Post by rocker on Sept 19, 2005 23:05:05 GMT -5
Taken from: www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/dec/article137.html
Read and Discuss. (I for one, agree with pretty much all he says...cept I don't believe in God or Christ)
Freedom Of Religion [Marilyn Manson And Bible-Beaters]
By Eric Schomburg
Dec. 8, 2004
Let’s be honest, we all believe in some sort of religion, we know what church is like, we know the history of many religions, and we know what certain religions find to be taboo and virtuous. However, what is the true meaning of “freedom of religion?” Of course, it means that you can believe in what you want to believe in. Which religion is right? Which is wrong? I don’t have the answer, only a theory, through experience.
In 1997, I was only 17 years old. I was also going through changes in my life. I was even searching for meaning in my life. What is right and what is wrong. If you live in America, and you have common sense on your side, you know what generally is right and wrong. Killing someone is wrong. Doing drugs is wrong. Why? Because in America, it’s against the law. I was also searching for an identity. I wasn’t into sports or any other extracurricular activity, except writing stories, but I didn’t join any writing club at the school, because my stories were deemed as “too weird.” What’s this have to do with religion? Nothing, except that I wasn’t in tune with God. I was aware of Jesus, God, Mary, etc; however, I didn’t get into religion like I am today. Did I believe in God back then? I guess so, because people, “bible- beaters” I call them, would always talk about him/her/it constantly.
I respect God, but I also respect evil. When I say I respect evil, I’m not saying I glorify it, I don’t underestimate it, because evil is a force that cannot be underestimated. However, how do you know what’s good and evil to begin with if you’re not educated about both halves? I remember watching films such as Friday the 13th and Halloween, harmless horror films, and it inspired me to write such material. I knew by watching these films that it was purely entertainment, it isn’t real. I seriously doubt Kevin Bacon is going to get a sharp arrow jammed from his spine straight out of his throat and still make Footloose. When I was writing horror stories, people was shocked by the stories, and some were even appalled by them. Of course I didn’t put in great depth and detail in my stories like I do now; however, the shock value made it to where some people would look at me different. I questioned myself. Is what I was doing wrong? Writing about slayers, slashers, and serial killers? This is when I was introduced to a rock band. A rock band that is famous for its/his shock value. Of course I am talking about Marilyn Manson.
I still remember my best-friend introducing me to Marilyn Manson music when we went to a local shopping mall and saw the green CD case with Manson in a top hat and a smile on his face. I bought it, because I trusted my best-friend’s judgement. My best-friend claimed that Manson did a remake of “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics. I was always in to heavy metal, with bands like Nirvana and AC/DC; however, Manson’s message, or at least what I got out of it, was you CAN be a skinny white kid with knowledge, theories, boldness, bravery, shocking, and have a good sense of what is right and what is wrong. I remember my best-friend, another friend, and I listening to the CD, “Smells like Children.” The whole album was a roller coaster ride of pure strange. Listening to tracks like “F*** Frankie!” made me think “What the hell did I just buy?” But then, track 6, Sweet Dreams. This proved to be Manson’s finest hour, it was his way of saying, “HERE I AM! THIS IS WHO I AM! DEAL WITH IT!” The opening riffs of the song were eerie, like a coiled snake waiting to strike the poor defenseless mouse that gets closer and closer. Finally, when the song kicks in with bass, drums, screaming, and dangerous riffs, it was clear that Manson was here. We all forgot about the weird way Manson puts on his make-up, we forgot the strange track where Manson moans another man’s name, we were just too busy headbanging to a great song. Was this wrong? To enjoy a man singing a song? No, it wasn’t.
It was Manson’s album, “AntiChrist Superstar” that introduced me to his beliefs, or lack there of, with God. It was also his concerts that made me think about my own beliefs. “We will no longer be appressed by the fascists of Christian morality!” Manson says. I was hooked, I was saying “Yeah! All these bible-beaters who questioned me, who said what I was doing was wrong, the hell with you. I am going to be, who I want to be.” I still respected God, I didn’t hate him, but I studied the other side, where bible-beaters wouldn’t dare cross. I studied a man named Anton LaVey.
I bought his book, “The Satanic Bible,” and studied what his beliefs were. To my surprise, Anton says to believe in yourself, believe in what’s right and wrong, and believe in sin. How LaVey wrote it was almost like a psychologist counseling someone. I even remember LaVey say not to harm animals, commit adultery, don’t kill anyone, and Yankee Rose, whatever that means. It was just common sense. However, if I remember anything from LaVey’s book is this. There are two types of sins. Indulgence and Compulsion. Good sin and bad sin. LaVey, whether this is his true theory or not, makes a good point in saying that if we sin everyday, then we might as well enjoy it while we can. We only live once, make the most of it.
