The New York Daily News has referred to Bob Dylan as a "devout Christian" in a report on the new video for "Must Be Santa." The article also implies that Dylan gave an interview with the Daily Mirror two months ago, when the quote was actually part of a press release.
Robert Allen Zimmerman was born and raised Jewish. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, well after changing his name to Bob Dylan, he released the Christian-themed albums Slow Train Coming and Saved. Even after returning to Judaism, he continued to perform material such as "I Am The Man, Thomas" , "Gotta Serve Somebody", and "In The Garden." On his just-completed fall tour, Dylan performed an updated version of his 1979 song, "Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking," at ten of the 33 shows. However, Dylan recorded "Neighborhood Bully" in 1983, which is most often interpreted as expressing a strong identification with Jewish nationalism embodied in the state of Israel. Jewish references are sprinkled throughout his most recent work, including "Tryin' To Get To Heaven" , which alludes to Yom Kippur's "Book of Life" , and "Ain't Talkin'," which refers to the Golden Rule.
Bob Dylan rarely comments on his personal life, but one can conclude that while he may still connect with Christianity in some way, to refer to him as "a devout Christian" is not accurate.
Seth Rogovoy, my friend, colleague, and author of Bob Dylan: Prophet, Mystic, Poet (Scribner), comments:
"While I don't claim to have any knowledge of Bob Dylan's religious self-identification, I do wonder how the writer comes about describing Dylan as a 'devout Christian' -- a characterization of Dylan which, frankly, I haven't come across in thirty years.
"About the only thing we do know about Bob Dylan's personal religious practices is that every year during the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, he attends services at an Orthodox Jewish synagogue wherever he finds himself -- typically a Chabad House run by a rabbi from the Lubavitcher Hasidic sect, Chabad being, according to Dylan, his 'favorite organization.'
"And while his songs are open to multiple interpretations, I find Dylan's 'devotion' expressed loud and clear, in his earliest songs through his most recent, toward the Jewish faith of his family and ancestors, as I delineate in some detail in my new book."
(Scribner)
Rogovoy's book will be in stores November 24.
Thanks to Mark Scalise at RMD.
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Comments
Who knows. However, Mr. Dylan's explicitly Christian songs and his clearly Jewish sympathies, including his participation in Jewish holidays, is more consistent with being a devout "Messianic Jew". Whether he is one, or whether he is simply syncretistical about his religious views, is hard to say. Based on the information at hand, though, the former is at least as probable as the latter.
As I know it, Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan, was born and raised Jewish but looked towards Christianity back in the days. It's a rare Jew though that goes from Judaism to Christianity or to Catholicism....
though I have read there are jewish people going towards Islam -
scary thought actually....
Once a Jew, always a Jew.
Jesus managed to be both Jew and Christian, didn't he ? If the Messiah Himself pointed His fellow Jews to Moses and the prophets as the guides to salvation, it is clear that there is no contradiction. Dylan himself has said as much.
Elvis Presley performed gospel songs and nobody questioned his faith. I think Dylan is quite sincere when he sings gospel; he believes every word.
Look; the thing that few people realize is that Dylan's conversion in the 79-80 period was a musical trip. His next wife was right into Black revival type music which his main motive. Dylan's real religion is vernacular American music. Gospel music is a big part of US folk music. The Christmas album is like his radio show content. Notably he mentions Jesus on it sporadically and Santa pervasively. Its all about Santa rather than Christ. At his peak (1965-6) and on Blood on the Tracks out takes of Idiot Wind(1974), Dylan was really into the I Ching. Does this make him a Taoist? Christianity especially Black revival music is a major part of American folk music. You expect Dylan to ignore it? His religion is folk/blues music. Mississippi John Hurt mentions Jesus all the time but we think of him as a blues man primarily rather than classifying him as a Christian. Dylan deserves the same license.
I'm sorry, but this sounds more like a plug for Rogovoy's book than an article with real content. What a disappointment, as the Examiner continues to seek authority, to see something like this on its pages.
As for Dylan, one hears what one hears; "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
Dylan sings of Jesus Christ. Many Jewish people are discovering who Jesus Christ is and they see He was promised to them.Some accepted Him and others did not, just like today.
