I wish to sincerely express my views and opinions about my perplexity with religion. I find it odd that movies and music offer more spiritual and emotional advice than going to church. I am acutely aware of how much art, movies, and music influence me. I found role models in Bob Dylan, Bjork, Bono, John Lennon, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Tim Burton. I agree to a certain extent that my generation and I have been "brainwashed" by the media, movies, music, television, and the internet. But there is good "brainwashing" and bad "brainwashing" - and it takes sensitivity, intelligence, and empathy to comprehend which from which. As much garbage as there is in today's media, there are still examples of fine art that has something spiritual, sincere, and passionate to express. I learned and felt more from Martin Scorsese's film The Last Temptation of Christ than any time I've read the bible. I believe the difference lies in the emotional and personal execution of the Gospel material. The ideas and emotions that well-written movies and songs express matter to me more. To an artist, a movie about Vincent van Gogh like in Lust for Life is the Eucharist, the sermon, the Gospel, the Blood and the Spirit. I quote Vincent van Gogh as played by Kirk Douglas in this movie: "I'm not an atheist. I do believe in God. It's just that some people serve God through the pulpit, others through a painting."
Because there are so many religions, I do not wish to designate myself to one. Call it "ignorance is bliss" if you wish, I'm happier without religion causing conflicting issues in my mind. Yet I've learned about each faith and remain with an open mind of each. It's the best way to empathize with someone and not feel a separation from them with the label of one's creed (be it Catholic, Methodist, Jew, atheist, Muslim, Buddhist...). I know it's a bit eccentric, but it suits me fine. There is no certainty to any of our beliefs. There may not even be a God. But there is still Faith. The people I've found to be my best friends are those who are self-expressive and free-thinking as well as with sensitivity and kindness.
Please understand that I am not knocking religion or those who embrace religion. I recognize the positive aspects of going to a church, synagogue, or mosque to find a sense of peace and meaning to one's life. In turn, I create art for the very same purpose. Art and religion can be one in the same. It doesn't matter where you practice and preach: be it through a pulpit, canvas, internet, or television set.
Can you empathize with these points? I do not believe I am completely right… nor completely wrong either. It may be a difference in being left-brained or right brained, conservative and liberal. I don't know.
Now here is a simple song I wish to sing in a church for once instead of the boring stuff they always make you sing. It's a ballad that we as a world can certainly empathize with:
"Imagine" by John Lennon
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one.
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one.
The New Evangelists, Prophets, and Icons: These Movies, Musicians, and People:
- The Last Temptation of Christ
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Lust for Life
- American Beauty
- My Dinner With Andre
- Fearless
- Dogma
- Wings of Desire
- The Beatles
- Bob Dylan
- Neil Young
- Bob Marley
- John Lennon
- Johnny Cash
- U2
- Bjork
- Johnny Rotten
- Al Green
- Tupac Shakur
