Tool has a hidden christian agenda.

[TechBoyJK]

good point, perhaps it not so much a christian agenda as much as one to get people to be spiritual on their own terms, which is why maybe the lateralus cd seems spiritual and gospely without the god/church talk.

 

[Proletariat]

Lateralus defintely had an Indian vibe - as in a Hindu/Buddhist vibe. I think Maynard has always been a proponent of Eastern spirituality. Check it - Parabola lyrics

This body. this body holding me. be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal all this pain is an illusion.

This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
Embrace this moment. remember. we are eternal.
All this pain is an illusion.

Definitely an exploration of the Hindu concept of life is Eternal Suffering/All mental pain is created within our own minds etc.

 

[BigPoppa]

I'll agree that they're spiritual. I won't agree that they believe in organized religion, especially Maynard. See: APC - Judith. Blind faith = bad, mmmkay?

www.songmeanings.com is great for looking up discussion on song meanings, especially Tool. Read em all, run them through your head, believe what you think is most correct. For the majority of the songs, there are many ways to interpret the symbolism, allegories, and allusions.

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
I'll agree that they're spiritual. I won't agree that they believe in organized religion, especially Maynard. See: APC - Judith. Blind faith = bad, mmmkay?

www.songmeanings.com is great for looking up discussion on song meanings, especially Tool. Read em all, run them through your head, believe what you think is most correct. For the majority of the songs, there are many ways to interpret the symbolism, allegories, and allusions.

Heh. People can think that, but Maynard is an arrogant bastard.

Tool is his spiritual journey from start to finish. We are all his audience. I don't mind though its refreshing to listen to someone going through the same thing as me.

 

[AutumnRayne]

When I first heard Opiate several years ago, I immediately felt a connection with the song. In my opinion I don't think he is trying to be anti-God but more so trying to urge people to think for themselves. Not to blindly follow orders from people standing on the pulpit trying to tell you what is right and wrong, in the name of God. I think he is urging people to question things, and not to always accept everything you hear and have been taught as an absolute truth. That however, is just my opinion. This thread really could go on all night because there could be many interpretations of their songs.

 

[Vic]

Tool lyrics really aren't THAT deep IMO. People read too much into them, and speculate on a lot of unfounded rumors and gossip regarding Maynard. But hey, they did sneak a song about anal fisting onto nationwide airplay, and that's pretty impressive if you think about it.
Most of Tool's songs are IMO purposefully designed to mirror the listener's anger and frustration back on him/herself, which is why the listeners search for these deeper meanings that do not exist.

You wanna listen to a singer's true anguish, try AIC.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Proletariat
...but Maynard is an arrogant bastard.

I dont see how he's arrogant. Please expound.

 

[BigPoppa]

Originally posted by: Proletariat

Originally posted by: BigPoppa
I'll agree that they're spiritual. I won't agree that they believe in organized religion, especially Maynard. See: APC - Judith. Blind faith = bad, mmmkay?

www.songmeanings.com is great for looking up discussion on song meanings, especially Tool. Read em all, run them through your head, believe what you think is most correct. For the majority of the songs, there are many ways to interpret the symbolism, allegories, and allusions.

Heh. People can think that, but Maynard is an arrogant bastard.

Tool is his spiritual journey from start to finish. We are all his audience. I don't mind though its refreshing to listen to someone going through the same thing as me.

WTF does the bolded mean? Its like you're disagreeing with me int he first half, then agreeing me with in the second half. Did you misread what I wrote?

 

[Gurck]

I think you've definitely overthought that. I think, at its base, the original focus of religion, before it evolved into the current crusade between 'us' and 'them', was to facilitate happiness in life through, among other things, mental competence. In a world where dogma reigns supreme, Tool tries to revive this interest in cognitive function via different means. I don't know what to think about the undeniable anal fisting theme

 

[Mucho]

Points to ponder.....hmmmmm

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Whatever you are smoking please keep it to yourself.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
I think the band tool has a hidden christian agenda.

Opiate=A drug that people get hooked to. Naming a CD opiate would be attractive to non christian drug smoking people.

Undertow=What happens when you get hooked on drugs. you get pulled into an undertow. People that are lost (aka lost souls) will be able to relate well to the lyric content of the cd.

