Controversial Music Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk41Gbjljfo&feature=related

This song caused such controversy when was first played (http://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/15/arts/the-pop-life-380387.html?sec=arts). There were even death threats made to DJs and stations that played it, which is kind sad and says a few things about the freedom of speech and religion and the tolerance of those freedoms in this country.

I loved this song not because it denied the existence of a God but because it was a catchy tune and it seemed to be a sincere question placed by someone trying to understand if there is truly a God in a world such as ours. It also seemed to reflect the sense of impotence most of us feel when confronted with life and world events. We all question the existence or perhaps more accurately the purpose and intent of God. These are questions many of us ask, especially those who have faced and lived through extreme traumatic conditions. Most ask them in the silence of their pain and express their doubt in destructive behavior, fearful that uttering such vulnerability of faith would cause severe reactions that couldn't be taken lightly and given the reaction to this song I suspect it wouldn't be.

Faith is a good thing. Blind faith causes wars. Rather than believing or not believing in a God perhaps asking ourselves the same questions asked in this song and investigating for the answers within ourselves would force us to confront and understand the level of our responsibility for creating and maintaining the world we live in? Perhaps it would force us to see the power of our actions and acknowledge that we can and are responsible for change rather than accepting that things are as they are, beyond our control and abilities to improve and evolve them? Perhaps we would find a bit of the Creator and our neighbors in ourselves and a bit of ourselves in our neighbors and the Creator which might increase our tolerance level? Perhaps it would renew people's faith?

By the end of the song the singer seems to have concluded there is no God but I have always suspected that he continued his questioning since for most of us drawing conclusions require rounds of questions and consideration. I woncer if he eventually got his answer or if he's still asking.