[bring_the_light]

am i the only one who doesn't give a rat's ass about billy's 'spiritual' crusade???


i am excited about the new album, and the only way i can see myself not liking it is if the lyrics are too preachy...


sure the 'i agree with everything billy says' fanclub will prob have a dig at me but im just curious as to whether anyone else feels the same as me?

[bleakest_harvest]

i'm hoping he'll come out with gems like "you're all whores and I'm a **** and i've got no mother and i've got no dad".

[antipop]

Yeah.

[aNewLife]

Yeah, I'm an atheist, so I can't get on board with all of the spiritual stuff. I'm still ecstatic about Teargarden, I can't wait to hear it, I'm sure I will be blown away, I can overlook a few lyrics I don't agree with if the music is phenomenal, which of course it will be. After all, I don't let Superchrist bother me. I'm sure the lyrics as a whole will be more cryptic than the ones on Zeitgeist, so I really don't think we have anything to worry about.

That is a great attitude to take.

I for one, don't care. I am a religious Christian, so it won't bother me either way. I just want some incredible tunes!

[DustinDanielRay]

There are so many biblical references in the Smashing Pumpkins music; you just haven't been paying attention. It is the generation X; believing in God is "lame", Prince is gay, group-think-hive-mind boring attitude that probably kept Billy from openly talking about it. He is also a forty something and not a hip twenty something. Twenty somethings that some how pride themselves on their blind atheism.

Billy's faith and spirituality making you uncomfortable is awesome. I love it. And his essays on his blog are very cut and dry and not preachy. I don't think he has ever or would ever demand a fan of his music believe in God or as he describes it as an "intelligence." So, his ideas are very abstract and artistic he isn't putting himself up a pedestal but no matter what he does you people will find something wrong with it.

[frosty]

i'm just glad we're on the eve of some great music. oh and Jesus saves.

[frosty]

i don't think it'll be peppered with much spirituality. even if it is, it's just gonna be stuff like "let me embrace every single moment i ever misunderstood" (which is kinda cool, imo).

[FLSPNUT]

It is possible to be an athiest and spiritual at the same time.

Generally, Spiritual Atheists are people who do not believe in a literal "God" (thus the term "Atheist"), but still consider themselves to be (often deeply) "Spiritual" people.


For Spiritual Atheists, being "Spiritual" means (at the very least) to nurture thoughts, words, and actions that are in harmony with the idea that the entire universe is, in some way, connected; even if only by the mysterious flow of cause and effect at every scale.

Therefore, Spiritual Atheists generally feel that as they go about their lives striving to be personally healthy and happy, they should also be striving to help the world around them be healthy and happy. (This empowering concept is referred to as "Wholistic Ethics".)

Spiritual Atheists generally recognize the word "God" as a personal name that has been given to the collective personality* of the infinite and eternal universe; just as your personal name is the name that has been given to your individual personality*. Even so, many Spiritual Atheists are extremely reluctant to make use of the word "God"

This is quoted from the spiritual athiest website. This seems to fall in line with what BC talks about. He doens't care who you worship, just love and be a positive light on the world.

[Trizesta]

First of all, let's respect the views of everyone. Second, I think TBK will have it's fair share of preaching (Not my cup of tea either, but never a problem for me to listen to), but no more so that Zeitgeist. In addition, I have a feeling TBK will also take a stroll through the lyrical style of the SP of old.

[SarcasticHead]

Billy's spiritual crusade is very interesting and I hope he is still going this way

Anyway God has always been in Billy Corgan lyrics, I mean Machina is all about God.

So nothing have change for me...Billy Corgan lyrics are still the best

As long as God in his lyrics don't become a religious thing it's alright for me and it's haven't been this way so far.

[antipop]

How can lyrics about God NOT be "a religious thing"..?

[bring_the_light]

Billy's spiritual crusade is very interesting and I hope he is still going this way

Anyway God has always been in Billy Corgan lyrics, I mean Machina is all about God.

