Greg Graffin, the band's frontman, holds a Master's degree in geology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University. His dissertation for Cornell was a comprehensive study of how modern scientists, especially those who believe in strict Darwinism, view theism and religion, and how their own religious beliefs, if any, affect their study and work. He has since published it for fans of the band.
In 1983, Bad Religion released into the unknown, a keyboard-driven psychedelic rock album that was enormously unpopular among the band's core fan base. It is now out of print, and generally disowned by the band. However, in past years it has become a collectors item, and has gained some acceptance from fans. It now can be seen going for more than $100 on eBay, and is often pirated.
In 1984, Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) replaced Gurewitz. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower, rock and roll version of their original sound with the back to the known, but they disbanded soon after.
The band reformed in 1987 and released suffer in 1988, cementing their comeback in the punk community. Not only is this album considered one of their best by most fans, but it is often credited with "saving" the Southern Californian punk rock scene by fans and Bad Religion's contemporaries alike.
no control (1989) and against the grain (1990) further increased the band's popularity, followed by generator (1992). Before the recording sessions for the latter album commenced, drummer Pete Finestone left the band in to focus on his other band, The Fishermen. Bobby Schayer joined the band as his replacement. recipe for hate (1993) followed shortly thereafter.
With alternative rock breaking into the mainstream, Bad Religion left Epitaph for major label Atlantic and quickly re-released Recipe for Hate on the major label. 1994's stranger than fiction followed, but shortly after its release Brett Gurewitz left the band again. Officially, he cited the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as the Offspring (then a part of the Epitaph roster) became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s. But it was well-known that the departure was not on good terms, as he later accused the band of selling out for leaving Epitaph in favor of a major label. Gurewitz recorded a song with his new band The Daredevils entitled "Hate You," reportedly directed towards Jay Bentley. Gurewitz, moreover, was struggling more seriously with heroin and other addictions that had plagued him for years.
Gurewitz was replaced by Brian Baker, former member of bands such as Minor Threat and Dag Nasty. Previously, Graffin and Gurewitz had split songwriting duties, but Gurewitz's departure left Graffin as the band's lone songwriter.
What followed were a series of moderately successful albums, the gray race (1996), no substance (1998), and the new america (2000). As their popularity waned, Bad Religion left Atlantic in 2001 and returned to Epitaph. Bobby Schayer left the band following a serious shoulder injury and was replaced by Brooks Wackerman (Suicidal Tendencies) and Brett Gurewitz rejoined the band in time to record the process of belief (2002). the empire strikes first was in June 2004. Both albums are widely regarded as a return to form for the band.
In 2004, the band released digitally-remastered versions of five of their early albums (How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain, and Generator). The How Could Hell Be Any Worse? re-issue also contained all of their first EP, the Public Service EP (alternative versions of Bad Religion, Slaves and Drastic Actions from the self titled EP) and Back To The Known.
Bad Religion's fourtheenth full-length studio album, titled new maps of hell, was released on July 10, 2007. It debuted at #35 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week. It was originally intended to be released in 2006, but was pushed back largely due to the release of Graffin's second solo album, cold as the clay and his work at UCLA.
In 2010, Bad Religion released 30 Years Live for the band's 30th anniversary. The album was available for free to subscribers of the Bad Religion mailing list. Later the same year, Bad Religion released their fifteenth studio album, The Dissent of Man. The album took nearly two years to write and record, mainly due to the band's heavy touring schedule.
Brett Gurewitz, who still heads Epitaph Records, still records with the band and plays local shows, but doesn't tour with them. Greg Hetson can still be found at the occasional Circle Jerks show and helped open a bar in LA. Wackerman is working on a side project called The Kidneys. Graffin spends 10 weeks a year teaching two classes (Life Sciences 1 and Earth and Space Sciences 116) at UCLA. Jay Bentley keeps the Bad Religion MySpace page updated.
