"Peart's words, meanwhile, came from some of the usual, rarefied sources – Richard Dawkins and evolutionary psychology are current inspirations – but also in large part from his experiences touring the back roads of America and Europe by motorcycle during Rush's 30th-anniversary tour in 2004.
It was on his rides through various Bible Belts, chronicled in print in Roadshow, that Peart realized he could no longer "stay neutral" on the topic of religion, he says. Snakes & Arrows addresses some of his conclusions in tunes like "Armor and Sword" and "The Way the Wind Blows," which ponder the perversion of faith into oppression and war, and the telling "Faithless," which rejects adherence to higher powers in favour of a humanist allegiance to one's own "moral compass."
"It came from travelling through all these back roads and small towns and seeing these church signs everywhere," says Peart. "Some of them are amusing, like: `If you give the devil a ride, pretty soon he'll want to drive.' That's fantastic. But other ones were just so presumptuous with these big crosses and scripture. What makes you think that's okay? I tried to imagine going by one with the crescent and star saying, `There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet.' Or one with the Star of David saying, `That carpenter wasn't our messiah.' It makes me laugh, in a way, but in another, this is so f--ked up.
"It's so arrogant and that's what I can't get over. So I was trying to weigh all that .... I didn't want to make enemies gratuitously, but I decided I had to say something because if I didn't I was just allowing that to happen. It's worth speaking out despite the vilification and stuff that might come back at you. If you're not speaking for reason, you're speaking for unreason."
The full text of this article is at the Toronto Star:
http://santaclausfund.ca/printArticle/207669
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Somehow I just knew that Richard Dawkins was behind all this. One of the bad things about Neil Peart is that he's sort of like David St. Hubbins in Spinal Tap: he believes virtually everything he reads. Unfortunately, all he seems to read are beat-generation authors like Kerouak, 60's nihilists like John Barth, or autoerotic cultists like Dawkins. No... wait. I guess he read a few billboards, and to him that is equivalent to getting a doctorate in theology.
Somehow I thought Mr. Peart would have a subtle enough mind to grasp the irony that various religions are forced to use the materialist's tools in order to reach the ever more disaffected public. The presence of billboards advertising for churches is a sign of the declining influence of "faith". The peal of church bells has long been missing from Sunday morning (no doubt the bells disturbed the hangovers of resident Canadians). Religion is now reduced to just one more player in the war for people's attention.
But to Peart this is arrogant, so come on! Let's censor the billboards. Get them off the roads so that rich Canadian motorcyclists can appreciate the beauty of the countryside - or at least so they can more easily spot the signs for Madam Kvarski's Palm Readings & Fortunes.
Again, if it's not irony that the author of Witch Hunt now knows what's best for us, then irony doesn't mean what I think it means.
I apologize for the ad hominem aspects above, but it's hard not to get downright Peartish about some of these things.
Here is Peart on his high-horse about how offensive it would be if there were muslim or jewish billboards. I suppose that the harsher facts that many muslim countries sentence apostates to death and reduce non-muslims to dhimmitude, or the severe restrictions imposed upon non-Jews in Israel are not relevant to Mr. Peart. He reserves his criticisms for western civilization, refusing to accept the fact that the tolerance he so dearly loves is an explicitly Christian concept, utterly missing in his dearly beloved classical world, codified by those very Christians he despises, imposed upon India by British Colonialism, and spread throughout the world by ships bearing crosses.
I wonder if Peart ever considered that the land of the Billboard belongs to the Billboard makers? Maybe he is the tresspasser.
In Peart's world, all boundaries are arbitrary, and should be torn down. Thus, there can be no "land of the billboard makers", nor can there be a trespasser.
Peart gave up his Randian Capitalism-worship long ago - there are few overt references after 2112 (1976). I thought for a while that the song "Afterimage" (1984) was in reference to Rand's death (1982), but after learning of Rand's disdain for drummers and rock music in general (it was "anti-life"), I seriously doubt that Peart and Rand ever met.
There is a reference in the song "Nobody's Hero" (1993) in a feminine context to "the voice of reason against the howling mob". Other than that, Peart has generally walked a straight line toward the party-line liberalism that infects his views today. It is doubtful whether he considers property rights to be justifiable (except for himself and his friends). In any case, it seems he has no use for free speech (except for himself and his friends).
