Manson's a preacher, but just look at his message
Published Saturday August 29th, 2009
There is no doubt that rocker Marilyn Manson is controversial, that is how he makes his millions. In my opinion however, there have been unfair comments from all sides, especially against the few Christians with courage enough to speak up.
I would have to agree with Alan Cochrane on two underlying points in his City Views column: Music is not responsible for all the evils in society, and it is primarily the parents' job to regulate the influences on their children.
At the same time all musical performers are not innocent entertainment. The City of Moncton's job is to fill seats at the Coliseum, but surely there are some less offensive entertainers available.
Music is a powerful medium which can help alter behaviour. Combined with the social pressure generated at a concert, and the median age of 15, the Manson message is of particular concern.
You can cautiously browse his lyrics at websites place like sing365.com. If that's what you want from your teen, by all means buy your tickets now. While you're at it, buy them a Manson t-shirt reading "Kill Your Parents" to help them through that difficult teenage phase.
Setting aside Manson's anti-Christian rants and ripping up Bibles onstage, popular music site chartattack.com writes that his onstage antics include "cutting himself with broken bottles, drinking a bucket full of spit from fans and simulating oral sex on band members."
Maybe I'm just naïve and old-fashioned, but that can't contribute to a healthy community, can it?
It is well known that young people often emulate celebrities; why should this be any different? This is a man who bragged to SPIN magazine about breaking into a cemetery and smoking stolen human bones until he got sick!
The magazine also wrote, "Manson . . . sees no division between the characters he creates for entertainment and the lifestyle that is supposed to come with them; when Manson tells kids he likes to eat drugs and consort with freaks, he feels a social obligation to do exactly as he says."
Unfortunately, the kids get the message.
Many of Manson's songs are dehumanizing to women and one title on his most recent release is "Pretty as a Swastika." I would think that kind of hate would not be welcome in Moncton, even in the name of entertainment. The question is, where will Moncton draw the line for an acceptable baseline of community decency?
Can you imagine the Manson music machine being unleashed against Mohammed and the Koran? There would be instant panic among producers and promoters. Publishers around the world would refuse to republish the offending lyrics. But as long as the target is Christ, women and Jews, that's OK?
Too many people think of music as simply tunes that they like or don't like. It is not just that Manson preaches rage, rejection and alienation; what is really wrong is how he tells those who identify with him to deal with what they feel.
The sad part about Manson's music (and most secular music) is that it identifies the problem without providing any hope or solution. "Death to the ladies first, then the gentlemen . . . truly -- suicidal" (Arma-***-geddon, High End of Low).
That's where my message is radically different. Yes there is injustice in this world; yes rejection hurts and betrayal tears you apart . . . but there is hope for a better way of life. There is someone who loves you unconditionally and he is the God that created you!
It is the very rage and rebellion that Manson preaches that only amplifies the pain. That's why suicide is his ultimate solution -- "I'm just a boy, playing the suicide king" (from "Mechanical Animals").
God does not want death and pain for you, He wants life. There is not room in these lines to deal with this completely, but the answers are there in the Bible if you will let God show them to you.
According to the National Review, the symbolism of Manson's show is "a celebration of pain and perversity." In contrast, the Christian message is one of love, forgiveness and being reconciled with our Creator.
It's all a matter of which message you choose to believe.
n Pastor Phil Seely administers to the Charity Bible Baptist Church in Moncton.
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This guy must believe the word gullible is not in the dictionary. MM has said many things, started many rumors (spit bucket being one, smoking human bones another) to mock the medium, to show how quickly we can get worked up into believing just about anything Hollywood or Christianity or the government tells us. He has made these people dance like his own little puppet. Some people aren't entertained by him or his music, fine...then there are people like this who has made him more famous than I have by buying is albums over the years. If it weren't for the small and weak minds like this yahoo then MM would probably not exist. A quick google on MM and believes everything he sees and what MM wants these weak minds to see....fished in.
Pastor Seely, your poor research and inability to read between the lines and inability to understand the truth is embarrassing as a leader of a church, I pity your congregation.
"musical performers are not innocent entertainment."
Neither are priests/pastors. The sermons of religion are incredibly influential on young minds - ever go on a retreat? Now talk to me about manipulative influence.
"the Manson message is of particular concern. You can cautiously browse his lyrics.."
The bible, also referenced online, is one of THE most hate filled books - filled with murder, human/animal sacrifice, genocide - most of it god approved
"Unfortunately, the kids get the message."
rock doesn't force kids into sunday schools to spread their message without need of any questioning or reason - religion does this to kids as young as 5.
"Many of Manson's songs are dehumanizing to women"
Please, the bible is a guide for slavery and subjugation of women.
"what is really wrong is how he tells those who identify with him to deal with what they feel."
but praying to an imaginary being is better?
"God does not want death and pain for you, He wants life. There is not room in these lines to deal with this completely, but the answers are there in the Bible if you will let God show them to you."
Rock musicians are at least human and only tell you what they feel through art and expression. The RELIGIOUS however apparently have a magic interpreter for understanding EXACTLY the intentions of a supreme being. Only their interpretations are correct - if only you could see things the way they do!
"the Christian message is one of love, forgiveness and being reconciled with our Creator."
The inquisition, slavery, jesuit expansion, religious schools abusing children en masse (pick a country...there are too many), oppression of native cultures, child sexual abuse and other numerous atrocities to many to list.
Manson is at most a tacky performer. He doesn't profess to lead you to eternal peace.
Religion is by far the worse option.
As far as music goes, he has some excellent music for those such as myself that enjoy that style.
Performer wise, he is excellent. I seen him in 2001 at the Ozzfest in Toronto, absolutely a great show with props and great sounding music.
This pastor has clearly never bothered to actually pursue Manson's lyrics beyond the obvious, or else he'd realize that Manson *performs music in character*: his three best-selling records (Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Holy Wood) are a trilogy, telling a story little different from that contained in the Bible he pretends to hold to: a rock star, sensing the depravities of a world controlled by hypocrites, leads a revolution (in Holy Wood), only for that revolution to sell itself out to the powers that be and become a hollow parody of itself (Mechanical Animals); ultimately, the would-be revolutionary must destroy what he has become (Antichrist Superstar) to retain his own purity.
The similarities between this and the figure of Christ, who has been whored out for centuries to preserve the status-quo, is too obvious, though I feel it'd be lost on this fine fellow. Perhaps he ought to pluck that mote out of his own eye.
*Einzige*