But are they all the same? This is something I still struggle with... for instance, Buddhism and Christianity both have very different metanarratives explaining humanity and God/gods. Only certain kinds of Christianity can be said to have the same overarching vision as Buddhism. And even within Buddhism, you have Theravadans and then you have Pure Land (and everything inbetween, not to mention Americanized versions of Buddhism). I don't think I buy into the fact that all religions are about the same thing.

Granted, love and similar themes may be present in all religions, but the purpose of love is sometimes very different. In the end, does it matter more that we just love, period, rather than what we think the significance of that love is? Does this negate the supernatural and metaphysical cosmologies that different religions claim to know about? I don't know, but I tend to think it does.

I wasn't trying to imply that they were all about the same thing. Just that one is not
necessarily "right" and all the others are wrong. I think you have to go with what feels right and what rings true for you, but I don't believe in telling other people they're beliefs are wrong and therefore they are going to burn in hell or whatever. I think there is something to be said for being open minded and accepting of the other faiths that are out there.

I think the accepting should come through the person and not the faith. I, as a Christian, do not believe in the Eightfold Path. I don't have the same view of salvation/nirvana. But we as people should learn to accept people and their opinions, decisions, beliefs.

Now if you choose to accept all faiths that is your opinion as well, my point is simply that when someone chooses a certain belief or another, it often categorically opposes another belief or belief system.

I have a good friend who is Ba'hai, which really believes in a common unity among all religions, so there is one person who might agree with the lyric "I found them all the same."

This post has been edited by LiveattheOasis: May 25 2006, 5:53 pm

i find this topic interesting because i approach all music in a completely different manner. i like or dislike music about 99% of the time based on the music. the vocals to me are another instrument, and i spend very little time paying attention to the lyrics. i listen to live so much the lyrics just kinda eventually sink in, but have little impact on whether i like a song. i play guitar and bass myself, so maybe this is why i approach it this way.

as much as i love live's music, i really think ed's belief system is rather fucked up. just my opinion. i have met ed & both chads briefly, and my impression was gracey was the most real of them all, although CT was pretty cool. ed seemed a little arrogant & self-centered, but hey, i didn't spend more than a half-hour with them.

i really don't care if they are all pricks or all do-gooders, as long as they keep making good music.

Ed talked about this in his interview on mlb.com, that the core of all religions is essentially the same, but the myths, rituals, rules, etc are what separate everyone and cause conflict.

Last year I read the "Conversations With God" series and suddenly, Live lyrics began to make a lot more sense to me. If you're interested in exploring this side of Live a little more, check those books out (if you haven't yet).

Forgive me if I shortchanged the Baha'i (and misspelled) doctrine when I mentioned it. I do know exactly of what you are discussing, I however didn't necessarily want to get into a discussion on it relevant to the lyric from All I Need. But yes, I hope I did not make it seem too simplistic and such with that statement, merely trying to relate it a bit to Ed and his lyrics, as you seem to have seen a correlation yourself to a degree.

It is my belief that all religions have some element of truth in them, even if all will not lead you to the same place.
My favorite band is Live and I want to be a Christian pastor, how's that for anomalous.

That’s not strange at all – you’re obviously a religious person and Live’s a spiritual band. I don’t think the specific religious affiliation makes all that much difference. That’s part of the beauty of their music!

You might find it interesting to know that one of Ed's personal heroes (as listed on his myspace page) is Jesus Christ...


http://www.myspace.com/bigmindeddie

I was more talking about how for most people, Live helped them find Eastern Religions, and Live helped me become Christian, and that most Christians would shun Live fans.

82% of America is supposedly "Christian," so I should think that many "Christians" who would shun someone for liking Live surely know nothing of following Christ.

This post has been edited by LiveattheOasis: May 26 2006, 2:35 pm

I'm an atheist, but at the same time I'm fascinated with religion. I can certainly appreciate and empathise with an artist who feels passionately in and is partially inspired (like Ed) by his or her religious beliefs. The meaning isn't lost on me by no means, but I don't feel the need to subscribe to it's philosophy myself.

Much of an artist's 'human condition' finds it's way into their work. So it's just as well that we don't have to be in full agreement with an artist's life choices considering the amount of potheads and junkies in the music business!

I was raised Catholic and I never dared to put things in question.
I was affraid to get insecure and to loose my believe if I put things in question, until I heard the album "The Distance to here".

I have learned that it is no big deal to have questions and to be not sure about things.
It was a long and confusing way to learn that.

I heard "The distance to here" on a moment that I was disappointed in the world, in humanity and (even worse) in the way I dealed with everything!
I learned that the world and people still can be beautiful if we do our best for it!
Live stimulates me to do the best I can to make the world a little better for as far I can.

So I can say that Ed's Lyrics and Live's music is a big inspiration for me.

And I think that people who reject Live are affraid of the confusion and the insecurety they might feel while they listen.

But they don't know what they are missing.

GvB

This post has been edited by GvB: May 29 2006, 12:28 pm

um, it could just be they don't like live's music. i love their music, but it has little or no impact on my belief system. there are those who would say people looking for meaning from a rock bands music are weak-minded. i am not saying that and certainly not criticizing anyone else's beliefs, but i think most folks just either like their music or don't. i seriously doubt the average fan really knows much about ed's spirituality or even cares.