and to burn the crowd that has a name Options

[Badman]

Actually I'm not a religious person in the usual sense of the word, so I wasn't at all offended.
And since I don't wanna go all off topic,we'll leave it at that.

[This thread jumps off this longer discussion in the Ed section]

Believe me, you aren't alone Opine. Most people on this website are pretty non-religious. I do have a theory for this:

In the absence of church leaders telling us what to do, many of us learned to think for ourselves. We sought out music that "made us think" such as TC and MJ which caused us to fall in love with the band. I mean, these songs are all open for interpretation and offer real advice for how to live our lives. We are the world, good pain, and the idea that water is both the giver and the taker of life. This is some deep stuff.

Because many of us feel this way towards religious and shallow music, we have experienced a complete rejection of Ed's new direction. This is a generalization of the fans from my point of view but I'd like to know if this resonates with anyone here. Has this music at some point in your life replaced/stood in for religious feelings?

[sh4rpz]

Has this music at some point in your life replaced/stood in for religious feelings?

For me it has.

I have my beliefs and I conveniently follow bits of my religion which make sense or 'feel right'.

But I will say that LIVE's music and lyrics have had a big effect on the person I am. Spiritually it has hardened my beliefs - whether in God or mankind or just life in general.

Having a shit day? Play a LIVE tune (pre-2000) and you're reminded of the bigger picture and everything appears to be alright again.

I think you have to have that connection with the lyric for it to work for you. Probably why most of us have stuck around with LIVE for so long.

We're immersed in the lyric and the music and at the same time are loyal and pay homage to the fact that these 4 dudes have given us the right words at the times in our lives, whichever point it was - good or bad.

It's a connection I know I'll always have.

Edit: To continue from the comments I and others made in another thread over the last day or so, I would say the above within context, is the reason why I wish the best for Ed. Even though his new persona and music isn't something which appeals to me. I will give it a listen and probably download or buy his CD and go see his show in the subconscious hope that somewhere in there, that same connection we all had with his lyrics pre-2000 will emerge again even for a little while.

This post has been edited by sh4rpz: Jun 22 2012, 2:46 am

[FishOutaWater]

Not to shamelessly promote my blog - but just yesterday I posted a blog entry about Mental Jewelry that discusses the spiritual impact of that album in quite some detail. I hope that people check it out - I would love to know what people think of my blog:

Empty Your Jewelry Box