Trent Reznor and Belief in God

[slave2thewage]

Trent Reznor was born in the light of the Seven.

[Max Leo]

Why was I facepalmed? I was just kidding... :-(

[orestes]

Trent Reznor was born in the light of the Seven.

Obviously he prays to the Smith.

[Baphomette]

I say we talk to Trent about the one true god

[AlanMorlock]

Or you know, it was a Nietzsche reference.

[Ryan]

I feel like any evidence toward a newfound belief in god, would, at this point, be...



Paperthin.

[joplinpicasso]

Epic, all above me.

Honestly, I think in most NIN songs where God or a god is mentioned, it's in the form of a general feeling of fate, connection, judgement, or spiritual morality. The word is used sardonically throughout TDS and YZ (by the way, wasn't Heresy about AIDS, and the narrator feels that if he was truly cursed by God with a virus then he would rather go to Hell? I could be wrong, but it's definitely deeper than constantly assumed).

To get a true sense for TR's feelings on the matter expressed through his music, just look no further than RWIB: "Just creations of your own / your devils and your gods" So, I do feel that he's against organized praise of a judgmental, personal Savior, but he believes in a higher, creating power. I'm an atheist (the word antitheist was used last page -- I'm an antitheist insofar as I'm against religious practices that hinder the happiness and wellbeing of others), and I'll listen to musicians from all forms of faith or lack thereof as long as they're not promoting ideas through their music that harm or hinder the happiness and wellbeing of others. (Sunny Day Real Estate was an amazing band but their singer became a born-again mid-way through their career -- at least he didn't start to write songs about the sins of sodomy. Caravaggio was a vaguely Christian man -- but he's one of my favorite painters).

[Radiovoyr]

It could be a figure of speech, or it could just imply that he maybe believes in something like G-d. Everyone knows what G-d/Lord suggest, so in a song it carries an innate weight, and regardless of how he feels all the time - he felt that way when he wrote it, and that is what matters.

Also, "pray the lord my soul to take", is not exactly of christian origin, but I doubt Trent converted and joined the tribe (mazal tov! if I am wrong). There were at least two religions/faiths that used 'G-d' in the big G, monotheistic sense before christianity, and I do not see anyone asking if he keeps Shabbos or when he thinks a prophet like Zoroaster will be reborn. It's just kind of silly to guess and inccorectly project something that is potentially so divisive and important (to him) on him.

Also, also, I truly feel like this a 1994 discussion and that the TDS font has sent us back to our 20 years younger thought processes and obsessions.

I dunno, shalom, friends, may the album leak soon and may our herring always be pickled.

edit: this post made me feel like a dick.

[DigitalChaos]

His kid's names LOL

I was wondering why nobody mentioned the biblical kids names.

[Paperthin567]

So much love.

[Ryan]

Epic, all above me.

Honestly, I think in most NIN songs where God or a god is mentioned, it's in the form of a general feeling of fate, connection, judgement, or spiritual morality. The word is used sardonically throughout TDS and YZ (by the way, wasn't Heresy about AIDS, and the narrator feels that if he was truly cursed by God with a virus then he would rather go to Hell? I could be wrong, but it's definitely deeper than constantly assumed).

To get a true sense for TR's feelings on the matter expressed through his music, just look no further than RWIB: "Just creations of your own / your devils and your gods" So, I do feel that he's against organized praise of a judgmental, personal Savior, but he believes in a higher, creating power. I'm an atheist (the word antitheist was used last page -- I'm an antitheist insofar as I'm against religious practices that hinder the happiness and wellbeing of others), and I'll listen to musicians from all forms of faith or lack thereof as long as they're not promote ideas through their music that harm or hinder the happiness and wellbeing of others. (Sunny Day Real Estate was an amazing band but they're singer became a born-again mid-way through their career -- at least he didn't start to write songs about the sins of sodomy. Caravaggio was a vaguely Christian man -- but he's one of my favorite painters).

Put my faith in god and my trust in you now there's nothing more fucked up I could do.

[Harry Seaward]

Does anyone remember an interview where Trent was mentioning JMJ's Scientology (he might not have mentioned it by name) and playing songs like Heresy? I'm certain Trent also touched on his beliefs about religion. Am I inventing a memory here?

[Ryan]

Does anyone remember an interview where Trent was mentioning JMJ's Scientology (he might not have mentioned it by name) and playing songs like Heresy? I'm certain Trent also touched on his beliefs about religion. Am I inventing a memory here?

I remember that vaguely. I think it may have a forum response post on nin.com.

[marodi]

I was wondering why nobody mentioned the biblical kids names.

Funny this is mentioned because that's not the first thing that came to my mind when I learned about them. My first thought was "wow all those "z" would bring so many points in Scrabble if people's names were allowed".

Also: god is dead and no one cares. I'll see all of you in Hell.

[KarenLeslie]

Obviously he prays to the Smith.

I vote Drowned God. Am I the only one who's been paying attention to La Mer all this time? *sunglasses*

[Promethean]

Jesus dude, this is a stretch. If anything he's clearly interested in string theory and it's religious ramifications.

[Max Leo]

[Fist Fuck]

Hearing Trent recently didn't leave the impression that he's completely lost his mind yet, so I highly doubt it. He's a little softer now, but that's only understandable having a great wife and kids (and an Academy Award), but his general world views (politics, religion, society,...) haven't changed. There's still a lot of underlying anger in his music and lyrics that sometimes shines through.

