this is a question to those with faith-those without dont waste your breath-ta!

How could you gain a comprehensive answer by only listening to the opinions of a select group??

I don't believe in any sort of god, but I would say much like a lot of old poetry an understanding or knowledge of certain scriptures and religious tales would help with a lot of the references Prince uses now.

However, it's not only the lyrics that give Prince's output their brilliance, so it's hard to say that being religious or believing in god would make the music somehow more special.....

jonylawson said:

Not all of it. But, if an atheist musician was to cover his song "God", it would probably sound a lot like track 4 on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantasic.

I also do not see many non beleivers tolerating TRC. Hell, half of his fans struggled with the bullshit side of the album.

alxndrstff said:

aw goodness me-read the question-thats great-but READ THE QUESTION and get off this thread

respectivly!

setyrmindphree said:

Is this acceptable calling it bullshit. Pretty disrespectable. Prince is a believer, does this mean Prince is bullshit?

Jonylawson,
Yeah, I reckon it is more powerful for those that believe. I believe in God, and I find a lot of tracks very powerful, such as Anna Stesia.

setyrmindphree said:[quote]

jonylawson said:

Quite the opposite, actually. Athiests don't have to struggle with any affront to their own personal belief systems - being distanced enough to appreciate TRC as a work of inspired art. Just like the Bible. I don't believe there was a Mr McGee either, but Raspberry Beret's great.

I don't look to Prince's music to help me get closer to God but some of his work has hit me spiritually. I'm a Christian but not a JW and even a little bit of TRC CD hit me spiritually. It makes the music that much more interesting to me, even if I don't agree with what he's saying in a certain song.

drcoldchoke said:

No prince is not bullshit, his beliefs are not bullshit. I did not say his beliefs were bullshit. Where did that come from?

I found the droning voice and the album concept to be over the top and irritating. A majority of his theology (as stated in the album) I disagree with. The bullshit was how the album was executed. Enjoyed it musically. I enjoyed getting insight into his beliefs. Are you a JW? Do you subscribe to his beleifs stated in the album?

I believe there may be a God of some kind. But my beliefs definitely do not fall in line with Prince's. At all, really.

But speaking on a broader scale of religious or spiritual works? No, I don't think a person needs to be themselves religious to appreciate them. Even without a matching spiritual belief there can be respect. Personally, I am in awe of some of the beautiful art that has been created over the years in the name of divine faith. That belief can move people so to make music, build cathedrals, paint frescoes, is nothing short of awe-inspiring IMO.

And it crosses the board. I experience the same emotions and sensations whether I'm in a Catholic cathedral, Buddhist temple, or a First Nations' sweat lodge.



And one of my favourite Prince songs is The Cross. So there.
[Edited 1/22/09 9:15am]

setyrmindphree said:

A lot of what comes up lyrically in TRC does not fall in with JW dogma anyway....

OP

Who decides who has faith or not? You?

And what kind of faith you are talking about? Religious faith, spiritual faith, faith in yourself, faith in the ability of mankind to deal with certain problems? Is one kind of faith better then the other?

I seriously consider your remark short-minded and denegrating.

Riverpoet31 said:

Can I get an Amen on that brother?

I absolutley love the religious threads. I can ask "Does God fart?", and the bibles vs. the weights and measures will come pouring in. It comes down to faith and belief. Do I believe that God can fart and do I have faith that he will fart when I need him to. What food makes him fart and can I control the smell is what people are always trying to accomplish with dogmatic religious approaches. Spirituality is one thing, dogma is something else.

setyrmindphree said:

my words would be wasted on you.

drcoldchoke said:

Waste um man, waste um.

Hey, LoveSexy saved my life




Not really, i just wanted to act like a twat.

3121 said:

What do twats beleive in?

jonylawson said:

:eye:

3121 said:

L0tusFlow3r said:

Yes

setyrmindphree said:

I'd like to say Amen number 2, from someone NOT religious. I believe in some higher power but not God or a god. In your eyes, does that mean I have faith and am entitled to reply to this post?... Oh wait, it doesn't matter because I also believe in people having freedom of thought and expression.
Firstly why ask only people with faith a question? All you'll get is a very biased opinion. Of course people with faith will believe they have a 'greater resonance' with his music because they most likely feel that gives them a better/higher connection with prince himself. As I say, I don't believe in God but that doesn't mean his music moves me any less than it does you. It moves me more than any other and TRC is one of my favourite albums. When people I know say they don't like him that will be the first album I play for them and their opinion of him changes immediately and makes them want to hear more. None of them have been religious either!
So there it is, breath wasted, wanted or not, but I also believe in freedom of speech.

jonylawson said:

I think it does because if you are attempting 2 live by GOD's laws and u believe in heaven and would like 2 go, P's "lyrics" give reminder of that. Well, it does 4 me but I'm not a JW or [Neo]Christian.

jonylawson said:

Ah well, nice to know people's opinions are respected on this site.....

PS (last contribution, as I'm not wanted! ) - as I've stated, I'm not religious in any way, but TRC may be my favourite Prince album. Just to make that point towards an earlier discussion.....

PurpleLove7 said:[quote]

jonylawson said:

Prince/JW's doesn't believe you'll go to heaven when you die. They believe in resurrection to eternal life in a paradise on earth. The new world.

As for the question, I'm not sure. Some lyrics might hit you in the heart more, one way or another, if you believe in a god. If you agree with his view, then they might uplift. If you follow a different religious path, they may sadden, dismay or repell.

I don't believe, so his views don't offend me one way or the other. The music still moves me though, as it has for many years.

TheEnglishGent said:[quote]

PurpleLove7 said:

Well, I guess with the newer music, I can relate.
Although the older pre JW songs, I can understand but not totally relate.

jonylawson said:

Thats a quite a slick question. Greater Resonance, u ask. Well, lets see Resonance means the following by Dictionary Ref. But first which precise definition of " Resounance is ur question pertaining to? The Acoustical ,Physics, Chemical, Medical, or Insensification of the vocal chords definition. Because that would make a great difference in how i answer this question.
And just for every reader's reference. i know GOD and JESUS EXIST and i HAVE FAITH IN THEM.
[Edited 1/22/09 18:23pm]

YES.... hands down! Holy river, Seven etc All that deep meaning in the lyrics is lost if you dont have faith on God and JC.

itsshananaok said:

Because God gives you the Magic Prince Lyric Decoder when you join up???


Newsflash! One need not have faith in your God to appreciate another's artistic expression of theirs.
[Edited 1/22/09 21:02pm]

itsshananaok said:

So, an intelligent Buddhist is a moron and doesn't understand the meaning of a spiritual song whether their beliefs are non-theist, theist or monotheistic or don't believe in Jesus the Christ.

Belief and faith in one path is not a prerequisite for intelligence and the ability to understand a particular religion.

I'm sure there are many people of different faiths that would have incredible understanding about the pain, loneliness, fear and confusion expressed in "Holy River"; and how a belief in a higher power can help a human overcome certain realities of life.

setyrmindphree said:

Very well said.

I think a few here are suffering from a case of religious egotism.