Incidentally, Peart's line about "unreason" was lifted either from John Barth or Ayn Rand. I can't remember which (I'm pretty sure it was Barth, and that the quote was "the opposite of reason isn't emotion, it's unreason")
I'm starting to wonder whether he isn't a sort of amalgam of things that he's read. Like a computer spitting back randomly combined snippets of quotations.
"Like a computer spitting back randomly combined snippets of quotations."
... sort of like the computer in Foucault's pendulum? In one way this can be quite a healthy thing, when we see the interconnection of not-quite-random thoughts we can sometimes understand one of those thoughts better or perhaps create some new idea.
But obviously - as you point out - there is a lack of consistency here. His standards are not applied to himself. This a characteristic of the liberal mentality.
"To whom much is given much is required and expected"
This is an eons old truth.It basically says(indirectly) that IF one is given many gifts and MUCH success as a result,one is expected to use those gifts and resulting materialistic and related success wisely and responsibly.And in return for these things,either even MORE is given as a result OR... ( and THIS is the part most are apprehensive to acknowledge)VERY dire and severe consequences for any "deliberate misuse" of the gifts and resultant wealth,and "power" ( by means of great influence for good OR bad) that is also an end product/result of such"gifts given for a reason".
I question MANY times just the real and underlying reason for Mr.Peart's ongoing consistent success in all aspects.
Could it NOT be possible that "to him much WAS given" and that the purpose and responsibility that went with that was misused and/or not realized due to the "lofty pursuit of personal beliefs and convictions" that understandably WILL have influenced MANY in a negative manner MIGHT have been a result ?
"The band Rush is releasing a new single today called Caravan, and the album cover consists of a clock face with 12 blatant occult symbols.".. this is a quote from an article which describes the most recent "RUSH" CD cover.
As i was saying,WHEN a band/artist is given the enormous 'POWER" that comes with the influence of as a result of great ongoing success of such as "Rush"/Peart... the responsibilty ... a GREAT one.. ultimately becomes this.
It's a much better policy to keep opinions about fundamental matters such as religion/s,your faith/beliefs in the occult( IF you are so inclined) and other such matters of concern and gravity to MANY to oneself.
In this case, Peart has made it a known fact that he is atheist/agnostic and much leaning towards the occult and similar types of metaphysics.Terrific.Glad to hear it.Good for you,indeed.
Now the bad thing is THIS.He will NEVER ever possibly have ANY way of knowing to what extent he has influenced those who idolize him and actually aspire to be LIKE him in any way possible? ( This is a TRUTH now... there are innumerable posts by "FANatics" on youtube and elsewhere where he IS referred to as "God" and "God-like"... can you IMAGINE ?
C'mon now!This is ONLY a band and ONE individual person with too many opinions.
Time to conclude this...
and hopefully in a MOST delicate manner.
As i pointed out, it has been on my mind for SO so long now WHY the terrible tragedies that have befallen Peart's person life had occured.It had been on my mind to the point of being preoccupated with it.Until i looked into a few of Pearts "personal convictions";and then a few album covers etc.
And i finally got my answer/s.
To Peart, "MUCH was given and MUCH was required AN expected".
But it seems much was NOT returned as it very possibly should have been.. and possibly resulted in what is sadly known to be the tragedies that he experienced.
It's a well known FACT that in the world of rock music, there have been SO many who either dabbled in the occult OR held strong beliefs and convictions.. only to have tragedies befall them.
I looked long enough to find an answer to "why Neil".
And i feel i finally was"given" that answer.
"To whom much is given much is required and expected"
This is an eons old truth.It basically says(indirectly) that IF one is given many gifts and MUCH success as a result,one is expected to use those gifts and resulting materialistic and related success wisely and responsibly.And in return for these things,either even MORE is given as a result OR... ( and THIS is the part most are apprehensive to acknowledge)VERY dire and severe consequences for any "deliberate misuse" of the gifts and resultant wealth,and "power" ( by means of great influence for good OR bad) that is also an end product/result of such"gifts given for a reason".
I question MANY times just the real and underlying reason for Mr.Peart's ongoing consistent success in all aspects.
Could it NOT be possible that "to him much WAS given" and that the purpose and responsibility that went with that was misused and/or not realized due to the "lofty pursuit of personal beliefs and convictions" that understandably WILL have influenced MANY in a negative manner MIGHT have been a result ?
