lighten Up already. Why is everyone get so hung up on this stuff. The two issues that have destroyed this world Race and Religion, heres a way to simplify this problem. One, with religion, I take the George Carlin approach, instead of praying to God I pray to Joe Pesci, why, because I can SEE him, and two he has the same rate of answering Prayers, about 50%. The second thing, Race, hey we'll never get this one right, no matter how long we live, no matter how many generations pass, we just dont realize that somewhere we all are connected. Lighten up people.

IceNine:
You keep saying people are missing the point on what you are trying to say. You made that point pretty clear in your opening "mud slinging - profanity filled - barrage of words at the beginning of this post. Prince made some lame joke on his website - and it's like everyone on here is waiting like a pack of vultures to pounce and rip apart the man "yet again." I have yet to hear prince rip someone apart for their beliefs - like many on here do to him. He states his feelings (the man always has shared his inner spirit with us thru song) and since his newfound if not rather fundamentalist views are making their way to the fans through his music and website - WELL - THAT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE IS IT? I feel he does so with humour and politeness. A lesson many here could learn. If you don't agree with him - - fine - no reason to panic and try and tell the man how to live and "sling verbal abuse."

I would hope that an artist would create for themselves - that's where one's true gift lies - not be dictated by what others - yeees even his so called fans - want. Remember Warner - he's not creating for you - but I know he feels joy when others appreciate his gift.

PLEASE GIVE THE GUY AND BREAK - AND if you are going to continue to swear and put someone down that much - then do us all a favour and leave this site - come back if prince drops his religion. Isn't that what you're hoping for ?

* Whew *

I hear ya ice!

Some people here just love to kiss Prince's ass whenever they get a chance. If the slur does not fit them in particular, they say let prince be. Wait till he offends one of the ass kissers.

UM OKAY ... who the hell do u think u r using the word 'giant' against P???

hehe :p

Gemstoned said:

I don't know anything about you so I will not get into an argument with you or flame you, but don't tell me what to do...

I will be on this site as long as I feel like being on this site and will not leave because you ask me to "do you a favor" or for any other reason that is not of my own choosing.

And, I don't care about Prince's religion... I have defended his religious choices MANY times on this very site.

Tom said:

I really don't care either way because I am secure in what I believe, therefore I am not going to whine about something like that even if it was the other way around! Whether it is his business site or not Icenine as I tried to put it in my post earlier, it is HIS site and his opinion so look at it and if you don't agree, keep it movin. And about me not reading it, I did. I just don't see the problem it is causing whether it involves business or not. I think the point you are missing is this... Prince is a businessman yes but even they have the right to run their business the way they want to and that my dear is the point you are missing. I don't know if Prince and I believe all the same things, but if our relationship is business not personal what the heck does it matter. I comprehend what you are trying to say so don't get salty with me because I think you are taking it down the wrong road by in return calling him a giant a**hole! BTW, the last comments were meant for Icenine not you Tom and I don't care whether it is a joke or not.
[This message was edited Sun Sep 22 17:34:49 PDT 2002 by adorable2]

This is all dumb. Supposedly Atheists don't believe in any of that stuff so who fucking cares??? Why are people SO affected by what Prince says, does & prints on his website??

His long employed statement "May you live to see the dawn" could be interpreted the SAME way as this joke, it's just a gentler way of saying it. You don't really think the "dawn" is some form of disbelief, do you??? Bloody hell, people...

panties

in

BUNCHES

tackam said:

very well said

"Here lies a theist, 6 feet farther from heaven than originally planned"

We the fans are the only ones he's preaching too, no else cares...or even goes to his website.
This didn't really bother me, the christmas e-mail did because that was sent to me, not just posted on his site.
I say just ignore it and not make a discussion about it, thats what he wants...attention..
as many have said...I am in for the music...to bad that has become less and less lately.
MS

Ice, you can take it as a joke or you can reflect on it. It really is what you make out of it and your Interpretation. Should you believe in God or else when you die there will be no Heaven for you? Do you just laugh at the comment? What do you think about it? Well,it worked cause everybody is talking Aren't they? Prince is so Damn Smart! We are the Crazy ones now aren't we??

Natasha said:

We are all nutty as a bunch of fruit bats, so you have that right... My problem was not with the joke itself, as it is the oldest and lamest anti-atheist joke in existence... my problem is with his exclusionary comments on his business site and his lack of concern for the feelings and beliefs of his fans.

I have heard that very joke from quite a few fundamentalists in my time and each time it came right after they found out that I was agnostic. It was as if they thought that this joke would make me fear death as much as they do so that I would accept their ideas on god and pray for a future life beyond death. I am not kidding when I say that each of the xtian jokesters had a smug look on their face when they told the joke... I pictured that exact same look on Prince's face when he put that up on his site... a smug, self-satisfactory smile.

I guess all this fuss just shows that some atheists are just as uptight Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.

Areo said: "Here lies a theist, 6 feet farther from heaven than originally planned"

I guess all this fuss just shows that some atheists are just as uptight Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.

there U said it all !!!Com'on folks it was a joke!