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radioThese are reader comments for the article 'Bob Dylan: The spiritual journey of a 20th century icon'
Reader Comments
Posted by Rob in Vancouver, BC @ 21:53 on Aug 21 2008
Great article on a subject which hasn’t received a lot of attention.
I think it’s pretty difficult to really attach anything in Dylan’s writing to Dylan himself. Apart from his gospel triumvirate from ’79 – ’81, Dylan has dealt mostly in symbolism which to me is much more meaningful than a sermon set to music. And where I think that Christian traditions have also used such symbolism to communicate the ideas of brokenness and redemption, I think it’s a mistake to think that Christianity invented them. And it’s a mistake to split the divide down secular and spiritual lines. I really think this misses the point. These concepts are human endeavors. Making art is an attempt to make sense of them as much as finding faith is, I believe.
References to the divine, and to being caught up in ‘sinfulness’ as as much a part of musical traditions as they are in religious ones. You can find them in Robert Johnson as much as you can in recorded sermons. So, in my mind, it’s the power of symbols that Dylan calls upon, not necessarily his personal engagement in them. But, that’s just my feeling on it. He’s always been an enigma. And maybe that doesn’t matter either. Whatever we think, the songs have the power no matter what the intentions of the writer are, or were.
Thanks for the article!
Great article on a subject which hasn’t received a lot of attention.
I think it’s pretty difficult to really attach anything in Dylan’s writing to Dylan himself. Apart from his gospel triumvirate from ’79 – ’81, Dylan has dealt mostly in symbolism which to me is much more meaningful than a sermon set to music. And where I think that Christian traditions have also used such symbolism to communicate the ideas of brokenness and redemption, I think it’s a mistake to think that Christianity invented them. And it’s a mistake to split the divide down secular and spiritual lines. I really think this misses the point. These concepts are human endeavors. Making art is an attempt to make sense of them as much as finding faith is, I believe.
References to the divine, and to being caught up in ‘sinfulness’ as as much a part of musical traditions as they are in religious ones. You can find them in Robert Johnson as much as you can in recorded sermons. So, in my mind, it’s the power of symbols that Dylan calls upon, not necessarily his personal engagement in them. But, that’s just my feeling on it. He’s always been an enigma. And maybe that doesn’t matter either. Whatever we think, the songs have the power no matter what the intentions of the writer are, or were.
Thanks for the article!
Posted by Monica in W Midlands, U.K. @ 22:53 on Aug 12 2008
Praying for Bob, and still loving his music especially 'I believe in You'. Some overlooked lyrics on 'Oh mercy' album too e.g. 'What good am I?' - challenging words in this for any Christian. Take a look.
Praying for Bob, and still loving his music especially 'I believe in You'. Some overlooked lyrics on 'Oh mercy' album too e.g. 'What good am I?' - challenging words in this for any Christian. Take a look.
Posted by Ian Vincent in India @ 15:32 on Jul 12 2008
Dear Suresh,
Please email me ian-vincent@hotmail.com
thanks,
your brother,
ian.
Dear Suresh,
Please email me ian-vincent@hotmail.com
thanks,
your brother,
ian.
Posted by SteveR in Coral Springs, FL @ 20:32 on May 27 2008
I am grateful for Bob's talent and the poetry and music he has produced. I am also aware that chemical dependency is an equal opportunity disease and that Bob also suffers from that as well as a need not to be pigeonholed by the critics or the public.
Those of like precious faith should continue to pray for him and other celebrities who espouse faith in the Messiah. The isolation super stardom brings cannot be easily overcome.
I am grateful for Bob's talent and the poetry and music he has produced. I am also aware that chemical dependency is an equal opportunity disease and that Bob also suffers from that as well as a need not to be pigeonholed by the critics or the public.
Those of like precious faith should continue to pray for him and other celebrities who espouse faith in the Messiah. The isolation super stardom brings cannot be easily overcome.
Posted by Patti in Akron, Ohio @ 03:49 on Mar 12 2008
Is this brother Suresh from Ashland Seminary?
If so, as the above gentleman said, "I've been trying to find you for years!" Please e-mail me!
Patti
Is this brother Suresh from Ashland Seminary?
If so, as the above gentleman said, "I've been trying to find you for years!" Please e-mail me!