"The band Rush is releasing a new single today called Caravan, and the album cover consists of a clock face with 12 blatant occult symbols.".. this is a quote from an article which describes the most recent "RUSH" CD cover.
As i was saying,WHEN a band/artist is given the enormous 'POWER" that comes with the influence of as a result of great ongoing success of such as "Rush"/Peart... the responsibilty ... a GREAT one.. ultimately becomes this.
It's a much better policy to keep opinions about fundamental matters such as religion/s,your faith/beliefs in the occult( IF you are so inclined) and other such matters of concern and gravity to MANY to oneself.
In this case, Peart has made it a known fact that he is atheist/agnostic and much leaning towards the occult and similar types of metaphysics.Terrific.Glad to hear it.Good for you,indeed.
Now the bad thing is THIS.He will NEVER ever possibly have ANY way of knowing to what extent he has influenced those who idolize him and actually aspire to be LIKE him in any way possible? ( This is a TRUTH now... there are innumerable posts by "FANatics" on youtube and elsewhere where he IS referred to as "God" and "God-like"... can you IMAGINE ?
C'mon now!This is ONLY a band and ONE individual person with too many opinions.
Time to conclude this...
and hopefully in a MOST delicate manner.
As i pointed out, it has been on my mind for SO so long now WHY the terrible tragedies that have befallen Peart's person life had occured.It had been on my mind to the point of being preoccupated with it.Until i looked into a few of Pearts "personal convictions";and then a few album covers etc.
And i finally got my answer/s.
To Peart, "MUCH was given and MUCH was required AN expected".
But it seems much was NOT returned as it very possibly should have been.. and possibly resulted in what is sadly known to be the tragedies that he experienced.
It's a well known FACT that in the world of rock music, there have been SO many who either dabbled in the occult OR held strong beliefs and convictions.. only to have tragedies befall them.
"To whom much is given much is required and expected"
This is an eons old truth.It basically says(indirectly) that IF one is given many gifts and MUCH success as a result,one is expected to use those gifts and resulting materialistic and related success wisely and responsibly.And in return for these things,either even MORE is given as a result OR... ( and THIS is the part most are apprehensive to acknowledge)VERY dire and severe consequences for any "deliberate misuse" of the gifts and resultant wealth,and "power" ( by means of great influence for good OR bad) that is also an end product/result of such"gifts given for a reason".
I question MANY times just the real and underlying reason for Mr.Peart's ongoing consistent success in all aspects.
Could it NOT be possible that "to him much WAS given" and that the purpose and responsibility that went with that was misused and/or not realized due to the "lofty pursuit of personal beliefs and convictions" that understandably WILL have influenced MANY in a negative manner MIGHT have been a result ?
"The band Rush is releasing a new single today called Caravan, and the album cover consists of a clock face with 12 blatant occult symbols.".. this is a quote from an article which describes the most recent "RUSH" CD cover.
As i was saying,WHEN a band/artist is given the enormous 'POWER" that comes with the influence of as a result of great ongoing success of such as "Rush"/Peart... the responsibilty ... a GREAT one.. ultimately becomes this.
It's a much better policy to keep opinions about fundamental matters such as religion/s,your faith/beliefs in the occult( IF you are so inclined) and other such matters of concern and gravity to MANY to oneself.
In this case, Peart has made it a known fact that he is atheist/agnostic and much leaning towards the occult and similar types of metaphysics.Terrific.Glad to hear it.Good for you,indeed.
Now the bad thing is THIS.He will NEVER ever possibly have ANY way of knowing to what extent he has influenced those who idolize him and actually aspire to be LIKE him in any way possible? ( This is a TRUTH now... there are innumerable posts by "FANatics" on youtube and elsewhere where he IS referred to as "God" and "God-like"... can you IMAGINE ?
C'mon now!This is ONLY a band and ONE individual person with too many opinions.
Time to conclude this...
and hopefully in a MOST delicate manner.
As i pointed out, it has been on my mind for SO so long now WHY the terrible tragedies that have befallen Peart's person life had occured.It had been on my mind to the point of being preoccupated with it.Until i looked into a few of Pearts "personal convictions";and then a few album covers etc.
And i finally got my answer/s.
To Peart, "MUCH was given and MUCH was required AN expected".
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