"God was competing with our light show tonight." God obviously lost this most recent battle.

[Paper Street]

I remember that vaguely. I think it may have a forum response post on nin.com.

This was during the Digg Dialogg with Kevin Rose.



The very last question 37ish minutes in?

[allegro]

His kid's names LOL

Yup, both Biblical. Although, the Reznors seem to have studied the Perry and Etty Farrell Book of Baby Names.

Reznor seems to have been raised "properly" as a Rural Pennsylvanian Farm Boy Christian; he couldn't ditch that if he paid a billion bucks.

[Canuckle]

[ComradeCornhole]

Signs point to TR being AT MOST a deist, with lyrical references to "god" being artistic flourishes. It's just as likely he's an agnostic, monist, pantheist, or just personally "spiritual". All of which are just fine with me. However, I believe he's certainly too smart to be a member of one of the big three (C,J, or I). And if he was, yeah, I'd respect him less and enjoy his music less. The same thing happened with Dave Mustaine when he began being publicly stupid. Call me intolerant or narrow-minded or an asshole all you want, but devout subscribers of a prescribed religion willfully ignore reason and evidence, along with all the parts of their doctrine they don't like, all the while apparently believing that everyone else is doomed to eternal suffering or even needs to be persecuted, oppressed or murdered in this life, as well. TR even held up such a viewpoint to ridicule in God Given.

[allegro]

Signs point to TR being AT MOST a deist, with lyrical references to "god" being artistic flourishes..

I'm a deist but I'm not seeing this because there is no specific text referring to same, and any interpretation of lyrics should be supported by the text .

Reznor has been writing about his problems and questions with/about God since Day One, but Theologians with Ph.Ds write huge scholarly articles about this shit all the time. If you aren't questioning, you aren't educated. And the stuff from Reznor's private journals (which became song lyrics per his interviews) read very very very much like the questions a lot of people who believe in God ask all the time, including theologians; the lyrics point to dilemmas we experience all the time. Reznor's lyrics obviously indicate that he was raised by devout churchgoers.

When you're down, you often blame God because you don't want to blame yourself. Also, see Genesis about free will. Reznor has converted Milton's "Paradise Lost" to song form, regularly. For profit.

Why on earth would you respect Reznor's music "less" if he was writing from a personal perspective, still believing in God yet writing about the Angel/Devil aspect of living his life? Sin, the Devil, God reaching his fucking arm through just to push you down, the Devil wants to fuck you in the back of the car, etc., that's all indicating that he was BELIEVING this stuff and it affected him, it's all personal stuff, a part of his belief system that he questioned, and it's likely to still be there in some way, you can't just "undo" that shit.

Artists are artists because of who they are and their reflections on their experiences; not for what you want them to be or your experiences. And, really, that's a good thing.

[DigitalChaos]

It's really weird seeing people use "belief in god" and "religion" interchangeably.

[allegro]

It's really weird seeing people use "belief in god" and "religion" interchangeably.

Yup. Weird. They are NOT the same thing.

[Fred]

I was wondering why nobody mentioned the biblical kids names.

Those are hardly proof of anything other than "Balthazar Reznor" and "Lazarus Reznor" sounding positively badass! It's those z's. Why should the Bible call dibs on all the cool names?

[Ryan]

Those are hardly proof of anything other than "Balthazar Reznor" and "Lazarus Reznor" sounding positively badass! It's those z's. Why should the Bible call dibs on all the cool names?

I think the latter is Lazarus Echo Reznor isn't it? Even more badass.

[allegro]

Names from Biblical times all the same. Both names are steeped in history.

Rock stars are REQUIRED to name their kids weird names. It's on the Job Description. Look at Frank Zappa's kids' names, for Christ sake.

Oops, I just said Christ.

[Kyle]

Oops, I just said Christ.

That's because you're a religious person now.

[GentlemanLoser]

Still an interesting idea to debate (religious discussions almost always are when everyone stays civil about it). I personally have picked up a vibe, especially in some of the recent interviews that Reznor has done, that God in one way or another is a bigger part of his life. Nothing specific, just a vibe I guess, and whatever, he's entitled to whatever lets him make sense of the world (his world that is). He's kinda been to hell and back, and when someone has been through such a transformation of their life and perspectives, they tend to externalize the personal strength expended to get there, vis-a-vis God or some other intangible 'other.'

Also to be frank, he's older (though you wouldn't know it to look at him, damn, he and Bowie must be hanging around the same fountain), more seasoned, and people seem to have a bit of a spiritual awaking as they get on top of their lives. How many of your parents have become more active in their religious activities since you became an independent adult? It just seems to be a thing, and I always wonder if/how my belief s will sway as I get to that indistinct age.

For the record, I've trended on the more atheistic side of agnostic for over a decade now and I still reference God (or gods, or Goddess for that matter) all the time as a figure of speech. So the way God is referenced lyrically, and especially the tweet about the lightning, isn't really telling of any genuine belief. I still get the feeling though, just in the way he talked in the Rolling Stone interview, as ephemeral as that feeling may be, that he's became more connected on some level with a personal God. He just sort of sounded like someone who's found God, or maybe just 'his way.' Or, you know, not.