Talk:Dear God (XTC song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Songs, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to songs on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion. |
| Stub | This article has been rated as Stub-Class on the assessment scale. |
 |
This article has been automatically assessed as Stub-Class by WikiProject Songs because it uses a stub template.
|
[edit] Andy's comment
On Songmeanings [1], someone posted the following remarks attributed to Andy:
"it [Dear God] failed in part, because it wasn't as caustic as I would've liked it to be. It should've been a nail in throat of the public, but instead some took it as a declaration of faith when I wanted to make it clear that I don't believe in God - and that even if there is a He or a She they have nothing to do with organized religion."
I would like to include this quote in the article, if possible. The problem is that I can't find any reliable citation for it. Searching the words on Google, I came to an even smaller version of the same quote, equally uncited, at an atheist website [2].
Anyone who can find the original source for this quote would be much appreciated, but I'm not putting it in the article until then. marbeh raglaim 12:36, 23 April 2007 (UTC)
[edit] atheism v anti-theism
Anti-theism and atheism are two separate concepts, anti-theism means one believes that religion in all it's forms are wrong and should be forcibly cast off. Atheism means that a particular person doesn't believe in god(s). This song is very specific in that it says, "I can't believe in you." It would have to say something like, "No one should ever believe in you," although it would be more clear if it said, "No one should believe in religion" (or something to that effect). Please don't re-add anti-theism without responding either here or on my talk page, thanks. Naufana : talk 02:57, 20 September 2007 (UTC)
First of all, anti-theism is not opposition to "religion" per se. There are non-theistic religions (like Buddhism), and there are theists who aren't part of any religion. Anti-theists would oppose the latter, but not necessarily the former.
Anti-theism is the view that belief in God is not just false, but undesirable. (It can be contrasted with the views of atheists who think that belief in God has positive consequences, even if based on falsehood.) "Dear God" has anti-theistic overtones, even if it focuses mostly on the narrator's personal unwillingness to believe. For instance, look at the following line: "See them fighting in the street, 'cause they can't make opinions meet about God." marbeh raglaim 13:11, 21 September 2007 (UTC)
Antitheism has come to have at least two meanings: a negative opinion of any sort of belief in God, and a negative opinion of God himself/itself. Rhe former meaning is more common. There is a notion of dystheism (sometimes called Maltheism), which comes closer to the second meaning of antitheism, asserting that God exists and is evil. This song wavers between atheism and Maltheism (as many other atheistic polemics do) suggesting the idea that "if this God exists he is evil." Partridge sings about the wars God brings and the babes he drowns; this is an accusation hurled at an actual God he hopes is listening. At the same time he asks if he made mankind after we made him, suggesting God's non-existence. (So who is he talking to/accusing?) Since antitheism's meaning is ambiguous, dystheism and perhaps Maltheism is a clearer referent. Craig zimmerman 20:34, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:XTC - Dear God.jpg
Image:XTC - Dear God.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.
Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.
If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.
BetacommandBot (talk) 05:41, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
