As many will be well aware, this past weekend saw a cultural flashpoint erupt in the US when the Supreme Court made a landmark decision to legalise same-sex marriage. Many in the music world reacted with joy, with even Aussie stars like Courtney Barnett tweeting their jubilation.
However, Tool and Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan was far more pensive, apparently disturbed by the reaction of those on the religious right, many of whom condemned the SCOTUS decision, taking their criticisms to social media, churches, and religious television programs.
This prompted Keenan to write a funny yet insightful and poignant Facebook post in which he calls out “religious zealots”, saying they “fucking blew” what he views as a test handed down from God to recognise “pure love [and] light”.
“Where to begin? Maybe I’m missing some insider info. Maybe the religious zealots are in fact as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent as their one true God. Maybe they have a working knowledge or understanding of his plan,” the singer opens.
“Or maybe circumstances have changed. Just like when it was supposedly necessary to write a Bible V2 aka The New Testament. Maybe we are in fact coming closer to a Revelation, a Rapture, or a Home Coming of sorts. Maybe there is a divine plan that no one could possibly comprehend.”
“Maybe this one God of pure light of which they speak put forth a test. And the test was to recognize pure LOVE. I’ll say it again in case you were speed reading. Maybe the entry level test was to recognize pure LOVE aka LIGHT, Infinite and without Judgement. And they all fucking blew it.”
Before congratulating “love” for “winning over antiquated archaic judgement”, Keenan makes reference to Texas pastor Rick Scarborough, who reportedly threatened to set himself on fire to protest the Supreme Court’s decision, claims the pastor later denied.
Readers can check out Keenan’s full missive, in all of its loving glory, below. Now if he could just finish that new Tool album…
Maynard James Keenan’s Open Letter
Where to begin? Maybe I’m missing some insider info. Maybe the religious zealots are in fact as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent as their one true God. Maybe they have a working knowledge or understanding of his plan. And therefore our celebration of this glorious day will be met with eternal damnation, fire and brimstone, blah blah blah.
Or maybe circumstances have changed. Just like when it was supposedly necessary to write a Bible V2 aka The New Testament. Maybe we are in fact coming closer to a Revelation, a Rapture, or a Home Coming of sorts. Maybe there is a divine plan that no one could possibly comprehend. And the religious zealots are in fact NOT omniscient, omnipotent or omnipresent. Maybe this one God of pure light of which they speak put forth a test. And the test was to recognize pure LOVE. I’ll say it again in case you were speed reading. Maybe the entry level test was to recognize pure LOVE aka LIGHT, Infinite and without Judgement. And they all fucking blew it. (PLEASE PLEASE follow through with your threats to set yourselves on fire. Soooo many problems solved.)
Or maybe I’m wrong and we’ll all be smoking turds in hell.
Doubtful.
Congratulations to LOVE winning over antiquated archaic judgement.
M J Keenan
World Class Multi Tasker,
Curmudgeon, Musician, Winemaker.