Patti
Reply by Sursh Abreu in Baltimore @ 23:28 on Jun 16 2010
Bill Flanagan in a recent Interview with Bob featuring "Christmas in the Heart" aske Bob:
BF: You really give a heroic performance of O’ LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer.
Bob's Reply.
BD: Well, I am a true believer.
Bill Flanagan in a recent Interview with Bob featuring "Christmas in the Heart" aske Bob:
BF: You really give a heroic performance of O’ LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer.
Bob's Reply.
BD: Well, I am a true believer.
Reply by Suresh Abreu in Baltimore, Maryland @ 01:28 on May 14 2008
Lets keep Bob in our prayers.
Patti, it is interesting that you came to this blog. Patti I would love to touch base with you again. I remember your wedding, your beatiful engineer husband, and the kids you inherited through him.
I dearly hope you are well.
410-786-5240 work
410-821-5722 Home
Patti, I am not sure if this is going to reach you.
It is wonderful that JESUS is our LORD, I remember quite vividly the conversations we had on HIS Lordship in the context of a trying time you were going through. The subject was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You then sent me a very generous letter, which I still have. Patti believe it or not, you crossed my mind in the last week as my mind to Ashland Seminiary. I wonder where Julie Summercamp (I think that was her last name) is.
LORD bless you, and as always I am so grateful that through this blog there was some kind of a recollection reestablished.
In JESUS, Suresh.
Lets keep Bob in our prayers.
Patti, it is interesting that you came to this blog. Patti I would love to touch base with you again. I remember your wedding, your beatiful engineer husband, and the kids you inherited through him.
I dearly hope you are well.
410-786-5240 work
410-821-5722 Home
Patti, I am not sure if this is going to reach you.
It is wonderful that JESUS is our LORD, I remember quite vividly the conversations we had on HIS Lordship in the context of a trying time you were going through. The subject was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. You then sent me a very generous letter, which I still have. Patti believe it or not, you crossed my mind in the last week as my mind to Ashland Seminiary. I wonder where Julie Summercamp (I think that was her last name) is.
LORD bless you, and as always I am so grateful that through this blog there was some kind of a recollection reestablished.
In JESUS, Suresh.
Posted by patrick in ireland @ 11:15 on Feb 18 2008
Dylan should had never changed his style of music to christian. Don't get me wrong he has the odd good christian song like covenant women, but his earlier stuff shook the earth. what a waste of the end of his best years. all the same, he's still a legend.
Dylan should had never changed his style of music to christian. Don't get me wrong he has the odd good christian song like covenant women, but his earlier stuff shook the earth. what a waste of the end of his best years. all the same, he's still a legend.
Posted by sunil noronhs in bangalore @ 07:15 on Feb 7 2008
I practice a faith that's been long abandoned
Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road
from aint talkin modern times
I practice a faith that's been long abandoned
Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road
from aint talkin modern times
Posted by Bill Krouwel @ 14:32 on Sep 5 2007
really thoughtful....I read this during one of my regular "saved revisited" phases and heartily applaud the writer's mature and thoughtful approach to the whole Christian celebrity / Dylan issue. The opinions about "Restless Pilgrim" are absolutely true too - personally, I'd like a book from this writer as an antidote for that exercise in faith-spotting....Many thanks.
Bill Krouwel
really thoughtful....I read this during one of my regular "saved revisited" phases and heartily applaud the writer's mature and thoughtful approach to the whole Christian celebrity / Dylan issue. The opinions about "Restless Pilgrim" are absolutely true too - personally, I'd like a book from this writer as an antidote for that exercise in faith-spotting....Many thanks.
Bill Krouwel
Posted by Ian Vincent in India @ 11:53 on Jul 26 2007
Dear brother Suresh, i've been trying to find you for years! Please contact me via my website, thanks.
Dear brother Suresh, i've been trying to find you for years! Please contact me via my website, thanks.
The opinions expressed in the Reader Comments are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms.
I didn't know anything about the Saved cd until recently.
When I listened to it, I was blown away and realized
that God has spoken to us powerfully through Dylan.
I feel re-energized and blessed, all over again, at the love shown to us by our Father. As believers, Dylan included, we struggle on our eternal path. Our mission-love and pray for one another as we travel that path. I would ask that we pray for Dylan. He is in a position to touch others' lives and hearts. Although he said in Chronicles I that he is not a preacher, he certainly has written lyrics and music that inspires us to know the One who given Everything to us. Heaven has spoken in Dylan's music. All need to listen and get ready.