Oh Little town of Bethlehem as Dylan sings, was the birth of OUR Savior. Many devout Jews are following the natural law, written on their heart and are very close to Jesus Christ.
Abraham was asked to sacrifice Issac... Our Father saw His own Son die for all mankind.
We all have to change our way of thinking. In America we kill about 3000 every day in abortion clinics. 50,000,000 worldwide EVERy year. 1 BILLION every 20 years. When we gonna wake up, We have liberal Jewish AND Christian leaders promoting ABORTION.
Here is something Jewish and Christian believers in God can agree on."Arch Angel Michael, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we pray and may God cast into hell satan and all evil spirits that prowl the world seeking the ruin of so
i'm just a song and dance man. tambourine man -
- jokerman - dance to the nightingale tune.
'i've got nothing to say
especially bout whatever was'
we're goin all the way
- til the wheels fall off and burn
till the sun peels the paint
and the seatcovers fade..
and the water mocassins die
hang on to me baby
Once again, whenever reports of Dylan's devotion to Christianity in any way,shape, or form,many Jews come out and discredit the possibility.
It's a joke, but it's a symptom of a much larger hatred and disrespect for Christianity by mostly secular Jewish media types-like Larry Davis and Jerry Seinfeld.
Additionally, recently Larry David with Seinfeld present, did a skit where an icon of Jesus was pizt on mistakenly by David. However this was portrayed,any major world religion would call this sacrilege. I'd like to see the reaction if some comic pizt on the Star of David, or the Israeli flag. I'm sure it would be considered mere comedy, or "satire." Yeah, RIGHT.
"Jesus is coming...coming back to gather his jewels."
Will Mr. Lapidus also correct the stage announcer who has introduced Bob Dylan as one "who emerged to find Jesus" at every concert since 2002.
As a supposed Dylan expert, it's disappointing to see Rogovoy's narrow comments abandon objectivity, credibility and common sense in the making of an otherwise valid point. But hey, the guy needs to sell a few books and if he has to hit pay dirt by putting blinders on his readers eyes with half a truth and creating a controversy so be it. The only losers here are those who take Rogovoy as an authority on the subject as opposed to one who only hears what he wants to hear.
Whatever your persuasion, Dylan is a gift from God, a true prophet for the Modern Times!!!
I'm constantly surprised by the number of people who seem to want to deny what is as plain as the light of day - Dylan is still a Christian. Why on earth do you think he would continue to play songs from his most overtly Christian period in his live shows? Is anyone suggesting that Dylan, one of the major artists of the last 50 years, is a hypocrite and lacking in integrity? Where things may get confusing for some is that he clearly continues tio identify himself as Jewish at the same time. Why is this a problem? Christianity was originally a Jewish faith. Jesus was a Jew. It is clearly possible to be both. Many may not agree with this analysis but it makes perfect sense to me.
On his most recent tour, Dylan opened a number of shows with the song 'Gonna Change My Way of Thinking', where he has added some new words - among them are these: 'Jesus is coming, coming to gather his jewels!' You want more proof of Dylan's Christian beliefs?
Thank you Singing Bear.
Those are my thoughts exactly!
You summed it up beautifully.
Forever In Him,
BBlume
"While I don't claim to have any knowledge of Bob Dylan's religious self-identification, I do wonder how the writer comes about describing Dylan as a 'devout Christian'"
So if you don't have ANY knowledge, why are you the expert to correct someone who says something that you don't agree with?
i can think of a fairly famous jew who was also a christian, in fact he was the first (and best) christian!
Maybe because the turd who wrote the article is the intellectual heir of the turd from Time Magazine who interviews him in "Don't Look Back"
And let's not forget that Dylan has constantly said when asked questions like this.... "It is all in the songs".
There you have it form the man himself. If he continues to perform Christian songs, and not just the famous blues spirituals, but his very own songs and words about Jesus....
What more proof do you need ??
I tend to believe that Bob is a Messianic Jew.... and a born again one at that.
Wow! And Dylan just recently released a Christmas in the Heart album which contains, by the way, the First Noel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Little Town of Bethlehem, among others. Also refer to his "Bible" theme from his Theme Time Radio Hour, in addition to other Christian songs throughout his three-year series. I'm sorry Mr. Lepidus, but I'm afraid that the evidence is sorely out of your favor. Dylan is surely going to find his shared rewards with both Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash (also devout Christians).
