To Whom it May Concern...

[Memorex]

Not sure why, but the concept of this song really bugs me.

If you are praying to your God, I assume he would be pretty offended that you are sending it up with a shout out to several Gods/Deities. I think there is a difference between respecting people's right to believe what they want and your own belief. If one is to believe in a particular God, then all others must be false. Believing in more than one is to believe in none.

So for me, that is one unanswered prayer, to say the least. In a songwriters effort to be crafty and have a crafty little thought and title, they miss the mark completely by guarantying that the prayer is ultimately thoughtless.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

[Gideon]

I think the song is written from the perspective of a spiritual man, not one of a particular faith. Thus the line "To Whom It May Concern" indicates that the prayer is meant for whichever 'deity' cares enough to listen.

[Don]

Songs like this usually get loved or hated. This is Eclipse's 'Colors Of The Spirit' for sure. Sorry to say but I've already kicked it to the curb as in, removed it from my playlist. Not for any reasons concerning deities or what not, it's just a plodder is all.

[Gideon]

Songs like this usually get loved or hated. This is Eclipse's 'Colors Of The Spirit' for sure. Sorry to say but I've already kicked it to the curb as in, removed it from my playlist. Not for any reasons concerning deities or what not, it's just a plodder is all.

Heathen.

[Jana]

I think the song is written from the perspective of a spiritual man, not one of a particular faith. Thus the line "To Whom It May Concern" indicates that the prayer is meant for whichever 'deity' cares enough to listen.

Arnel has said before he considers himself spiritual, but not religious, belonging to a particular faith or attending church services

[Memorex]

I think the song is written from the perspective of a spiritual man, not one of a particular faith. Thus the line "To Whom It May Concern" indicates that the prayer is meant for whichever 'deity' cares enough to listen.

To me, that sounds like a person who is unclear what to believe and I don't know many religions that reward that lack of dedication. Anyway, i think a lot of people have written great spiritual songs that do not mention the specific religion or God. So you allow the person to fill in the blanks without specifically calling out your unsure belief.

As far as the song itself, it's decent enough, but the lyrics bug me.

[Don]

Songs like this usually get loved or hated. This is Eclipse's 'Colors Of The Spirit' for sure. Sorry to say but I've already kicked it to the curb as in, removed it from my playlist. Not for any reasons concerning deities or what not, it's just a plodder is all.

Heathen.

When I want to ponder the infinite, it's got to be either Vangelis or Pink Floyd. Philosophising with Journey is definitely not going to be part of my spiritual itinerary.

[Don]

Between this song and Tantra, I'm thinking Steve Perry did it better with "I Stand Alone".

[Saint John]

To me, that sounds like a person who is unclear what to believe

And that's ok. Anyone that thinks their beliefs are fact and grounded in reason needs their head examined! Religion is speculation and in the thousands of years of recorded human history, there has not been one factual account of God appearing, speaking or otherwise communicating. Not one. And you figure in the day and age of smartphones and youtube, someone could snap or pic or record his voice!

and I don't know many religions that reward that lack of dedication.

Well, let's first decide if that's such a bad thing! Muslims get rewarded with homicide vests and suicide plane missions, and Catholics get raped as children. I think I'll pass on the "rewards!"

Anyway, i think a lot of people have written great spiritual songs that do not mention the specific religion or God.

Good/fair point. But the writers had something to say and they said it. But I also completely understand that religion and politics will always be lightning rods.

So you allow the person to fill in the blanks without specifically calling out your unsure belief.

ALL religious beliefs are "unsure." Every person of every faith. The fact that the writer(s) had the humility to concede as much and title the song "To Whom It May Concern" is refreshing and admirable.

[portland]

Between this song and Tantra, I'm thinking Steve Perry did it better with "I Stand Alone".

Really? Never thought of that.

[brywool]

Not sure why, but the concept of this song really bugs me.

If you are praying to your God, I assume he would be pretty offended that you are sending it up with a shout out to several Gods/Deities. I think there is a difference between respecting people's right to believe what they want and your own belief. If one is to believe in a particular God, then all others must be false. Believing in more than one is to believe in none.

So for me, that is one unanswered prayer, to say the least. In a songwriters effort to be crafty and have a crafty little thought and title, they miss the mark completely by guarantying that the prayer is ultimately thoughtless.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.
"Old beliefs let us down...
... many roads lead to Heaven"

[Memorex]

To say all religions are unsure may be a factual statement, but anyone who is not absolutely 100% sure of THEIR religion isn't going to get very far. No true Christian doubts their belief, nor can believe that any other religion is correct. The whole point of believing is to believe. So no, people who have faith in their religion are to be admired for their faith, not have their head examined. I admire someone for believing strongly in something rather than those who can't decide.

You do not have to believe that the person is right, but it's not wrong for someone to commit to their beliefs.

While the rewards you mention do happen, and far more often than one would like, certainly it does not speak for the majority.

All that said, if someone came up to you and said I need to ask God, or Buddha, or Allah, or whoever for a favor, I think the last thing you'd think is they are spiritual or have any clue what they believe.

