The tree is a metaphor to the religion "implanting" itself on generation to generation, manipulating, and in the end he smashes the tree with the hammer(logic, reason, whathever you wanna call), dropping the people, the young ones go first, but the old ones stays, because religion is so deep in their head, that they can't get rid of it.
That's what I think the video means, if you agree, thumbs up, if you don't, tell me what do you believe the video means!
Religion is an intensely personal ideology. I live with my parents, I'm twenty now, and over the past few years I've made it abundantly clear I was Atheist. There was no earth shattering revelation. No screaming, or crying. A bit of disbelief but what can you do. All in all, nothing has changed, them knowing has had zero impact on our lives and relationship. The opposite is true as well. The problem you have is in your head. It's not a big deal
Believe or not... it's hard to argue the power of religion... a force so compelling to it's believers that it causes greatness, sadness and evil... and still with no proof whatsoever, believers insist on the unseen being the guiding force in their lives. I wonder how historians will see religion in another thousand or five thousand years... i am sure they will agree that the power of the human brain is the real force in this small world of ours
i first heard this song at a Christian "rock music evil" thing. this once one of the videos they showed of what NOT to listen to. I immediately loved this song and bought the album.
I know there is a God (a higher power) and there is good and evil but am NOT RELIGIOUS AS ALL THE RELIGIONS ARE A FUCKING SHAM. Organized religions are launching pads for fighting (Catholic, Baptists, Protestants), killing (Muslims) and complaining (all of the above plus Church of England, Mormons etc). To those claiming there is only ONE CHANCE AT GLORY, you keep trying until you get it right. Some who made impact in music and movies and sports live on forever via their accomplishments.
you guys are an idiot....there is no god..there is no saving grace...theres no heaven..theres no hell...it only here and now...wake up...either make your life count..or make your life part of the non count..when you die...your dead...period
@Piggreenbag You proved to be a heartless piece of shit. PIGGYGREENSNOTBAG, you probably are a closet homosexual (like that whore Janeane Garofalo and George Clooney) who is miserable, hates everyone, never gotten laid and bellyaches when anyone disagrees with your views and you wind up going below the belt by calling people (who may be either mentally challenged or a person with high intelligence) IDIOTS?!?! I am Autistic and found your "IDIOT" comment INSULTING ASSHOLE!!
@tjrrockandrollmaster well...i really like your response to my post...makes you feel good to be actually alive right tj? that's what i want everyone to feel..glad to be alive and living for the now..and not waiting for something better that may or may not happen...
@Piggreenbag I speak the truth. I find church boring but go to keep my father who is 67 company so he doesn't go alone so I use it to go nap. I may have been baptized Catholic but the molesting priests and politically correct sermons are making me sick to be considered a Catholic. Also Baptists like to have sex with their cousins and daughters. I think something guides us but HATE RELIGION. If I ever did a Cursillo I'd then either commit suicide or become a full blown NON-BELIEVER
It's just a song, whether it has a deeper meaning or not if you like the way it sounds, you listen to it. Always looking for messages lets some ppl believe you can be influenced by certain music and didn't they already try to blame rap and heavy metal for teen violence?
@drowningsmile545 it's just a song is it? well i will listen to this song w/ lyrics and melody before i ever listen to some desert dwelling freaks trying to get begot from a virgin or trying to get to 72 virgins...how bout you...say it isnt true..
@tjrtherocksponge nice comment. a lot of people dont understand its possible to believe in a higher power but not belong to any relegious denomination. organized relegions are bs!!!
well if this song makes people think then that has to be good. It poses valid questions that deserve answers. Answers that people can't or won't hear .....
I don't know the background of this song or of the band, but I like this and I think I get it. Some people have wondered why, if he doesn't believe in god, he is speaking directly to him and while it could have been used as irony I think it sounds more like this: as a child he was raised to believe in...
...god (or some greater power) and, now that he is older and can't see any reason for the world to be so terrible if there truly is a benevolent god, he feels betrayed. Possibly he feels keenly betrayed by god himself despite the fact that he (god) doesn't exist. I think he is angry at the idea and the notion of god and he is directing that in the form of prayer- speaking directly to god- which is a habit that many people
...raised in a christian household have a hard time breaking even if they have moved on from christianity and no longer practice it.I think the artist here is expressing a deep sense of hurt and misplaced trust because of his realization that the beliefs and teachings of his youth don't match the reality of what occurs in the world.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why would anyone write a letter or song to a non-existent being.
God, Santa Claus, Bugs Bunny, and Spider-Man are all fictional characters. The big difference is that Santa Claus, Bugs Bunny, and Spider-Man all have redeeming qualities whereas God is an egotistical dictator.
I find that atheists have a far greater faith than most Christians.
I can use the natural sciences combined with combinatorial mathematics to prove the existence of God. This is child's play after you identify the dependent variables.
I have an INFINITESIMAL chance of being errant in my KNOWLEDGE.
The atheist banks on that infinitesimal chance. That takes a lot of faith to bet one's life upon an infinitesimal...a lot more faith than I have.
Is a parent willing to prevent dirty diapers, but not able? Then he is not that powerful. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is evil. Is he both able and willing? Then why the wet diaper? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him parent?
If we knew that God was real, would it change anything?
