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Babylon - the religious references in 4 Prince songs? (The Dance Electric, The War and more) The Dance Electric ^ that's one of my fave Prince songs,
Babylon, I'm not religious at all, but this is a region in the middle east, right?
why is Prince using this several times in his lyrics
Maybe some of you religious can teach me, (thanks)....
Also the Babylon reference in THE WAR, CINNAMON GIRL & SILICON lyrics. [Edited 7/20/10 13:58pm] Prince 4Ever. | |
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Prince 4Ever. | |
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Prince 4Ever. | |
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Babylon was a city-state in what is modern day Iraq. The jews of Judah were captives there (circa ~600BC ish IIRC).
Babylonian creation myths are also the basis for many of the same myths in the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam etc).
In your cited lyrics above and similar usage - Babylon can refer in general to an enemy or a time when one is in captivity. | |
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In the Bible, Babylon is used to symbolize the land of exile for the Israelites, the people of God. In the Biblical story, they were exiled from their own land and city - Jerusalem - and made to live as foreigners in a strange land that did not worship the true God, YHWH. (If you want to know why this happened, see any of the prohetic books of the Old Testament - Hosea, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, etc.)
To say we are living in Babylon now is to say that we are in exile. To a Christian, that means for the time being we live as strangers in the world with its sinful passions. Our true home is in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths...(Jeremiah 6:16) www.ancientfaithradio.com
dezinonac eb lliw noitulove ehT | |
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" Our true home is in the heavenly Jerusalam." For whom? All I know is the meek shall inherit planet earth forever without any mark or thought of sin with "one nation under a groove", ruled by a theocratic government. That's where I want to reside. Hmmm.
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I really can't believe people, in 2010, still support the concept of a "theocratic" anything. | |
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In Rastafarianism "Babylon" represents the evils of the oppressor and a rejection of Western society.
From this Wiki page on Rastafarianism http://en.wikipedia.org/w...s._Babylon
Zion vs. Babylon Rastas assert that Zion (i.e., Africa, especially Ethiopia) is a land that Jah promised to them. To achieve this, they reject modern western society, calling it "Babylon", which they see as entirely corrupt.[6][8][12] "Babylon" is considered to have been in rebellion against "Earth's Rightful Ruler" (Jah) ever since the days of the Biblical king Nimrod.
Rastas claim that they are the real Children of Israel. Another historical viewpoint which seeks to validate this link between Ethiopia, Israel and the Rastafari belief system can be found under the Lion of Judah and their goal is to repatriate to Africa, or to Zion.[clarification needed] (Rasta reggae is peppered with references to Zion; among the best-known examples are the Bob Marley songs '"Zion Train" and "Iron Lion Zion".)
A few interesting quotes from this Wiki page on Babylon http://en.wikipedia.org/w...stament%29
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Babylon represents all false religion (i.e.: that thought to be disapproved of or condemned by God). (Really?)
In the Rastafari movement, Babylon is a key theological concept referring to any oppressive power structure that adherents believe has been responsible for keeping their people poor and oppressed for generations. However it also refers to the literal Tower of Babel, which Haile Selassie sometimes referred to in his speeches, seen as an act of human rebellion against JAH.
Some have referred to the United States as Babylon, and New York as its Whore.
Babylon is an important Rastafari term, referring to human government and institutions that are seen as in rebellion against the rule of God, or in a more general sense, to any system that oppresses or discriminates against the black race. It is a commonly used term in reggae music.
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Well, they've tried just about every government. Why not try a theocratic government? | |
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A lot of people get off on the feel of daddy's arm around their shoulder, and his back hander across their face. | |
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Also, when Prince previewed MPLSoUND to a reporter he called Ol' Skool Company a song 'about Babylonian tricks'. MPLSOUND | |
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