To enlighten you on the difference, LaVey is not saying that sin doesn’t go unpunished. For example, lust. LaVey would say if you lust after your wife, then it’s okay. You CAN lust for your wife and still love her, but let’s be honest, your libido doesn’t fully kick in without lust, it would be foolish to think so; afterall, some say we are just reasonable animals. This would be considered indulging sin. If you lusted after someone else’s wife, and that person found out about it, you will be punished. You may get a reputation for being untrusting, a black eye, etc. LaVey says punishment is instantaneous when it comes to compulsive sin. To my surprise, this made more sense than saying we should not have sex, unless we want to reproduce.
Am I a Satanist? No. Am I really a Christian? Who knows? I am who I am. I have my own beliefs. I believe in God, I believe in the Christ, I believe in virtue; however, I don’t underestimate evil. It’s only fair to respect other religions, choices, etc, just as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone physically, mentally, etc. I don’t know if this explains my theory of freedom of religion or not, but basically the message I’m trying to send is... Sometimes in life, your beliefs need a break. Sometimes it’s always best to look at the adversary, just to see what that adversary is capable of.
Of course this is going back to my last articles in which a minister decided to lecture me on my novel, An Apocalyptic Dream. Even though I go to a Christian church, I go to give my respects to God, but I also go for education. Not educated in the enemy, because I don’t find God as an enemy. I go to find God. To find out what God is really like. After the lecture from this minister about how my work will only bring negative influence, I wasn’t questioning God, I was questioning the minister. I believe God did this for a reason, to pull the wool out from under my eyes and reveal this minister’s true identity.
Like I said before. I now know how Marilyn Manson feels when it comes to his besmirching from bible-beaters. The true meaning of freedom of religion is to believe in what you feel is right and wrong, and not to question anyone else beliefs. If you are a Christian, fine. If you’re Catholic, fine. If you’re Jewish, fine. If you’re Atheist, fine. If you’re a Satanist, fine. Because as long as you believe what you want to believe, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else’s perspective on life, their feelings, or their body, why should anyone judge you? I believe that's God true mission, is for only he/she/it to judge, and for the rest to go along for the ride.
Read and Discuss. (I for one, agree with pretty much all he says...cept I don't believe in God or Christ)
Freedom Of Religion [Marilyn Manson And Bible-Beaters]
By Eric Schomburg
Dec. 8, 2004
Let’s be honest, we all believe in some sort of religion, we know what church is like, we know the history of many religions, and we know what certain religions find to be taboo and virtuous. However, what is the true meaning of “freedom of religion?” Of course, it means that you can believe in what you want to believe in. Which religion is right? Which is wrong? I don’t have the answer, only a theory, through experience.
In 1997, I was only 17 years old. I was also going through changes in my life. I was even searching for meaning in my life. What is right and what is wrong. If you live in America, and you have common sense on your side, you know what generally is right and wrong. Killing someone is wrong. Doing drugs is wrong. Why? Because in America, it’s against the law. I was also searching for an identity. I wasn’t into sports or any other extracurricular activity, except writing stories, but I didn’t join any writing club at the school, because my stories were deemed as “too weird.” What’s this have to do with religion? Nothing, except that I wasn’t in tune with God. I was aware of Jesus, God, Mary, etc; however, I didn’t get into religion like I am today. Did I believe in God back then? I guess so, because people, “bible- beaters” I call them, would always talk about him/her/it constantly.
I respect God, but I also respect evil. When I say I respect evil, I’m not saying I glorify it, I don’t underestimate it, because evil is a force that cannot be underestimated. However, how do you know what’s good and evil to begin with if you’re not educated about both halves? I remember watching films such as Friday the 13th and Halloween, harmless horror films, and it inspired me to write such material. I knew by watching these films that it was purely entertainment, it isn’t real. I seriously doubt Kevin Bacon is going to get a sharp arrow jammed from his spine straight out of his throat and still make Footloose. When I was writing horror stories, people was shocked by the stories, and some were even appalled by them. Of course I didn’t put in great depth and detail in my stories like I do now; however, the shock value made it to where some people would look at me different. I questioned myself. Is what I was doing wrong? Writing about slayers, slashers, and serial killers? This is when I was introduced to a rock band. A rock band that is famous for its/his shock value. Of course I am talking about Marilyn Manson.