If we knew the planet was suffering because of our sins, especially the sins of indifference in the poisons we throw down the drain into the water, incompetence because we do not seek the wisdom of God,
betrayals large & small-- rapes, adulteries, thefts & coldness against each other...all the stuff that adds up to destroy heaven...
would we lean towards God knowing obedience would create heaven?
This is a pop masterpeice, as unforgettable today as is was then even though Andy Partridge has called this song a "Failure". What a compelling "failure" Andy.....
Spoken like someone who has the luxury to marry who they want, believe what they want, and never worry about losing their job or their home. Atheists care what Christians think, because they never fail to remind us how much power they have over our lives....
@MrByronDunbar lol when bible pushers come to my house i say"yah ill listen but let me say something first...do you know satan"but they stoped coming to my house after that
@townsie74 nope youve said absolutely nothing as 'turn it in dickheads' is nothing- and remarkably youve managed to make yourself look like an absolute twat in process. well done!
This has to be THE most controversial song ever. That said, I really like this song. XTC got really bold to write this song, let alone make a music video of it. Peace, over and out!
This song is calling everything out that we learned since we were in Sunday school. "The bible is just a fairy tail to give people hope". SORRY BUT ITs TRUE...........
It seems that VHI kinda cut the ratio down a bit of the video so you can't see as much of the tree, which I always guessed represented the cross. Which I always thought was good symbolism. Not something I agree with but when it comes to art I always respected the video, they did a pretty good job with the tree and the people falling out of it.
I'm sorry I was wrong, I guess i was thinking of that very last shot that pans out with the little boy singing.
Again I'm a Christian so Its not something I agree with, but i loved the anger and despair the lead singer shows and God as he's hitting the tree(cross), I just love that the whole song is so ironic, he's singing to someone he doesn't believe in and he ends it with this passionate monologue basically begging for an answer to the pain that we find in this world. beautiful
@147alotus I don't think their actually dissing god per se but man's interpetation of what our creator is. People need to stop believing that our creator is some over sized dude in the sky. Thats bullshit. I believe in a creator I just don't personify it. All is one bro. Nothing is seperate. Peace brotha
like i said above, i don't think its really meant to be blasphmous or disrespectful, again he saying in the whole song, hey I don't believe in you and then he breaks down and starts beating on the symbol of our salvation and our gift for eternal life(cross) , which he doesn't want to accept because all the pain around him in the life he's currently living.
it's pretty easy to place blame on something like religion for issues within society, but really it's just a tool like anything else. It can be used for good and bad, it's up to the people whom choose to use it. Hammer's can be used to build houses, or kill people- does that mean we should eliminate the use of hammers?
@mewandrumnstuff the blame is that instead of practicing what is preached in most religions and helping others, these people instead judge and ignore all these terrible things and condemn those of us who dare to question a being who supposedly loves us yet allows these things to happen. and don't tell me about 'free will' because I'm pretty sure babies don't have a choice in the matter when mommy decides to drown them in the tub. Yeah that's unconditional love alright.
@vespertemple who are 'these people' and what does murdering children have to do with religion? That action sounds more related to a cult. And I don't think the hypothetical woman who drowned her baby had a choice either when she was born with or developed a mental incapacity to understand the moral deprivation of her act. What exactly is your point?
@mewandrumnstuff - these people = religious fanatics of all factions. what does murdering children have to do with religion? = ask that to the kids taught that they are doing gods work when they are sent into a town square with a bomb strapped to them- or even ask the kids who just happened to be in that square. Read history, many horrible things have been done in the name of "God". Ever hear of the crusades or the spanish inquizition?
@vespertemple I have heard of those and they are terrible but I don't hold the actions of people in the past against those within their religions today. The fact is that those people had agendas, and if they didn't have "god" to justify their actions they would have justified it using some other form of idealogy. Religion is just a tool, as i said to begin with. It is USED by people to create or destroy as they see fit. You seem to be ignoring the thousands of charities that form via chruches.
Powerful imagery in this video. The metaphor of using the hammers (Logic and science, hence why there are two) to pound away at the tree (Christianity) which so many people cling to. Sure, you can't destroy the tree, at least not by yourself, but if you knock enough people off the tree (Deconvert them, make them atheistic), you will be left only with those too old or too closed minded to change their ways.
@Acorafication I find that atheists have a far greater faith than most Christians.
I can use the natural sciences combined with combinatorial mathematics to prove the existence of God. This is child's play after you identify the dependent variables.
I have an INFINITESIMAL chance of being errant in my KNOWLEDGE.
The atheist banks on that infinitesimal chance. That takes a lot of faith to bet one's life upon an infinitesimal...a lot more faith than I have.
If you have such a formula, I would have heard of it by now. Where is its printing in every single goddamn science journal, every single newspaper, EVERY SINGLE MEDIA OUTLET EVER? Your claim does nothing but discredit you.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with questioning--Job did it for an entire book of the Bible. IMO, there are two masterpieces of questioning that came out of later 20th Cent. modern culture--this vid , and the poem by Stevie Smith that says, in part: "Every human deserves a medal / A god cannot carry it, he is not able". XTC's song brought me up short in the 80's and made me understand WHY some deny God. A masterpeice of humanism that I can respect because it's motivated, in part, by love.