So nothing have change for me...Billy Corgan lyrics are still the best

As long as God in his lyrics don't become a religious thing it's alright for me and it's haven't been this way so far.

yes im sure most sp fans have spoke of the meanings of machina, but it wasn't pushed in your face... it was there if you wanted to read into it

i think billy still has great songs in him, and i hope he doesn't limit himself to one specific subject matter (i.e. reigion)

[brandnewfan]

To me, good music is good music irregardless of any spirtual meaning. Who cares if he has lyrics that incorporate faith?

[...TL...]

am i the only one who doesn't give a rat's ass about billy's 'spiritual' crusade???
i am excited about the new album, and the only way i can see myself not liking it is if the lyrics are too preachy...
sure the 'i agree with everything billy says' fanclub will prob have a dig at me but im just curious as to whether anyone else feels the same as me?

you're not the only one..I'm with you
But people can't stand non-spirituality here...noone 's gonna understand us...

It is possible to be an athiest and spiritual at the same time.

Generally, Spiritual Atheists are people who do not believe in a literal "God" (thus the term "Atheist"), but still consider themselves to be (often deeply) "Spiritual" people.
For Spiritual Atheists, being "Spiritual" means (at the very least) to nurture thoughts, words, and actions that are in harmony with the idea that the entire universe is, in some way, connected; even if only by the mysterious flow of cause and effect at every scale.

Therefore, Spiritual Atheists generally feel that as they go about their lives striving to be personally healthy and happy, they should also be striving to help the world around them be healthy and happy. (This empowering concept is referred to as "Wholistic Ethics".)

Spiritual Atheists generally recognize the word "God" as a personal name that has been given to the collective personality* of the infinite and eternal universe; just as your personal name is the name that has been given to your individual personality*. Even so, many Spiritual Atheists are extremely reluctant to make use of the word "God"

This is quoted from the spiritual athiest website. This seems to fall in line with what BC talks about. He doens't care who you worship, just love and be a positive light on the world.

oh the first message I read that seems to explain well and in details this poitn of view..thanx for explaining us !

[mrddrm]

Billy's spiritual crusade is very interesting and I hope he is still going this way

Anyway God has always been in Billy Corgan lyrics, I mean Machina is all about God.

So nothing have change for me...Billy Corgan lyrics are still the best

As long as God in his lyrics don't become a religious thing it's alright for me and it's haven't been this way so far.

Yep, God has been in the lyrics...
see?

He even spoke : P Well, okay, Jesus... But he's a God to some, and the son of God!

(Hey, I'm just joking, so don't take too much offense, I don't want to get caught up in a religion debate.)

[SarcasticHead]

Yep, God has been in the lyrics...
see?

He even spoke : P Well, okay, Jesus... But he's a God to some, and the son of God!

(Hey, I'm just joking, so don't take too much offense, I don't want to get caught up in a religion debate.)

this is confusing

[...TL...]

or HERE

[rumplestilskin]

i like the god references of billy for the most part through out the bands history. even though im not into "god" or religion it doesnt bother me. i dont care to read into all the twitter stuff cause its not my deal at all. doesnt mean he wrong im right. or visa- versa i just am not into religion. dustin just jumped the gun for no reason and didnt even give a fuck about what else was said because hes the man obviously

[mrddrm]

or HERE

Yeah, there is that one, but I figured I wanted to go more with a joke than a serious one, y'know? I don't want to bicker over something like Religion. But there is a lot of songs that are anti-christian from their earlier days.

But then the people that go on about "The Pumpkins have been a religious band since MCIS!" I present this.

So yeah.

All good songs, in my eyes haha...

[gordonfreeman]

I am slightly nervous about the lyrics as well. Being about spirituality is ok, I am just afraid he might over do it this time.

[promiseoftin]

First of all, let's respect the views of everyone. Second, I think TBK will have it's fair share of preaching (Not my cup of tea either, but never a problem for me to listen to), but no more so that Zeitgeist. In addition, I have a feeling TBK will also take a stroll through the lyrical style of the SP of old.

Ah, but in a way, don't all musicians "preach"? The purpose of lyrics, at least deeply felt ones, is to convey a message to be shared with others. Otherwise, musicians wouldn't give their art to the world at all. In 1995, Billy was "preaching" about the world being a vampire. Give a person a public forum, a pulpit if you will, and they will say things they believe in. At least with Billy, though, he's said he's never cared to convert others to his way of thinking. He values all walks of life that listen to his music.

