Post by Josh on Apr 27, 2009 20:00:50 GMT -8
A friend on facebook recently asked:
Hey, I noticed that you are a Bob Dylan fan. What are your thoughts on his conversion to Christianity in the early 80s? I know that he was very outspoken about it at the time and even participated on a Keith Green album, but have you followed that aspect of his life since?
And since I'm secretly trying to lure him over here, I thought I'd write an answer a bit long for facebook
I don't think he even knows how long I could go on on this one if given the time 
So, here's my answer:
Well, when I really got into Dylan for the first time several years ago, I read all I could find on that period of his life, and have purchased several of his albums since the Slow Train/ Saved/ Shot of Love period. Even just listening to the albums sequentially you can see a progression in his thought and attitudes about faith. The most interesting album is the one right after Shot of Love, which is called Infidels. It’s definitely a crossroads album, but has some of his best spiritually themed songs ever. The song Jokerman is probably the closest Dylan comes to explaining what happened himself. The song What Was It You Wanted? is astounding- so is the song I and I.
My understanding is that he regretted burning some bridges during his “on-fire, just saved” period, also got a little disenchanted with the brand of Christianity he had gotten plugged into (the Jesus movement was great, don’t get me wrong, but not exactly the most stable of movements), had a romantic relationship turn sour (think of all of the hope in songs like Precious Angel/ Covenant Woman, and then imagine all that not working out), fell back into some of his old addictions, and just kind of became jaded. Don't know how accurate all that is, but that's my impression.
But there's a thread of faith evident through almost every album since (some more so than others). I think it's still there. He's even made some comments here and there alluding to his faith, but it seems very swirled up in a lot of heartache and wandering and disillusionment.
Hey, I noticed that you are a Bob Dylan fan. What are your thoughts on his conversion to Christianity in the early 80s? I know that he was very outspoken about it at the time and even participated on a Keith Green album, but have you followed that aspect of his life since?
And since I'm secretly trying to lure him over here, I thought I'd write an answer a bit long for facebook
I don't think he even knows how long I could go on on this one if given the time 
So, here's my answer:
Well, when I really got into Dylan for the first time several years ago, I read all I could find on that period of his life, and have purchased several of his albums since the Slow Train/ Saved/ Shot of Love period. Even just listening to the albums sequentially you can see a progression in his thought and attitudes about faith. The most interesting album is the one right after Shot of Love, which is called Infidels. It’s definitely a crossroads album, but has some of his best spiritually themed songs ever. The song Jokerman is probably the closest Dylan comes to explaining what happened himself. The song What Was It You Wanted? is astounding- so is the song I and I.
My understanding is that he regretted burning some bridges during his “on-fire, just saved” period, also got a little disenchanted with the brand of Christianity he had gotten plugged into (the Jesus movement was great, don’t get me wrong, but not exactly the most stable of movements), had a romantic relationship turn sour (think of all of the hope in songs like Precious Angel/ Covenant Woman, and then imagine all that not working out), fell back into some of his old addictions, and just kind of became jaded. Don't know how accurate all that is, but that's my impression.
But there's a thread of faith evident through almost every album since (some more so than others). I think it's still there. He's even made some comments here and there alluding to his faith, but it seems very swirled up in a lot of heartache and wandering and disillusionment.