OMG! im like in luv with this song! the lyrics r sooooooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the music is beautiful! theyre saying wat im to afraid to say @ skool. perfect!!!!!
Funny story: I actually burned my XTC Skylarking cassette, along with other secular stuff, when I was "born again." Now that I'm all grown up and rational, I truly wish I had it back. (If I could only find my cassette player.)
Actually if you think Jesus was a Communist, YOU don't understand what Communism is. Communism is a pretty complicated political position based on the writings of thinkers who were born almost as long after Christ as we were. There were no Communists in the days of Jesus, because that implies that Jesus had 19th century political ideas, and there was no framework for that then. And I promise you, Jesus said a lot that Marx and Lenin didn't later agree with.
@instereovideos Actually, you are thinking about Marxism, which is a complex set of ideologies built around communist economic ideal. Communism in its purest form is the idea that the community is who own property on behalf of everyone. The kibbutzim of modern Israel are communes, as were the early Christians described in Acts, the Puritans, Quakers, Amish, and Shakers were all christian communists as were many communities in early America. Native Americans were sometimes communist also.
@michalchik No, I'm talking about Communism, which is derivative of Marxism... I assume that with all your "knowledge" you know that Lenin and Trotsky popularized it and that it was adapted from Marx's writings. A "Communist" is someone who identifies with the Communist platform, not just someone who acted "communal" in the 1st century. Communism is a somewhat complicated set of social and political ideas, and no, it didn't develop in any form that you could name "Communism" until after Marx.
@instereovideos Things can and do exist before people have names for them. Capitalism existed long before Adam Smith and communism long before Marx and Engles. The big objection to communism in the west, the one that everyone freaks out about, is the lack of private property and the control of it by the group. That element is necessary and sufficient for communism, no other element is. Lenin, Trotsky never led communist states, they claimed to aspire towards it through socialist tyranny.
@instereovideos That is not a counter argument; it is avoiding an argument you have difficulty countering. I am no expert, but I got an A in an economic history class from UC Irvine, I had read, The wealth of nations, Das Capital, the Communist Manifesto, and the whole bible cover to cover. If you don't think that communal control of property is the center of communism, explain why not and then what is. Also explain how you would classify Jesus' and the early Christians economic philosophy.
@michalchik LOL, thanks, I got an A in the class too. And as a philosophy major, I urge you to learn to draw distinctions. There were no "Communists" until Communism was an established ideology, which happened over 1800 years after Christ died. "Communist" implies identification with a series of political and social positions. Christ and Vladimir Lenin did not agree on a great variety of things socially and politically. If you think otherwise, you're... an idiot.
@instereovideos You seem to be having problems understanding the difference between essential elements and accompanying doctrine. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, Mao and even Stalin (probably lying) advocated community control of property but disagreed on many other points. Are you saying that only one of them was communist because they did not agree on everything? Peter (the rock of the church) advocated communal property enforced by execution, and based that on Jesus' economic philosophy.
@michalchik I know! And there are shape shifting reptiles that run the government. I don't think you get what I'm saying. And if you ever want to get laid, never say anything about "the difference between essential elements and accompanying doctrine" again in your life ; )
@instereovideos Are you really this desperate to get repeatedly pwned. Look up acts 5:1-11 (death penalty for hiding money from sale of private property from the community). Then look at Mark 10:17-25 for part of what Jesus said. You need to learn to be more precise if you are going to make it through philosophy. As far as getting laid, my first wife looked like Julia Roberts, gave me a son and is an MD. I have had 6 other lovers and I have kept that number low because I am fussy.
1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole...
American Heritage:
1. theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Princeton Wordnet:
a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
@instereovideos And gravity did not exist until, Newton defined it? Go ask you philosophy professors if things don't exist until they are defined. Do you genuinely not believe that reality exists without semantics?
Tim Brandt must have directed this vid: he certainly shot XTC's 'Grass', which uses his backwards-filming technique, as also seen in Tim Finn's Carve You In Marble.
there was an ad for the Mormon Church before this video. HA!
reverendseankeller 1 week ago
Thank god for making me an atheist, I probably wouldn't like this song otherwise. :'>
Tomfummel 2 weeks ago
uhh.....the a7x dear god is 300,000,000,000,000 times better
zanethepowerful 2 weeks ago
Ouch!!! Sorry God! You can take it though right? Because your,well God! Hehe! : )
odaydrums 3 weeks ago
The tree is a metaphor to the religion "implanting" itself on generation to generation, manipulating, and in the end he smashes the tree with the hammer(logic, reason, whathever you wanna call), dropping the people, the young ones go first, but the old ones stays, because religion is so deep in their head, that they can't get rid of it.
That's what I think the video means, if you agree, thumbs up, if you don't, tell me what do you believe the video means!
ViNaaAv 3 weeks ago 2
@ViNaaAv I think it's just a tree that happaned to be a cool place to make a video. LOL ! just sayin....
Johnnywhamo 1 week ago
@Johnnywhamo If that's what you think... But I don't think someone would make a video clip without any meaning, for a music like that, just saying...
ViNaaAv 1 week ago
This is like the best song ever. It's true.
crazycara98 1 month ago
Dwae
mailman6368 1 month ago
There should be more songs like this. Message me if you know any please.
thebroodhn 1 month ago
All religions are man-made fiction.
fotoline 1 month ago
Story of my life.