Aenema(sp?)=What you need after you have been hooked on drugs and driven through the muck of an undertow. People that are sick of feeling lost will be able to relate well to the lyric content of the cd.

Lateralus=The balance you find after being cleansed. People that have been through all other cd's and have felt the change are going to be more open minded to the spiritualistic nature of the cd, which is why the previous cd's were needed. Much of the content of Lateralus is near gospel, with all of the things that christian haters run away from removed, like the jesus and god talk. However, especially in the song lateralus, the feelings of worship and spiritualism are described.

I've also read that Maynard's dad is a preacher, so from a kid Maynard has probably been devising a way to "save" people and got all genius about it. Use music that hates on GOD as the bait, and slowly mold the cd content, one step at a time to that of a non-god hating point of view. Wait years between cd's so the content has time to sink in and cement its place in its listeners minds, and once everything is setup, drop the bomb, that Jesus is almighty and whalla, you just saved thousands of God hating individuals.

OMG :Q

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
I think the band tool has a hidden christian agenda.

Opiate=A drug that people get hooked to. Naming a CD opiate would be attractive to non christian drug smoking people.

Undertow=What happens when you get hooked on drugs. you get pulled into an undertow. People that are lost (aka lost souls) will be able to relate well to the lyric content of the cd.

Aenema(sp?)=What you need after you have been hooked on drugs and driven through the muck of an undertow. People that are sick of feeling lost will be able to relate well to the lyric content of the cd.

Lateralus=The balance you find after being cleansed. People that have been through all other cd's and have felt the change are going to be more open minded to the spiritualistic nature of the cd, which is why the previous cd's were needed. Much of the content of Lateralus is near gospel, with all of the things that christian haters run away from removed, like the jesus and god talk. However, especially in the song lateralus, the feelings of worship and spiritualism are described.

I've also read that Maynard's dad is a preacher, so from a kid Maynard has probably been devising a way to "save" people and got all genius about it. Use music that hates on GOD as the bait, and slowly mold the cd content, one step at a time to that of a non-god hating point of view. Wait years between cd's so the content has time to sink in and cement its place in its listeners minds, and once everything is setup, drop the bomb, that Jesus is almighty and whalla, you just saved thousands of God hating individuals.

I bet you think The Da Vinci Code is a reference book, too. :roll: What is the hidden agenda in regards to the song Prison Sex?

 

[mobobuff]

You wanna see pop-ego bait-n-switch to religion you should look at Insane Clown Posse. Years of being a shock/horror-core "rap" group and then deciding to make their last album about God and strong Christian devotion.

"Dude what's the Sixth Joker's Card gonne be!?!?"
"It's God"
"OMG dude lame."

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
You wanna see pop-ego bait-n-switch to religion you should look at Insane Clown Posse. Years of being a shock/horror-core "rap" group and then deciding to make their last album about God and strong Christian devotion.

"Dude what's the Sixth Joker's Card gonne be!?!?"
"It's God"
"OMG dude lame."

But you are a moron if you didn't see it coming....

Of course most of their fans are morons so it might explain the outrage. If you listen to their albums and the progression and all the hints, it is painfully obvious what is coming.

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Originally posted by: mobobuff
You wanna see pop-ego bait-n-switch to religion you should look at Insane Clown Posse. Years of being a shock/horror-core "rap" group and then deciding to make their last album about God and strong Christian devotion.

"Dude what's the Sixth Joker's Card gonne be!?!?"
"It's God"
"OMG dude lame."

But you are a moron if you didn't see it coming....

Of course most of their fans are morons so it might explain the outrage. If you listen to their albums and the progression and all the hints, it is painfully obvious what is coming.

Sorry if I didn't study it that hard .

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: myusername
Lifehouse>Tool

You should be shot in the face.

OP, just listen to two of their songs - Prison Sex and Eulogy - and then read about Maynard's April Fool's joke this year where he claimed to find Jesus and then came out the next day and said that he wasn't serious. If you can read his denial and still think he's religious, you're kidding yourself.

 

[snowdogg187]

Originally posted by: myusername
Lifehouse>Tool

No comment needed, I imagine you are quite a fun loving guy/gal.

lifehouse is teh suck.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: myusername
Lifehouse>Tool

:thumbsup:

 

[snowdogg187]

You thought it is a bait and switch when tool played on of the best april fool's jokes around?