In fact, as I wrote it like that, I think it may actually be kind of offensive.

[Memorex]

Not sure why, but the concept of this song really bugs me.

If you are praying to your God, I assume he would be pretty offended that you are sending it up with a shout out to several Gods/Deities. I think there is a difference between respecting people's right to believe what they want and your own belief. If one is to believe in a particular God, then all others must be false. Believing in more than one is to believe in none.

So for me, that is one unanswered prayer, to say the least. In a songwriters effort to be crafty and have a crafty little thought and title, they miss the mark completely by guarantying that the prayer is ultimately thoughtless.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.

Really? Can you name me one God that would not be offended by someone asking something of him while also directing it to other Gods. And remember, all other Gods would be false Gods if there was in fact a God listening.

I'm not writing this from a perspective of who's religion is right - only from the perspective that if there is in fact a God, there is likely one God and all others must be false. So yes, I think God would be offended if you sent a prayer to him and Allah and same other way around.

[brywool]

Not sure why, but the concept of this song really bugs me.

If you are praying to your God, I assume he would be pretty offended that you are sending it up with a shout out to several Gods/Deities. I think there is a difference between respecting people's right to believe what they want and your own belief. If one is to believe in a particular God, then all others must be false. Believing in more than one is to believe in none.

So for me, that is one unanswered prayer, to say the least. In a songwriters effort to be crafty and have a crafty little thought and title, they miss the mark completely by guarantying that the prayer is ultimately thoughtless.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.

Really? Can you name me one God that would not be offended by someone asking something of him while also directing it to other Gods. And remember, all other Gods would be false Gods if there was in fact a God listening.

I'm not writing this from a perspective of who's religion is right - only from the perspective that if there is in fact a God, there is likely one God and all others must be false. So yes, I think God would be offended if you sent a prayer to him and Allah and same other way around.

If a God is offended (pride) how great can he be? Do you really think that God, if he's so loving and caring, is going to be jealous like some kind of ex girlfriend?
I think the God is jealous thing is more a product of religion than God. They are different.

Worship God, not the dogma.

Part of what's wrong with the world is the "my religion can beat up your religion" deal. Always has been a problem. That's one of things the album seems to get at - that we're one people under the same sun (or "son" if you like). More alike than different.

[Memorex]

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.
"Old beliefs let us down...
... many roads lead to Heaven"

The lyrics to Tantra make some great points. I believe the world is interesting because of the mix of people and faiths. And I think most religions are made up of decent people that contribute to society. I doubt from an Earthly perspective that one religion has more decent people than the next.

However, if there is a Heaven, I don't know of any religions that teach that there are many roads to it. If God and Heaven exist, than only one of these paths is correct. So as decent as all these people may be, a good bunch of them ain't getting there, right. Show me in religious text where it says you can believe this, or that, or something else and you'll be fine. No, it says this is the way, and the only way. Just because many religions say they have a path does not mean they all lead to Heaven. So that's just a wrong statement. The rest of the song is fine though. Many decent people of many different faiths. They all just may have a different ending.

[Don]

Journey doing God talk = Fail.
Stick to the shit you do best, J-Boyz, which would consist of the seven tracks on the album that I actually like.

[Memorex]

Not sure why, but the concept of this song really bugs me.

If you are praying to your God, I assume he would be pretty offended that you are sending it up with a shout out to several Gods/Deities. I think there is a difference between respecting people's right to believe what they want and your own belief. If one is to believe in a particular God, then all others must be false. Believing in more than one is to believe in none.

So for me, that is one unanswered prayer, to say the least. In a songwriters effort to be crafty and have a crafty little thought and title, they miss the mark completely by guarantying that the prayer is ultimately thoughtless.

Just wanted to get that off my chest.

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.

Really? Can you name me one God that would not be offended by someone asking something of him while also directing it to other Gods. And remember, all other Gods would be false Gods if there was in fact a God listening.

I'm not writing this from a perspective of who's religion is right - only from the perspective that if there is in fact a God, there is likely one God and all others must be false. So yes, I think God would be offended if you sent a prayer to him and Allah and same other way around.

If your God is offended (pride) how great can he be? Do you really think that God, if he's so loving and caring, is going to be jealous like some kind of ex girlfriend?
I think the God is jealous thing is more a product of religion than God. They are different.

Worship the God, not the dogma.

Depends. In the bible, it's pretty clear that you have a specific path to follow and that yes, God is in fact a "jealous God". If you do not accept Jesus as your savior and accept that God is the one and only God, then good luck at the gates. And this is not an exception, it's pretty much the rule of how religion works. You have to have some form of committed belief.

You can absolutely question whether that's real, but then I would say it's one religion you are not committed to. So back to my original point, the writer of this song is not committed to his religion, so why send a prayer?

[brywool]

If your God is offended, that speaks boatloads.
"Old beliefs let us down...
... many roads lead to Heaven"

The lyrics to Tantra make some great points. I believe the world is interesting because of the mix of people and faiths. And I think most religions are made up of decent people that contribute to society. I doubt from an Earthly perspective that one religion has more decent people than the next.