Freak0id 1 month ago
i love he could not break down the spirit!!!
richardmarez 1 month ago
Great song - powerful lyrics
ThomofOregon 2 months ago
who am i to question God? i just wonder why he took both of my parents so close together and so young. the decsion has so put me through heartbreak.
movieman104 2 months ago
..This is exactly how I'm feeling. The problem? My parents are hardcore Christians.. I'm not 18 yet..
JulianneSaysHi 2 months ago
@JulianneSaysHi I wouldn't see this as a problem.
Religion is an intensely personal ideology. I live with my parents, I'm twenty now, and over the past few years I've made it abundantly clear I was Atheist. There was no earth shattering revelation. No screaming, or crying. A bit of disbelief but what can you do. All in all, nothing has changed, them knowing has had zero impact on our lives and relationship. The opposite is true as well. The problem you have is in your head. It's not a big deal
TheGalacticCannibal 2 months ago
Believe or not... it's hard to argue the power of religion... a force so compelling to it's believers that it causes greatness, sadness and evil... and still with no proof whatsoever, believers insist on the unseen being the guiding force in their lives. I wonder how historians will see religion in another thousand or five thousand years... i am sure they will agree that the power of the human brain is the real force in this small world of ours
forreal918 2 months ago
so much irony in one song.
1idkmybffjill1 2 months ago
i first heard this song at a Christian "rock music evil" thing. this once one of the videos they showed of what NOT to listen to. I immediately loved this song and bought the album.
CVargas 2 months ago 9
I know there is a God (a higher power) and there is good and evil but am NOT RELIGIOUS AS ALL THE RELIGIONS ARE A FUCKING SHAM. Organized religions are launching pads for fighting (Catholic, Baptists, Protestants), killing (Muslims) and complaining (all of the above plus Church of England, Mormons etc). To those claiming there is only ONE CHANCE AT GLORY, you keep trying until you get it right. Some who made impact in music and movies and sports live on forever via their accomplishments.
tjrrockandrollmaster 3 months ago
you guys are an idiot....there is no god..there is no saving grace...theres no heaven..theres no hell...it only here and now...wake up...either make your life count..or make your life part of the non count..when you die...your dead...period
Piggreenbag 3 months ago
@Piggreenbag
You guys are idiots*
AugustinusHipponesis 3 months ago
@AugustinusHipponesis no..you guys are an idiot..
Piggreenbag 3 months ago
@Piggreenbag You proved to be a heartless piece of shit. PIGGYGREENSNOTBAG, you probably are a closet homosexual (like that whore Janeane Garofalo and George Clooney) who is miserable, hates everyone, never gotten laid and bellyaches when anyone disagrees with your views and you wind up going below the belt by calling people (who may be either mentally challenged or a person with high intelligence) IDIOTS?!?! I am Autistic and found your "IDIOT" comment INSULTING ASSHOLE!!
tjrrockandrollmaster 3 months ago
@tjrrockandrollmaster well...i really like your response to my post...makes you feel good to be actually alive right tj? that's what i want everyone to feel..glad to be alive and living for the now..and not waiting for something better that may or may not happen...
Piggreenbag 3 months ago
@Piggreenbag I speak the truth. I find church boring but go to keep my father who is 67 company so he doesn't go alone so I use it to go nap. I may have been baptized Catholic but the molesting priests and politically correct sermons are making me sick to be considered a Catholic. Also Baptists like to have sex with their cousins and daughters. I think something guides us but HATE RELIGION. If I ever did a Cursillo I'd then either commit suicide or become a full blown NON-BELIEVER
tjrrockandrollmaster 1 month ago 3
It's just a song, whether it has a deeper meaning or not if you like the way it sounds, you listen to it. Always looking for messages lets some ppl believe you can be influenced by certain music and didn't they already try to blame rap and heavy metal for teen violence?
drowningsmile545 3 months ago
@drowningsmile545 it's just a song is it? well i will listen to this song w/ lyrics and melody before i ever listen to some desert dwelling freaks trying to get begot from a virgin or trying to get to 72 virgins...how bout you...say it isnt true..
Piggreenbag 3 months ago
@tjrtherocksponge nice comment. a lot of people dont understand its possible to believe in a higher power but not belong to any relegious denomination. organized relegions are bs!!!
harlequin2614 3 months ago
well if this song makes people think then that has to be good. It poses valid questions that deserve answers. Answers that people can't or won't hear .....
lilynick1 3 months ago
I really like this song. :)
iCookies6 3 months ago
Is percfect song
aaviefsanjaya 3 months ago
I don't know the background of this song or of the band, but I like this and I think I get it. Some people have wondered why, if he doesn't believe in god, he is speaking directly to him and while it could have been used as irony I think it sounds more like this: as a child he was raised to believe in...
NauticalAcronym 3 months ago
...god (or some greater power) and, now that he is older and can't see any reason for the world to be so terrible if there truly is a benevolent god, he feels betrayed. Possibly he feels keenly betrayed by god himself despite the fact that he (god) doesn't exist. I think he is angry at the idea and the notion of god and he is directing that in the form of prayer- speaking directly to god- which is a habit that many people
NauticalAcronym 3 months ago
...raised in a christian household have a hard time breaking even if they have moved on from christianity and no longer practice it.I think the artist here is expressing a deep sense of hurt and misplaced trust because of his realization that the beliefs and teachings of his youth don't match the reality of what occurs in the world.