I stay away from EFHTT because it's of no interest to me, but it doesn't bother me. (So I'm not disagreeing with you there.) But as an atheist who nonetheless believes in morality and love for all, I can certainly appreciate such sentiment. Again, not to regurgitate my former arguments, but the same holds true for me and some religious artists. Just because I don't believe in the "god" or the specific "light" acts such as Matisyahu or Flyleaf sing about, I can interpret their words as a universal goodness.

[aNewLife]

How can lyrics about God NOT be "a religious thing"..?

This was a joke statement, right?

[dudehitscar]

based on the songs we've heard I would say he's approaching it in mostly universal Beatles kind of in-song spirituality. If he wanted to lose me he would do the Bob Dylan kind of Jesus saves bullshit.

Even Jesus I/Mary star/God's gonna set this world on fire didnt bother me much.

I'm an agnostic but I usually don't mind a little God talk.. It really depends.

Anyway the Spirits in the Sky songs are great.. No worries lyrically.

[tampaSPfan]

this is always a concern of mine in Billy's work. He definitely overdoes it sometimes. But that's also part of his charm. Part of his craziness.

I didn't think the SITS stuff was too preachy at all, though, so if it doesn't get any worse than that I think those of us sensitive to religious melodrama will be just fine. I hope.

[andrewface]

i'm hoping he'll come out with gems like "you're all whores and I'm a **** and i've got no mother and i've got no dad".

classic

[komaschwarz]

I'm fine with songs having a religious overtone. And Mary Star remains a favourite of mine, so I'm not too concerned.

That being said, I can only appreciate religious or spiritual lyrics on a metaphorical, universal level. The second the lyrics become dogmatic, or far more specific, I am bound to lose interest.

[Trappy]

only thing that comes to my mind is:
Whats worse Bob Dylan releasing a christmas album or Billy puttin lil religious/spiritual references in his songs?
Answer:
it both rocks

[odracir]

Seems like this one is for you guys.

From Billy's Twitter:

"Further lyrical appropriation: wanna whole lotta love,a whole lotta love! Way down inside, you need Goooddddddddddd!!"

LOL

[antipop]

Seems like this one is for you guys.

From Billy's Twitter:

"Further lyrical appropriation: wanna whole lotta love,a whole lotta love! Way down inside, you need Goooddddddddddd!!"

LOL

I wanna laugh, but instead I think I'm gonna cry. Pft.

[MachinaAdore]

I think it's great, granted I hope his lyrical style will become a bit more poetic again (like it was on Adore)

[aNewLife]

I wanna laugh, but instead I think I'm gonna cry. Pft.

You didn't answer my question above. Was your last post a joke?

[MisterSquishyHalo]

am i the only one who doesn't give a rat's ass about billy's 'spiritual' crusade???

I could give a fuck if Billy went and joined some cult and talked about god 24-7

As long as the music is good, all is forgiven.

if the music sucks? Oh boy.

[matthew1]

im NOT worried about the new lyrics.

[antipop]

You didn't answer my question above. Was your last post a joke?

Not really. I mean, I know singing about "God" doesn't necessarily mean singing about anything religious, but with Corgan's recent posts/tweets/whole websites... Ugh.

[aNewLife]

Not really. I mean, I know singing about "God" doesn't necessarily mean singing about anything religious, but with Corgan's recent posts/tweets/whole websites... Ugh.

The point is, you can sing about God and not be religious. You asked how singing about God would NOT be religious. Duh. Religion is the organized setting of worshipping God. Many people believe in God and have no religion.

[komaschwarz]

I could give a fuck if Billy went and joined some cult and talked about god 24-7

As long as the music is good, all is forgiven.

The concern several of us have is that God tends to make music suck ass. Satan invented rock.

[mrddrm]

But what if.... Satan ~was~ your god....?

duh duh duhhhhhh! (oh noes!)

[_Trundle_]

No need to worry about the lyrics, you're not writing them.

[bmaromars95]

No need to worry about the lyrics, you're not writing them.

[Fernando]

We were trying to translate some lyrics here: http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/board/inde...topic=7156&st=0