However, if there is a Heaven, I don't know of any religions that teach that there are many roads to it. If God and Heaven exist, than only one of these paths is correct. So as decent as all these people may be, a good bunch of them ain't getting there, right. Show me in religious text where it says you can believe this, or that, or something else and you'll be fine. No, it says this is the way, and the only way. Just because many religions say they have a path does not mean they all lead to Heaven. So that's just a wrong statement. The rest of the song is fine though. Many decent people of many different faiths. They all just may have a different ending.

You don't know of many religions that teach that because RELIGIONS are all made up by men to get people to do certain things. I doubt God really cares which path you take as long as you come to them. It's man that's made each religion some kind of exclusionary club. That's why I'm saying follow the God not the religion. I won't change your mind, you won't change mine.

Back to music!

[Majestic]

I think you may have missed the point, a little. It's not like praying to all the gods, true and false alike, and seeing which one will answer. It's more like someone who has belief in 'something' but doesn't really know what that something is. That's why it's "To whom it may concern." It's like saying "whoever you are up there, and whatever your name is, if you are listening, this is my prayer." That seems to sum up a lot of peoples' spirituality these days, who believe in "something" but don't belong to a particular faith or have any strong views about what that something might be.

[Don]

Dear Journey,

Please leave any reference to prayer or deities to Josh Groban, please.

Thanks

P.S. That would include the term 'State Of Grace' also.

P.P.S. Gowan Sucks!

[Majestic]

Journey doing God talk = Fail.
Stick to the shit you do best, J-Boyz, which would consist of the seven tracks on the album that I actually like.

Actually, I think most of this might be coming from Cain, and be sincere. I don't know what his religion is, if any, but there is definitely a consistency with a kind of Hidu universalism in some of the songs. One of Cain's solo albums is called "Namaste" so there is another connection with Hindu spirituality, albeit a weak one. I think the spirituality Journey has put forwarded on this album is tame enough to be ok. I don't want my Journey being preachy or too spiritual either, even though I am religious myself. Just as long as they aren't depressing, political, or negative, that's good enough for me. The themes here seem to be more or less tame and optomistic like always. Same ol' Journey, which is good.

[Eric]

Only sub-par track on the album.

[Behshad]

Dear Journey,

Please leave any reference to prayer or deities to Josh Groban, please.

Thanks

P.S. That would include the term 'State Of Grace' also.

P.P.S. Gowan Sucks!

Fuck Everett

There !

[FishinMagician]

To say all religions are unsure may be a factual statement, but anyone who is not absolutely 100% sure of THEIR religion isn't going to get very far. No true Christian doubts their belief, nor can believe that any other religion is correct. The whole point of believing is to believe. So no, people who have faith in their religion are to be admired for their faith, not have their head examined. I admire someone for believing strongly in something rather than those who can't decide.

You do not have to believe that the person is right, but it's not wrong for someone to commit to their beliefs.

While the rewards you mention do happen, and far more often than one would like, certainly it does not speak for the majority.

All that said, if someone came up to you and said I need to ask God, or Buddha, or Allah, or whoever for a favor, I think the last thing you'd think is they are spiritual or have any clue what they believe.

In fact, as I wrote it like that, I think it may actually be kind of offensive.

Ya, who in their right mind would doubt or think critically about something they are committing their life to?

[brywool]

Actually, I think most of this might be coming from Cain,

BURN HIM! BURN HIM!!

[Don]

Looking for Firewood, will be back momentarily.

[brywool]

Looking for Firewood, will be back momentarily.

[Don]

[Majestic]

Actually, I think most of this might be coming from Cain,

BURN HIM! BURN HIM!!

I don't get what the stink is all about. South Detroit doesn't exist, but DSB still rocks. Oh and by the way, "any way you want it, that's the way you need it" it's hardly a Christian (or Muslim, or, what have you) value either, but I've never heard anyone's religious sensibilities offended by that song before! The point is, you don't have to give up your religious views, just to hear someone else singing about a view different than yours. It's still only rock n roll, if you like it or don't.

Did anyone hear the Underwood song "Jesus take the wheel" *shudder* I'm not even Christian, but that's a great song, and my faith has not been damaged from liking it.

[brywool]

Actually, I think most of this might be coming from Cain,

BURN HIM! BURN HIM!!

I don't get what the stink is all about. South Detroit doesn't exist, but DSB still rocks. Oh and by the way, "any way you want it, that's the way you need it" it's hardly a Christian (or Muslim, or, what have you) value either, but I've never heard anyone's religious sensibilities offended by that song before! The point is, you don't have to give up your religious views, just to hear someone else singing about a view different than yours. It's still only rock n roll, if you like it or don't.

Did anyone hear the Underwood song "Jesus take the wheel" *shudder* I'm not even Christian, but that's a great song, and my faith has not been damaged from liking it.

BURN MAJESTIC! BURN MAJESTIC! BLASPHEMER!!!