Just my two cents though :)
NauticalAcronym 3 months ago
@NauticalAcronym
well put
gringomike45 3 months ago
God this is good!
I mean...
Furk this is good! :-)
JavelBleach 4 months ago
@SirReal1958 lol awesome I love it
chuckles2035 4 months ago
Why is he singing to someone he doesn't believe exists?
MrTelejohn 4 months ago
@MrTelejohn how old are u? do u know ironic? xD pay attention
TheRDn2010 4 months ago 2
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sanjurodog 4 months ago
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The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Why would anyone write a letter or song to a non-existent being.
MrTelejohn 4 months ago
God, Santa Claus, Bugs Bunny, and Spider-Man are all fictional characters. The big difference is that Santa Claus, Bugs Bunny, and Spider-Man all have redeeming qualities whereas God is an egotistical dictator.
SirReal1958 4 months ago 27
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If the whole world followed the gospel of Jesus Christ, heaven would be here.
What we see out there is the work of the flesh, the result of neglecting the Lord's call to seek first the kingdom of God & be reborn of the Spirit.
It is easy to blame God. But blame won't stand on Judgment Day.
By sending Jesus Christ, God has done His part to reconcile a fallen world.
If we really care about the world, the best thing to do is accept Christ as Lord & then really make Him Lord. He is worthy.
GodisTruthseekTruth 4 months ago
I find that atheists have a far greater faith than most Christians.
I can use the natural sciences combined with combinatorial mathematics to prove the existence of God. This is child's play after you identify the dependent variables.
I have an INFINITESIMAL chance of being errant in my KNOWLEDGE.
The atheist banks on that infinitesimal chance. That takes a lot of faith to bet one's life upon an infinitesimal...a lot more faith than I have.
24kGoldenRocket 5 months ago
@24kGoldenRocket reaaly, you can prove the existance of God, you should go to a newspaper with that bud.
KantorekBaumerB14 4 months ago 3
@KantorekBaumerB14 I'd love to see...I won't hold my breath though...
liamsnorthstar 4 months ago
@liamsnorthstar it would be a laugh like, poor buggers tat the daily mail would probably believe the poor sod
KantorekBaumerB14 4 months ago
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Is a parent willing to prevent dirty diapers, but not able? Then he is not that powerful. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is evil. Is he both able and willing? Then why the wet diaper? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him parent?
(beyond Epicurus)
GodisTruthseekTruth 5 months ago
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GodisTruthseekTruth 5 months ago
Typically human, to denigrate or praise without having any true understanding...
OH - not talking about the song, per se...
Kelt4ever 5 months ago
Typically human, to denigrate or praise without having any true understanding...
Kelt4ever 5 months ago
You may have heard...but have you really heard?
"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6 Holy Bible)
words of Jesus Christ Son of God
GodisTruthseekTruth 5 months ago
@GodisTruthseekTruth Says who?
lennonfn2010 5 months ago
@GodisTruthseekTruth Apart from because it says it in the bible how do you know he said that?
janemgant 5 months ago
If we knew that God was real, would it change anything?
If we knew the planet was suffering because of our sins, especially the sins of indifference in the poisons we throw down the drain into the water, incompetence because we do not seek the wisdom of God,
betrayals large & small-- rapes, adulteries, thefts & coldness against each other...all the stuff that adds up to destroy heaven...
would we lean towards God knowing obedience would create heaven?
*The world reflects our spiritual sickness.*
GodisTruthseekTruth 5 months ago
the cost of disobeying the gospel of Christ remains high. don't see the point of blaming God for the results of our disobedience.
GodisTruthseekTruth 5 months ago
@GodisTruthseekTruth
God isn't real.
soadpwnsyou 5 months ago
Who is this kid?
11jelkica 5 months ago
Classic.
ndrthrdr1 5 months ago
Bril+
X
AWYMARI3HORN 5 months ago
Bollocks to Morrissey...Andy Partridge is the lyric genius.
pawnsacrifice1 5 months ago
This song leaves me in shivers every time I hear it. There aren't many songs this powerful in existence.
LuckilyHeDied 5 months ago
This is a pop masterpeice, as unforgettable today as is was then even though Andy Partridge has called this song a "Failure". What a compelling "failure" Andy.....
freedahlove 5 months ago
Real chirstians wouldn't be telling people with different lifestyles to go to hell when god loves everyone.
Real atheists wouldn't be up in arms about what chirstians think.
JesterSentinelZ 6 months ago
@JesterSentinelZ
Spoken like someone who has the luxury to marry who they want, believe what they want, and never worry about losing their job or their home. Atheists care what Christians think, because they never fail to remind us how much power they have over our lives....
DejaVoodooDoll 5 months ago 3
@JesterSentinelZ Atheists don't oppress christians
HatelessCrime19 5 months ago
I swear to Andy Partridge, some of you atheists are every bit as annoying as loud mouth Christians.
SyrinxTemple 6 months ago
Right on...xo
derailedpoet 6 months ago
@147alotus I know you posted this 9 months ago, but do you STILL "want to know where you guys" & I presume you mean atheists "are coming from"?
