anonymous December 21st, 2006 03:46PM  

to add a little to that, don't forget, Maynard isn't the only one in the band. they work as a team and take credit as a team, and I am sure they share a lot of the same views. just because Maynard is singing doesn't mean everything is about him. The members of Tool don't need to believe in christ to believe in god. I have heard (from a person who is a member of the golden dawn) that the members of the band are members of the OTO (ordo templi orientis). It's an order which is centered around the teachings of thelema (kind of like a mix of hermeticism, kabbalah, and various eastern mystery systems--the main goal of which is to enlighten the self and transcend and become in touch with the universe around you). The order is also related to the gnostics and celebrate the gnostic mass. before hearing that, I had been pretty sure after Lateralus came out that they were in the golden dawn due to the extremely hermetic nature of that album. both of these orders believe in a concept of a 'great divine', i.e. god.

anonymous March 10th, 2008 06:06AM  

I think this is just a poke at people who used to think metal/rock bands embedded satanic messages into their music (i.e. Stairway to heaven) so that when you spun the record backwards you could hear it. And taking that, the last thing you would expect to hear would be that jesus loves you.

anonymous March 28th, 2008 01:26PM  

In regards to Maynard coming to Christianity, you might also want to note the prank they played concerning release dates before when they claimed they wouldn't be recording anymore as Maynard had found Christ. Then the album dropped. Don't get fooled to easily, at the same time- maybe it has something to do with his mother's battle with cancer for 10,000 days. (shrug)

anonymous August 18th, 2008 10:52PM  

It's definitely sarcasm, Maynard and Adam and all the guys think that people should think for themselves not just listen to their parents views and follow the same old religion come one. And in Judith by APC Maynard says FUCK YOUR GOD so I'm pretty sure he's not Christian now.

anonymous August 23rd, 2008 09:28PM  

I agree completely with the comment below. I don't believe in christ, and I adore tool like my blood, but I would say that Maynard seems to be going a little religious. And that's not to say that he has succumbed to organized religion, he has just come to the realization that maybe christ does exist and built on that. as for the reverse message? I think he was extraordinarily hurt by his mothers death especially since he had disagreed with what she believed in most his whole life. listen to judith (a perfect circle) and then listen to wings pt 2. maybe the reverse message is trying to tell people to be good to their parents, and avoid the pain he is in now.




"In my opinion he is not being sarcastic about this hidden message, if you look at all of the lyrics from 10000 days, I think Maynard is changing his views on christ, "give me my wings" -10000 days "repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven conscious of their fleeing time here." - right in two. "tempted the devil with my song, and got what I wanted all along, but i, i.. Would wish it all away." -jambi. I don't know guys, I'm not saying Maynard is a christian now, but what I am saying, Tool's lyrics never came to me as anti-christ as most of you would say, it always felt like Maynard was angry at christ, but he did believe there is a christ."

Tooligan September 15th, 2008 12:44PM  

I too thought Maynard (or whatever entity was/were producing the lyrics) couldn't be Christian, or theistic even, but if you look at the lyrics in wings for marie, or right in two... It is very Christian based. Talking about maynards mom saving him through her devout faith bringing to her divinity, and in right in two he mentions the angels on the sidelines, father blessed them all with free will... Think again about where his faith lies, and don't discount the fact that he may consider Christ, the bible itself, and the teachings as a metaphor for a greater concept. (some people do anyway.)

anonymous December 24th, 2008 11:58AM  

"It's definitely sarcasm, Maynard and Adam and all the guys think that people should think for themselves not just listen to their parents views and follow the same old religion come one. And in Judith by APC Maynard says FUCK YOUR GOD so I'm pretty sure he's not Christian now."

Judith was written in like 2000. 10,000 days came out in 2006. 6 years and a mother passing can do a lot to change people's views on life and spirituality.

46and2aheadofme August 10th, 2009 01:00AM  

I think 10,000 days was more of a tribute to his mother and her faith more than it is a tribute to Christianity. Sure he uses a lot of metaphors from the bible, but that doesn't mean he is now Christian or theistic for that matter. If you look deeper into the album he still uses things contrary to the bible and its teachings. For example referring to humans as monkeys in Right In Two, "we all feed on tragedy, its like blood to a vampire" in Vicarious, "the burden of proof {is} tossed upon the believer" in Wings for Marie Pt. 2, and the drug connotations present in the album go against religious teaching. In addition, the band used metaphors from the bible since Aenema. In the song "H" he refers to a snake "looking to turn my piss to wine". I don't think anyone would argue that they were a religious or Christian Band back then. They are obviously interested in religion, and therefore use material from it to get certain points and feelings a crossed. As to whether Intension backwards is sarcastic or not, I wouldn't know because I have never heard it played backwards and therefore have no frame of reference by how it sounds.