Bob Dylan continues to sing "I believe in you" in concert regularly. I think his faith is quite clear.
Pardon my French, but are you people ******g nuts??? Where in the Daily News article does it say ANYTHING about Dylan being a "devout Christian?"
Of course he still sings "Gotta Serve Somebody," (though not as often as you think), as well as other songs from his Christian period, b/c (a) he wrote the freakin' songs, and (b) why shouldn't he (continue to sing them?) THEY'RE HIS FREAKING SONGS! HE DOESN'T STILL HAVE TO BE A CHRISTIAN TO SING A SONG ABOUT CHRIST, THAT HE WROTE, DOES HE??? LAST TIME I CHECKED, LEONARD COHEN STILL SINGS "SUZANNE" AND OTHER SONGS IN WHICH HE NAMECHECKS J.C., BUT, LAST TIME I CHECKED, HE'S A TRIBESMAN, I.E., JEWISH! C-O-H-E-N, GET IT?
And, when the **** was the big guy (J.C.) "both a Jew and a Christian." Christianity, unless I'm wrong, describes the followers of Jesus who slowly built a liturgy around the art his teachings, decades after his death!
Jesus H. Christ!
He can sing all the Christian songs he wants. It's that Eye of Horis thing hanging in the back drop of his live shows that echos something. What it is I have no idea. Maybe he's paying homage to the Illuminati just so they don't take him out.
To Jason Barton -
The original article has just been edited. Here's the original quote:
"It's sort of unclear if Dylan - a devout Christian - was aiming to celebrate the holiday, or gently poke fun at the music's Norman Rockwell-esque simplicity."
The phrase "a devout Christian" has been changed to "who recorded a trilogy of Christianity-themed albums between 1979 and 1981".
Was it something I said?
Thanks for your comments.
Harold Lepidus, Bob Dylan Examiner
Jason, you need to look at Jesus to understand Christianity - not vice versa. Maybe when you understand the Jewish Christ, embedded in the context of Torah, the Prophets and Jewish tradition, you will also understand what Dylan meant when he said, "I see no difference between them."(Faith in the Messiah and being a Jew)
PS
Your asterisks bespeak moral integrity. I appreciate your self-control : it allows dialogue.
Thanks, Wiley, for reminding me of the stage announcement, "who merged to find Jesus," which is of course, written by Dylan himself.
I, for one, don't care what Dylan is or isn't (whatever IT is, is in the music or it's nowhere).
It's a sign of weakness--of a sense of inadequacy--that people from either side are so desperate to claim him as their own. Have some faith in your own beliefs, people.
To Tas and Wiley -
Bob Dylan did not write that introduction. It was taken from a Dylan concert review by Jeff Mieres in "The Buffalo News". It appeared in print on August 9, 2002. Dylan's road manager, Al Santos, started using it at the stage introduction on August 15, 2002.
As with anything that Bob Dylan does, there is more than one interpretation as to why he uses this as his introduction.
You may want to read this: http: // bit.ly/ 6Fi490 (remove the spaces)
Thanks for your comments,
Harold Lepidus, Bob Dylan Examiner
TAS - I respect you for not caring what Dylan is or is not but I dispute that it's any sign of weakness to think he may be one thing or another. It's just a matter of looking at the facts and coming to a conclusion. Personally, I don't want to 'claim' him for any side (I don't think I even have a side); I just think that's a pretty clear where he stands and it seems silly to deny it. Why people want to deny it is a whole other question.
11/23/2009
SNS – Exclusive Bob Dylan Interview
Bill Flanagan: You really give a heroic performance of O’ LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM The way you do it reminds me a little of an Irish rebel song. There’s something almost defiant in the way you sing, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I don’t want to put you on the spot, but you sure deliver that song like a true believer.
Bob Dylan: Well, I am a true believer.
Dylan sings songs that would make any lay preacher proud, like I am the man, Thomas and pass me not, o gentle Savior. But he apparently does not believe in their message. Or does he?
Messianic Judaism lives! Thank to Y'shuah.
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