DomW63 6 months ago
4 dislikes are either a stupid Flanders or a evil Jim Jones clone
Tattooine77 6 months ago 2
2:48 The best part.
krtneyoficial 6 months ago
its an exellcent piece of commentry on just ridiculously ludicrous the belief in any kind of deity is
dancingnancy09 7 months ago
Me Niether...
MicMacGrass1 7 months ago
This song is my "Bible".
LightenUp74 7 months ago 46
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LightenUp74 7 months ago
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LightenUp74 7 months ago
For a joke something, a Christian band should cover this at the end of one of their concerts just to scare everyone.
MrByronDunbar 9 months ago 4
@MrByronDunbar lol when bible pushers come to my house i say"yah ill listen but let me say something first...do you know satan"but they stoped coming to my house after that
EliteEspadaNumber0 6 months ago
@EliteEspadaNumber0 all I had to do was answer the door wearing an Iron Maiden shirt and they stopped coming to my house.
arratik 6 months ago
@arratik lol
EliteEspadaNumber0 6 months ago
listen up this is a top drawer song so stop fucking ruining by analysing every lyric and turning it into a religious slanging match.
turn it in dickheads because its very boring...there ive said it!
townsie74 11 months ago
@townsie74 actually you havn't said anything at all
dancingnancy09 7 months ago
@dancingnancy09 i think you find i said "turn it in dickheads"..and that includes you.
townsie74 6 months ago
@townsie74 nope youve said absolutely nothing as 'turn it in dickheads' is nothing- and remarkably youve managed to make yourself look like an absolute twat in process. well done!
dancingnancy09 6 months ago
@dancingnancy09 thank you, my life is now complete.
townsie74 6 months ago
Great lipsync at the start
KouchaTV 11 months ago
So he's an athiest, but he could clearly give a fuck about the trees.
sanstar922 11 months ago 2
A band with a story to tell.
amtervik 1 year ago
The antithesis of Imagine by John Lennon in terms of delivery... but just as powerful.
And they both make me sad. :<
MissLoveTantei91 1 year ago
All the Christians claim in the end we all answer to God.........I'd always wondered who God answered to. Clearly it's XTC.
Beethoveniac 1 year ago 2
@Beethoveniac Well, for people who don't believe in him, they sure do talk to him a lot, you have to admit.
sanstar922 11 months ago
@sanstar922 True, I suppose. But what gets me is that when you talk to God, it's prayer, but when God talks to you, it's schizophrenia.
Beethoveniac 11 months ago
This has to be THE most controversial song ever. That said, I really like this song. XTC got really bold to write this song, let alone make a music video of it. Peace, over and out!
noxtan13 1 year ago
Who am I you ask? I am reality my friend!
dbfam826 1 year ago
This song is calling everything out that we learned since we were in Sunday school. "The bible is just a fairy tail to give people hope". SORRY BUT ITs TRUE...........
dbfam826 1 year ago
Did you make mankind after we made you?
frovil 1 year ago
I'm getting hooked on this song.
Satan666God999 1 year ago
oh and pd i salute you and wish there were people more like you out there, who that they may disagree, but still respect and even admire the feeling
THEKILLER1271 1 year ago
love this song
butterflyhoney11 1 year ago
It seems that VHI kinda cut the ratio down a bit of the video so you can't see as much of the tree, which I always guessed represented the cross. Which I always thought was good symbolism. Not something I agree with but when it comes to art I always respected the video, they did a pretty good job with the tree and the people falling out of it.
pdlost991 1 year ago
@pdlost991
I'm sorry I was wrong, I guess i was thinking of that very last shot that pans out with the little boy singing.
Again I'm a Christian so Its not something I agree with, but i loved the anger and despair the lead singer shows and God as he's hitting the tree(cross), I just love that the whole song is so ironic, he's singing to someone he doesn't believe in and he ends it with this passionate monologue basically begging for an answer to the pain that we find in this world. beautiful
pdlost991 1 year ago
@147alotus I don't think their actually dissing god per se but man's interpetation of what our creator is. People need to stop believing that our creator is some over sized dude in the sky. Thats bullshit. I believe in a creator I just don't personify it. All is one bro. Nothing is seperate. Peace brotha
MalikAllah 1 year ago
@MalikAllah
like i said above, i don't think its really meant to be blasphmous or disrespectful, again he saying in the whole song, hey I don't believe in you and then he breaks down and starts beating on the symbol of our salvation and our gift for eternal life(cross) , which he doesn't want to accept because all the pain around him in the life he's currently living.
pdlost991 1 year ago
@147alotus it's like they want to believe in god but its hard for them as they look around the world and see what people are really like
ChosenTripster 1 year ago
@ChosenTripster not just that....its questioning how a loving god could do all the horrible things we encounter in life.
sweato 1 year ago
incredible
ellogoods 1 year ago
it's pretty easy to place blame on something like religion for issues within society, but really it's just a tool like anything else. It can be used for good and bad, it's up to the people whom choose to use it. Hammer's can be used to build houses, or kill people- does that mean we should eliminate the use of hammers?
