It was P's inclusion of God in all things that kept me interested. I am not one for 'religion', but I do have a relationship with God. Not a conventional one, and I don't think Prince did either. And *that's* why I could relate to him/his music.

Since he left, I have, like everyone else, been playing tons of his music. And I noticed something...my favorites are the ones where his is 'preaching the Good Word'.

Hmm, Pastor Prince....I like it!

Knowing he is with his heavenly Father, is the only thing that brings me any comfort. God I miss him...

anangellooksdown said:

My interests of and attractions towards Prince have changed over time. I didn't know him personally but always knew there was a spiritual attraction there. The more I learn about him, the more I believe that behind everything was the most important thing: a deep, humongous, ever expanding love for God. I believe it might be what made him fearless, and able to take so much negativity sometimes from us who didn't all understand. I was listening to "God" (instrumental) just now. It's so beautiful. It just grabs me. As I delve into many many lyrics at this time, I hear God in so much of them. All the sex and incredible music was great, but I wonder sometimes if that was fun and important but the backdrop was really about God. I wonder if Prince felt he had a real job to do while here, something much bigger than what we see on the exterior much of the time. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of this, or if Prince inspired you spiritually in any way...even just to think about that a little bit.

I agree.

2nd That! God, The Cross, Holy River, Anna Stesia, I Wish U Heaven, Power Fantastic, God Is Alive, etc. etc. Wow!

"Sacred is the prayer that asks for nothin'
While giving thanks for every little breath we take
Blessed are we inside this prayer
For in the new world we will be there..."

Forgot the name of this song?

The gifts that we receive in life are from God, and He wants us to use them for his glory, and Prince knew this. All of his music from the secular songs to his inspirational songs were a gift he gave us, but he knew that everything he was creating and created was for God's kingdom. His legacy that he left us is one of wonder and mystery, and so many great things that we will cherish forever. And that is what I loved about him. As someone who relies on faith for a lot of what goes on and happens in my life, including the gift that I have been given, understanding how we use our gifts is something that I learned about from an early age through attending church and a lot of prayer. Prince was a gift from God, and he created beautiful music for us that will continue to live on. So in a way, I believe that he will also help people become closer with God if they don't already know Him. He was blessed, and he was on this earth to pursue his dreams, and be a blessing to others, as we all are supposed to be.

anangellooksdown said:

My interests of and attractions towards Prince have changed over time. I didn't know him personally but always knew there was a spiritual attraction there. The more I learn about him, the more I believe that behind everything was the most important thing: a deep, humongous, ever expanding love for God. I believe it might be what made him fearless, and able to take so much negativity sometimes from us who didn't all understand. I was listening to "God" (instrumental) just now. It's so beautiful. It just grabs me. As I delve into many many lyrics at this time, I hear God in so much of them. All the sex and incredible music was great, but I wonder sometimes if that was fun and important but the backdrop was really about God. I wonder if Prince felt he had a real job to do while here, something much bigger than what we see on the exterior much of the time. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of this, or if Prince inspired you spiritually in any way...even just to think about that a little bit.

maybe for some people, some people think he was a prophet and a spiritual being and took his religious meanderings pretty seriously. I think his main legacy will simply be as the best musician of his century.

With all due respect, I could never take Prince's supposed spirituality seriously. Everytime I had hoped that perhaps he had changed, he would go and sue his fans, screw his former bandmates over or just do something that, imo, couldn't be any further removed from my idea of a spiritually enlightened man. Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately, Prince's actions didn't speak to a particularly loving or kind human being.

[Edited 7/31/16 3:06am]

it depends on when you started listening to Prince. I've never thought that his religious messages were very believable, much like his political ideas.

If anything, his "you can do it yourself and think for yourself" attitude of the early 80's until lovesexy may have inspired people to actually think about things, including religion and thus become atheists. But that's a best case scenario of course.

Astasheiks said:

"Sacred is the prayer that asks for nothin'
While giving thanks for every little breath we take
Blessed are we inside this prayer
For in the new world we will be there..."

Forgot the name of this song?

'the love we make'

I doubt it. I think it'll have the opposite effect.

I think Prince might go down as one of the most famous religious/spiritual artists of all time. No other artist with his level of fame and legendary status has ever included the amount of religious/spiritual lyrics as he did, it is quite incredible. Not to mention he would always be talking about God and the Bible in live performances/interviews/press conferences, etc.

bob dylan could say some things too and then turn around and be an asshole. I think the old adage of seperate the art from the artist applies. Prince could say some profound stuff sometimes. He wasn't that kind of leader for me but I could see how he could be for others.

I read Mitch Albom's book "The five people you meet in heaven" a few years back and as I was assembling my five as I read it, Prince easily made the list.

I have an entire history of his spritual jams helping me draw closer to God, so for me, his funk is unmatched but it was is faith that helped me find mine and one day in heaven I will tell him my story and how he helped me get there...So, that's Prince's legacy to me as well

"It is because the human spirit knows, deep down, that all lives intersect. That death doesn't just take someone, it misses someone else, and in the small distance between being taken and being missed, lives are changed."

Hahaha. No. Not even close.

That's like saying our parent's legacies will be lying to us so we start believing in Santa Claus.

.

[Edited 8/1/16 22:53pm]

just the fact its in discussion says YES

MattyJam said:

With all due respect, I could never take Prince's supposed spirituality seriously. Everytime I had hoped that perhaps he had changed, he would go and sue his fans, screw his former bandmates over or just do something that, imo, couldn't be any further removed from my idea of a spiritually enlightened man. Actions speak louder than words, and unfortunately, Prince's actions didn't speak to a particularly loving or kind human being.