Faith In God
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all right to have faith in God
But when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
That's when I start to have pity on you
You're living on a mound of dirt
But you can't explain your reason for existence
So you blame it on God
So much hatred in this world and you can't decide
Who's pulling the strings
So you figure it's God
Your whole life foreshadows death
And you finally realize you don't want to die alone
So you'll always have God
[Chorus: x2]
There's people in the world today
Who say they're Jewish, Christian, and such
They're all ignorant fools
They'll tell you you can't have your own way
Unless you pay money and dedicate your life
Or you'll be damned in Hell
Don't be feeble like all of them
You have your own brain full of thoughts and choices
So use it; don't let them use you
[Chorus]
The song "Faith in God" by Bad Religion is a powerful critique of organized religion and the manipulation that often comes with it. The chorus declares that having faith in God is acceptable, but when people blindly follow the rules and lies of organized religion, it becomes pitiful. The song suggests that people use religion to justify their existence and their fear of death. The lyrics state that people blame God for their existence but do not know the real reason. Moreover, the song says that people realize the inevitability of death and do not want to die alone, so they keep God by their side.
The song also criticizes the idea that religious institutions use fear to control people. The second verse talks about how people believe that only by dedicating their lives and paying money to religious institutions, can they have their way, and if they did not, they would go to hell. Bad Religion highlights that such ideas are nothing but lies and that people should use their brains and make choices for themselves.
In summary, this song stands as a critique of organized religion and encourages people to stop blindly following religious institutions and start living life according to their own thoughts and choices.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all right to have faith in God
Having faith in God is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged.
But when you bend to their rules and their fucking lies
However, when you start blindly following the rules and lies of religious institutions, that's where the problem lies.
That's when I start to have pity on you
It's sad to see someone fall victim to the manipulation and control tactics of organized religion.
You're living on a mound of dirt
Your existence is temporary and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
But you can't explain your reason for existence
Despite this, you still struggle to find meaning and purpose in your life.
So you blame it on God
And instead of taking responsibility for your own life, you attribute your existence to a higher power.
So much hatred in this world and you can't decide
With so much negativity and conflict in the world, it's hard to discern who or what is to blame.
Who's pulling the strings
People may look to a higher power, such as God, as the one responsible for controlling the world.
So you figure it's God
And in turn, they may rely more heavily on their faith and belief in God to provide comfort and answers.
Your whole life foreshadows death
Death is an inevitable part of life that everyone must come to terms with eventually.
And you finally realize you don't want to die alone
Realizing this, many people may turn to religion as a source of hope and companionship in the face of death.
So you'll always have God
Having faith in God can provide a sense of security and comfort in the unknowns of life and death.
There's people in the world today
There are still many people who cling to their religious beliefs despite the flaws and inconsistencies within organized religion.
Who say they're Jewish, Christian, and such
These people may identify as part of a certain religion, but that doesn't necessarily mean they agree with all of the teachings and practices of that religion.
They're all ignorant fools
However, some may argue that blindly following a religion without questioning its teachings and practices is foolish and ignorant.
They'll tell you you can't have your own way
Organized religion may stifle personal autonomy and freedom through strict rules and regulations.
Unless you pay money and dedicate your life
In many cases, religion may require a significant amount of time, money, and resources to fully participate in and reap the supposed benefits of the faith.
Or you'll be damned in Hell
And those who do not conform to these rules may be punished with eternal damnation in the afterlife.
Don't be feeble like all of them
However, it's important to question these teachings and make informed decisions based on personal beliefs and values, rather than blindly following the masses.
You have your own brain full of thoughts and choices
Everyone has the ability to form their own opinions and make their own choices based on their unique experiences and perspectives.
So use it; don't let them use you
Therefore, it's important to use your own critical thinking skills and not allow yourself to be manipulated or controlled by religious institutions.
[Chorus]
The chorus is a repeated reminder that having faith in God can be good, but blindly following religious institutions can be detrimental to personal growth and self-discovery.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
drjitters
What a great, epic record
mahir aka lucas ahammed
A Song for Pigs