mewandrumnstuff 1 year ago
@mewandrumnstuff the blame is that instead of practicing what is preached in most religions and helping others, these people instead judge and ignore all these terrible things and condemn those of us who dare to question a being who supposedly loves us yet allows these things to happen. and don't tell me about 'free will' because I'm pretty sure babies don't have a choice in the matter when mommy decides to drown them in the tub. Yeah that's unconditional love alright.
vespertemple 1 year ago
@vespertemple who are 'these people' and what does murdering children have to do with religion? That action sounds more related to a cult. And I don't think the hypothetical woman who drowned her baby had a choice either when she was born with or developed a mental incapacity to understand the moral deprivation of her act. What exactly is your point?
mewandrumnstuff 1 year ago
@mewandrumnstuff - these people = religious fanatics of all factions. what does murdering children have to do with religion? = ask that to the kids taught that they are doing gods work when they are sent into a town square with a bomb strapped to them- or even ask the kids who just happened to be in that square. Read history, many horrible things have been done in the name of "God". Ever hear of the crusades or the spanish inquizition?
vespertemple 1 year ago 2
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tommylad92 1 year ago
@vespertemple I have heard of those and they are terrible but I don't hold the actions of people in the past against those within their religions today. The fact is that those people had agendas, and if they didn't have "god" to justify their actions they would have justified it using some other form of idealogy. Religion is just a tool, as i said to begin with. It is USED by people to create or destroy as they see fit. You seem to be ignoring the thousands of charities that form via chruches.
mewandrumnstuff 1 year ago
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vespertemple 1 year ago
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vespertemple 1 year ago
they lyrics are probably more relevant than ever.
timmmip 1 year ago
Thumbs up for atheist messages!
TimeForBold 1 year ago 4
i like this song.
ihavemonkeysinmybutt 1 year ago
J R Hartley!!!
timbearcub 1 year ago
Powerful imagery in this video. The metaphor of using the hammers (Logic and science, hence why there are two) to pound away at the tree (Christianity) which so many people cling to. Sure, you can't destroy the tree, at least not by yourself, but if you knock enough people off the tree (Deconvert them, make them atheistic), you will be left only with those too old or too closed minded to change their ways.
Acorafication 1 year ago 67
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@Acorafication
i guess you can see it that way if you "want" to.
ColoradoBansuri 1 year ago
@Acorafication I find that atheists have a far greater faith than most Christians.
I can use the natural sciences combined with combinatorial mathematics to prove the existence of God. This is child's play after you identify the dependent variables.
I have an INFINITESIMAL chance of being errant in my KNOWLEDGE.
The atheist banks on that infinitesimal chance. That takes a lot of faith to bet one's life upon an infinitesimal...a lot more faith than I have.
24kGoldenRocket 5 months ago
@24kGoldenRocket
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
If you have such a formula, I would have heard of it by now. Where is its printing in every single goddamn science journal, every single newspaper, EVERY SINGLE MEDIA OUTLET EVER? Your claim does nothing but discredit you.
soxwon04 4 months ago
@Acorafication Interesting, it reminds me of "Strawberry Fields Forever" though.
FuzzyCabesas 4 months ago
There is absolutely nothing wrong with questioning--Job did it for an entire book of the Bible. IMO, there are two masterpieces of questioning that came out of later 20th Cent. modern culture--this vid , and the poem by Stevie Smith that says, in part: "Every human deserves a medal / A god cannot carry it, he is not able". XTC's song brought me up short in the 80's and made me understand WHY some deny God. A masterpeice of humanism that I can respect because it's motivated, in part, by love.
marginallymental 1 year ago
OMG! im like in luv with this song! the lyrics r sooooooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the music is beautiful! theyre saying wat im to afraid to say @ skool. perfect!!!!!
earthpeace757 1 year ago
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@earthpeace757
don't be afraid to tell people you dont believe in god. It's ok. Most intelligent people don't.
ColoradoBansuri 1 year ago 2
i like this song!!! i mean like its awesome!!!!
NOTE: THIS IS A PRIVATE PROFILE
MisaNumber3 1 year ago
We are all foolish.
SHOEGAZEFAN73 1 year ago
It's Dwight from the Office!!!!!!
aaron12795 1 year ago
@aaron12795 It pains me to say this, but you are right, I see the resemblance.
michalchik 1 year ago
the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (spiritually dead) aka most of you
mrg5219 1 year ago
Is that J R Hartley, author of 'Fly Fishing', up the tree?
WaltTFB 1 year ago
Funny story: I actually burned my XTC Skylarking cassette, along with other secular stuff, when I was "born again." Now that I'm all grown up and rational, I truly wish I had it back. (If I could only find my cassette player.)
HighNortherner 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
tinyurl(dot)com/2b7f7c2 you guys should compare vids
unseendemise 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
i hate this song its sick i luv god he does good thinngs but if there was only good things nothing would be right
XTC SUCKS I HATE U AND TH DEVIL
urmylovejanelle 1 year ago
@urmylovejanelle ... You *hate* XTC? Why don't you just forgive them? Superstitious hypocrite.
HighNortherner 1 year ago 2
@HighNortherner i am sry *hate* is a strong word no one can hate only dislike
urmylovejanelle 1 year ago
@urmylovejanelle Right. You should hate the things you don't agree with and love the things you do agree with. Jesus would definitely tell you that.
instereovideos 1 year ago
i belive in god but this song is good
MyGta123 1 year ago 2
I m atheist! And defanantly not communist!
tma73cah71 1 year ago
@tma73cah71
what the hell does one thing have to do with the other??