[Edited 7/31/16 3:06am]

Permanent change to a spiritual personality is extremely difficult and takes a lifetime and then some. Despite somewhat contradictory behavior, keep in mind that he was an imperfect human just like the rest of us. It's the journey and the willingness to try to make positive changes that matters. It's a tough road.

PeteSilas said:

anangellooksdown said:

My interests of and attractions towards Prince have changed over time. I didn't know him personally but always knew there was a spiritual attraction there. The more I learn about him, the more I believe that behind everything was the most important thing: a deep, humongous, ever expanding love for God. I believe it might be what made him fearless, and able to take so much negativity sometimes from us who didn't all understand. I was listening to "God" (instrumental) just now. It's so beautiful. It just grabs me. As I delve into many many lyrics at this time, I hear God in so much of them. All the sex and incredible music was great, but I wonder sometimes if that was fun and important but the backdrop was really about God. I wonder if Prince felt he had a real job to do while here, something much bigger than what we see on the exterior much of the time. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of this, or if Prince inspired you spiritually in any way...even just to think about that a little bit.

maybe for some people, some people think he was a prophet and a spiritual being and took his religious meanderings pretty seriously. I think his main legacy will simply be as the best musician of his century.

Yes, I agree. He was human like us all and in search of his own answers concerning the spiritual so I don't feel that he was trying to show us the way, so to speak. If the listener chooses to focus on his spiritual message, then what you focus on will be your reality. Each person who listens to Prince's music will individually put their focus on what resonates with them the most; it may be spiritual and perhaps not. The big picture though, like you said, it that he was a great musician.

anangellooksdown said:

Prince frequently thanked God in his public appearances, and there are a lot of spiritual references in his lyrics. His uniqueness is his gift from God, and he is asking us to evolve through the example of his life and music, with "words of compassion, words of peace."

Nothing has upset me more than his stupid religious babble. It was tolerable in the 80's though, I didn't have a problem with his simple "love is god" message. But when he turned into a fundamentalist JW in the 90's it was too much for me. He showed his high level on insanity. I had to ignore this part of him as best as I could.

[Edited 7/31/16 14:20pm]

[Edited 7/31/16 15:24pm]

ludwig said:

Nothing has upset me more than his stupid religious babble. It was tolerable in the 80's though, I didn't have a probleme with his simple "love is god" message. But when he turned into a fundamentalist JW in the 90's it was too much for me. He showed his high level on insanity. I had to ignore this part of him as best as I could.

There might be a tiny crumb of "comfort" (I use the term loosely) in the thought that some of the incredibly ignorant things he said in recent years might been said through a 'haze'.

anangellooksdown said:

My interests of and attractions towards Prince have changed over time. I didn't know him personally but always knew there was a spiritual attraction there. The more I learn about him, the more I believe that behind everything was the most important thing: a deep, humongous, ever expanding love for God. I believe it might be what made him fearless, and able to take so much negativity sometimes from us who didn't all understand. I was listening to "God" (instrumental) just now. It's so beautiful. It just grabs me. As I delve into many many lyrics at this time, I hear God in so much of them. All the sex and incredible music was great, but I wonder sometimes if that was fun and important but the backdrop was really about God. I wonder if Prince felt he had a real job to do while here, something much bigger than what we see on the exterior much of the time. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on any of this, or if Prince inspired you spiritually in any way...even just to think about that a little bit.

many of his songs including the supposedly secular ones about a man and a woman can totally be a metaphorical song about God and human, about the question of human loyalty to God, faith, etc.. its just multilayered, whatever level you want to hear it at. But i feel like this has been part of Prince's vision since his first album, to subtly paint a potentially blissful picture of a relationship with God, in a fresh, funky, esoteric way

• 
  e.g. the latest song that hit me, after reading that lost rolling stone interview which would have happened a few months after the breakfast experience -- the interview talks about how Prince is into fasting. So that got me thinking that breakfast can wait is on one level about fasting, in order to enjoy God

[Edited 7/31/16 15:37pm]

KnightPhantom said:

It was P's inclusion of God in all things that kept me interested. I am not one for 'religion', but I do have a relationship with God. Not a conventional one, and I don't think Prince did either. And *that's* why I could relate to him/his music.

Since he left, I have, like everyone else, been playing tons of his music. And I noticed something...my favorites are the ones where his is 'preaching the Good Word'.

Hmm, Pastor Prince....I like it!

Knowing he is with his heavenly Father, is the only thing that brings me any comfort. God I miss him...

I co-sign everything u said.

Plus, he tried to make people understand that sexuality and spirituality come in one - I live that way too and I am very thankful Prince taught and showed me a open (dirty) mind

...and oh yes... I miss him. Every day.

PurpleSpooks said:

KnightPhantom said:

It was P's inclusion of God in all things that kept me interested. I am not one for 'religion', but I do have a relationship with God. Not a conventional one, and I don't think Prince did either. And *that's* why I could relate to him/his music.

Since he left, I have, like everyone else, been playing tons of his music. And I noticed something...my favorites are the ones where his is 'preaching the Good Word'.

Hmm, Pastor Prince....I like it!

Knowing he is with his heavenly Father, is the only thing that brings me any comfort. God I miss him...

I co-sign everything u said.

Plus, he tried to make people understand that sexuality and spirituality come in one - I live that way too and I am very thankful Prince taught and showed me a open (dirty) mind

...and oh yes... I miss him. Every day.

THIS. I don't know why mot religious folk can't get this through their exceedingly thick skulls. One can be both sensual and spiritual at the same time. Does God hate sex and sensuality? Really? Then why did he make sex the vector through which people bond? Of course it can be abused, like any other thing, but it doesn't erase the fact that these things cause joy.