I still remember my best-friend introducing me to Marilyn Manson music when we went to a local shopping mall and saw the green CD case with Manson in a top hat and a smile on his face. I bought it, because I trusted my best-friend’s judgement. My best-friend claimed that Manson did a remake of “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics. I was always in to heavy metal, with bands like Nirvana and AC/DC; however, Manson’s message, or at least what I got out of it, was you CAN be a skinny white kid with knowledge, theories, boldness, bravery, shocking, and have a good sense of what is right and what is wrong. I remember my best-friend, another friend, and I listening to the CD, “Smells like Children.” The whole album was a roller coaster ride of pure strange. Listening to tracks like “F*** Frankie!” made me think “What the hell did I just buy?” But then, track 6, Sweet Dreams. This proved to be Manson’s finest hour, it was his way of saying, “HERE I AM! THIS IS WHO I AM! DEAL WITH IT!” The opening riffs of the song were eerie, like a coiled snake waiting to strike the poor defenseless mouse that gets closer and closer. Finally, when the song kicks in with bass, drums, screaming, and dangerous riffs, it was clear that Manson was here. We all forgot about the weird way Manson puts on his make-up, we forgot the strange track where Manson moans another man’s name, we were just too busy headbanging to a great song. Was this wrong? To enjoy a man singing a song? No, it wasn’t.
It was Manson’s album, “AntiChrist Superstar” that introduced me to his beliefs, or lack there of, with God. It was also his concerts that made me think about my own beliefs. “We will no longer be appressed by the fascists of Christian morality!” Manson says. I was hooked, I was saying “Yeah! All these bible-beaters who questioned me, who said what I was doing was wrong, the hell with you. I am going to be, who I want to be.” I still respected God, I didn’t hate him, but I studied the other side, where bible-beaters wouldn’t dare cross. I studied a man named Anton LaVey.
I bought his book, “The Satanic Bible,” and studied what his beliefs were. To my surprise, Anton says to believe in yourself, believe in what’s right and wrong, and believe in sin. How LaVey wrote it was almost like a psychologist counseling someone. I even remember LaVey say not to harm animals, commit adultery, don’t kill anyone, and Yankee Rose, whatever that means. It was just common sense. However, if I remember anything from LaVey’s book is this. There are two types of sins. Indulgence and Compulsion. Good sin and bad sin. LaVey, whether this is his true theory or not, makes a good point in saying that if we sin everyday, then we might as well enjoy it while we can. We only live once, make the most of it.
To enlighten you on the difference, LaVey is not saying that sin doesn’t go unpunished. For example, lust. LaVey would say if you lust after your wife, then it’s okay. You CAN lust for your wife and still love her, but let’s be honest, your libido doesn’t fully kick in without lust, it would be foolish to think so; afterall, some say we are just reasonable animals. This would be considered indulging sin. If you lusted after someone else’s wife, and that person found out about it, you will be punished. You may get a reputation for being untrusting, a black eye, etc. LaVey says punishment is instantaneous when it comes to compulsive sin. To my surprise, this made more sense than saying we should not have sex, unless we want to reproduce.
Am I a Satanist? No. Am I really a Christian? Who knows? I am who I am. I have my own beliefs. I believe in God, I believe in the Christ, I believe in virtue; however, I don’t underestimate evil. It’s only fair to respect other religions, choices, etc, just as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone physically, mentally, etc. I don’t know if this explains my theory of freedom of religion or not, but basically the message I’m trying to send is... Sometimes in life, your beliefs need a break. Sometimes it’s always best to look at the adversary, just to see what that adversary is capable of.
Of course this is going back to my last articles in which a minister decided to lecture me on my novel, An Apocalyptic Dream. Even though I go to a Christian church, I go to give my respects to God, but I also go for education. Not educated in the enemy, because I don’t find God as an enemy. I go to find God. To find out what God is really like. After the lecture from this minister about how my work will only bring negative influence, I wasn’t questioning God, I was questioning the minister. I believe God did this for a reason, to pull the wool out from under my eyes and reveal this minister’s true identity.
Like I said before. I now know how Marilyn Manson feels when it comes to his besmirching from bible-beaters. The true meaning of freedom of religion is to believe in what you feel is right and wrong, and not to question anyone else beliefs. If you are a Christian, fine. If you’re Catholic, fine. If you’re Jewish, fine. If you’re Atheist, fine. If you’re a Satanist, fine. Because as long as you believe what you want to believe, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else’s perspective on life, their feelings, or their body, why should anyone judge you? I believe that's God true mission, is for only he/she/it to judge, and for the rest to go along for the ride.