ColoradoBansuri 1 year ago
all communists are atheists...but not all atheists are communists
mysticprincess11378u 1 year ago
@mysticprincess11378u Jesus was a communist. You either have not read the Bible carefully or don't understand what communism is.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik
Communists are giant apes that will attack New York and eat our children right?
dustbusta 1 year ago
@dustbusta No, No, they are giant apes washed in the blood of the lamb, that will attack new-york and eat our children.
michalchik 1 year ago
Actually if you think Jesus was a Communist, YOU don't understand what Communism is. Communism is a pretty complicated political position based on the writings of thinkers who were born almost as long after Christ as we were. There were no Communists in the days of Jesus, because that implies that Jesus had 19th century political ideas, and there was no framework for that then. And I promise you, Jesus said a lot that Marx and Lenin didn't later agree with.
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos Actually, you are thinking about Marxism, which is a complex set of ideologies built around communist economic ideal. Communism in its purest form is the idea that the community is who own property on behalf of everyone. The kibbutzim of modern Israel are communes, as were the early Christians described in Acts, the Puritans, Quakers, Amish, and Shakers were all christian communists as were many communities in early America. Native Americans were sometimes communist also.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik No, I'm talking about Communism, which is derivative of Marxism... I assume that with all your "knowledge" you know that Lenin and Trotsky popularized it and that it was adapted from Marx's writings. A "Communist" is someone who identifies with the Communist platform, not just someone who acted "communal" in the 1st century. Communism is a somewhat complicated set of social and political ideas, and no, it didn't develop in any form that you could name "Communism" until after Marx.
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos Things can and do exist before people have names for them. Capitalism existed long before Adam Smith and communism long before Marx and Engles. The big objection to communism in the west, the one that everyone freaks out about, is the lack of private property and the control of it by the group. That element is necessary and sufficient for communism, no other element is. Lenin, Trotsky never led communist states, they claimed to aspire towards it through socialist tyranny.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik Yeah, you don't know what you're talking about.
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos That is not a counter argument; it is avoiding an argument you have difficulty countering. I am no expert, but I got an A in an economic history class from UC Irvine, I had read, The wealth of nations, Das Capital, the Communist Manifesto, and the whole bible cover to cover. If you don't think that communal control of property is the center of communism, explain why not and then what is. Also explain how you would classify Jesus' and the early Christians economic philosophy.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik LOL, thanks, I got an A in the class too. And as a philosophy major, I urge you to learn to draw distinctions. There were no "Communists" until Communism was an established ideology, which happened over 1800 years after Christ died. "Communist" implies identification with a series of political and social positions. Christ and Vladimir Lenin did not agree on a great variety of things socially and politically. If you think otherwise, you're... an idiot.
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos You seem to be having problems understanding the difference between essential elements and accompanying doctrine. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Trotsky, Mao and even Stalin (probably lying) advocated community control of property but disagreed on many other points. Are you saying that only one of them was communist because they did not agree on everything? Peter (the rock of the church) advocated communal property enforced by execution, and based that on Jesus' economic philosophy.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik I know! And there are shape shifting reptiles that run the government. I don't think you get what I'm saying. And if you ever want to get laid, never say anything about "the difference between essential elements and accompanying doctrine" again in your life ; )
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos Are you really this desperate to get repeatedly pwned. Look up acts 5:1-11 (death penalty for hiding money from sale of private property from the community). Then look at Mark 10:17-25 for part of what Jesus said. You need to learn to be more precise if you are going to make it through philosophy. As far as getting laid, my first wife looked like Julia Roberts, gave me a son and is an MD. I have had 6 other lovers and I have kept that number low because I am fussy.
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik dude... don't say "pwned."
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos OK, I won't. You do have a point.
michalchik 1 year ago
@instereovideos
Random House Dictionary:
com·mu·nism –noun
1. a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole...
American Heritage:
1. theoretical economic system characterized by the collective ownership of property and by the organization of labor for the common advantage of all members.
Princeton Wordnet:
a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
michalchik 1 year ago
@michalchik Thanks, that's great. It should also say, "defined in the 19th century."
instereovideos 1 year ago
@instereovideos And gravity did not exist until, Newton defined it? Go ask you philosophy professors if things don't exist until they are defined. Do you genuinely not believe that reality exists without semantics?
michalchik 1 year ago
this song is bad ass....but it would be nice for a price reduction in beer though lol
rainingblood1488 1 year ago
Even back then this song sung to my inner Atheist.............. it only took me 20 years to realize it.........
Chaostiger357 1 year ago
What a tune! Thanks for posting :D
booziesuzie 1 year ago
Dårarna säger för sig själva: Det finns ingen Gud!
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
Det finns ingen som gör något gott.
ovidkommande 1 year ago
The little kid makes this song really powerful :)
sir9integra9jr 1 year ago 5
Tim Brandt must have directed this vid: he certainly shot XTC's 'Grass', which uses his backwards-filming technique, as also seen in Tim Finn's Carve You In Marble.
adamsez 2 years ago
this song broke me free from my programing. : ) thank you XTC
batlewitch 2 years ago 2