Did you read what he said after he let everyone know about the joke?

wow, I must say you should listen to a few songs.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: AutumnRayne
When I first heard Opiate several years ago, I immediately felt a connection with the song. In my opinion I don't think he is trying to be anti-God but more so trying to urge people to think for themselves. Not to blindly follow orders from people standing on the pulpit trying to tell you what is right and wrong, in the name of God. I think he is urging people to question things, and not to always accept everything you hear and have been taught as an absolute truth. That however, is just my opinion. This thread really could go on all night because there could be many interpretations of their songs.

Yeah, in that respect, they're a lot like Deftones (regardless of what you think of their music). Their lyrics would be interpreted 100 different ways by 100 different people. There are a few songs - just like with Tool - that are more or less obvious, but mostly it's a strange mixture of whatever you want to believe it is.

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: myusername
Lifehouse>Tool

:thumbsup:

You have to be joking, cause I am laughing! :laugh:



Anyways I think its pretty funny to come into a thread about my favorite band and see people thinking they have some form of underlying Christian agenda. Maynard really did a good job with his april fools joke.

The style in his albums are definitely a spiritual journey progressing towards maturity.

Some of my favorite lines from judith:

"Oh so many ways for me to show you how your dogma has abandoned you

Pray to your Christ, to your god
Never taste of the fruit, never stray, never break, never choke on a lie
Even though he?s the one who did this to you
Never thought to question why"


Oh yeah and TOOL ROCKS. I can't wait to hear what they have come up with for their next album.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: BroeBo


Oh yeah and TOOL ROCKS. I can't wait to hear what they have come up with for their next album.

from toolband.com - who knows how much of this is actually disinformation...

Since this isn't "Cartmanland" on opening day, we stand in a queue for what seems like an eternity (fifth dimension time distortion?). While inching forward on a sticky floor full of spilt honey-popcorn (goddamnit!), a couple of guys who earlier recognized Maynard ask me what's going on with the band. "Don't you read the website?" I ask them. "Yes, we know that the silver Coleman keeps ice for three days, but what about the new CD?" "Okay, the recording sessions are going very well, although it's still too early in the process for there to be a specific release date. Ditto with the live DVD, which isn't finished being edited yet, and which probably won't be released until after the new CD, perhaps in tandem with some other goodies that have been in the works for a while. Did you see Pinocchio's Daring Journey next door? Well, the band has its own Mr. Stromboli to deal with these days. Whoa!, that water stain in the boiler room looks like... the head of John the Baptist! Imagineering at its finest, don't you guys think?"

 

[40Hands]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: BroeBo


Oh yeah and TOOL ROCKS. I can't wait to hear what they have come up with for their next album.

from toolband.com - who knows how much of this is actually disinformation...

Since this isn't "Cartmanland" on opening day, we stand in a queue for what seems like an eternity (fifth dimension time distortion?). While inching forward on a sticky floor full of spilt honey-popcorn (goddamnit!), a couple of guys who earlier recognized Maynard ask me what's going on with the band. "Don't you read the website?" I ask them. "Yes, we know that the silver Coleman keeps ice for three days, but what about the new CD?" "Okay, the recording sessions are going very well, although it's still too early in the process for there to be a specific release date. Ditto with the live DVD, which isn't finished being edited yet, and which probably won't be released until after the new CD, perhaps in tandem with some other goodies that have been in the works for a while. Did you see Pinocchio's Daring Journey next door? Well, the band has its own Mr. Stromboli to deal with these days. Whoa!, that water stain in the boiler room looks like... the head of John the Baptist! Imagineering at its finest, don't you guys think?"

I am willing to wait. I am just glad they are choosing to take their time on the album/DVD (both of which I will buy) as opposed to what a lot of other bands that would rush it out there to keep their name in the spotlight. If it never comes out, I will be disappointed but I will not think less of them.

 

[torpid]

Jeez. Any band with allegorical lyrics is eventually interpreted as a devout christian band by lunatics like you. It has happened since the dawn of time and it is almost always an oversimplification or just flat out wrong. There are some spiritual elements, yes. Devout christian despite lyrics which directly state otherwise? Hell no.