is boc spiritual in your view?

[steeldancer-x]

Ok a few things before we start this:

1 Spirituality is open and flexible in this context. This thread is inviting Christians, Agnostics, Muslims, Buddhists, etc anyone of spiritual/religious background to come together and discuss connection and their perspectives on the music.

2 If you are here to debate, I encourage you to go elsewhere. This thread is intended for people WHO ARE CONSIDERED RELIGIOUS. WHO BELIEVE IN THEIR GOD. We do not need a 14 paragraph essay on why you disagree with this belief. Speculative questioning is fine as long as it stays polite and professional. If you cannot help yourself, go to ‘is boc satanic in your view?’ instead.

3 THIS THREAD IS NOT ASKING IF BOC IS RELIGIOUS. IT IS ASKING IF THEY ARE SPIRITUAL AND WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SO.

Thank you.

[PrimusSucksOnThis]

To me, the integration of religious elements, math, science, memories, etc all give me a vibe that they at least think there could be a creator or universal force which is magnitudes of power beyond our comprehension. There is definitely an element of spirituality, or at least the unexplainable and paranormal.

[GeoDose]

I think they're spiritual, and believe in some form of 'higher power,' (just a hunch), just not in organized religion.

Makes me think of Stephen King, although until someone asks the brothers directly we won't know for sure:

https://www.godreports.com/2013/06/step ... nt-design/

[steeldancer-x]

I am beginning to believe that Inferno is an encouragement to inter-faith dialogue.
We are in a “Holy War” after all

[Wildfire]

I think, like a lot of people that have experimented with hallucinogens, that they understand there is a mechanism behind the universe, which can be reduced to mathematics. I wouldn't imagine they would claim to know either way if those mathematics had a designer. But the very act of taking hallucinogens is spiritual, you are literally connecting with the universe in a way that is very difficult without them, you feel part of a cosmic consciousness that is undeniably real in the moment. I'll wager that notion of the universe being an interconnected living organism, whilst rejecting any kind of narrow minded, monotheistic dogma is what drives a lot of their music.

[Estel]

Ha, I see some folks here couldn’t resist taking shots at religious folks despite your plea, steeldancer-x.

I’d like to chime in as someone who was once agnostic, spiritual, and an occultist for many years. Later, beyond the reasoning of those around me, and especially myself, I converted to Catholicism in my 40s. I’m also someone who has loved BoC’s music since first purchasing MHRTC back in ’98 or ’99. Back then, I didn’t know much about them before buying the record, but it was Warp, and I was big into Warp Records at the time (thanks, Basscadet EP, for starting it all). However, BoC blew me away immediately more than anyone else, and have continued to do so with every release. TH still remains my favourite.

Those are just small disclaimers to state that I am religious, yet also an admirer of their music, and have pondered the question on their spiritual stance quite often. The use of Branch Davidian samples and the ‘satanic panic’ nostalgia woven throughout those early releases seems to be more of an aesthetic, interesting artistic colouring. Much like the goths of the Batcave scene in London, while not Christian, would apply Christian imagery to their artwork. Or heavy metal bands that weren’t practicing satanists using satanic imagery.

However, I would say on Inferno, to me at least, it seems spiritually…all over the place, perhaps. Or they’re searching. Or they aren’t at all. They've thrown everything into the mix and it’s hard to get a read on their spirituality. Though I think it’s safe to say they aren’t actually religious, or at least they’ve said as much in the press around the time of Geogaddi. Whether or not that has changed, I can’t say, but from my listening to this new record and form my previous days of esoteric dabbling, I can hear the nods to everything from Hinduism, Hare Krishna, general Christian biblical references, mega-church evangelists, Catholic liturgy, Thelema, and also what I assume is a nod to the Process Church cult (have an interesting side-story about that one when I met a member of Skinny Puppy once, but this post has gone on long enough) I’m sure there’s a lot more I’m missing.

It’s probably safer for them to play it that way. Likely, listeners will make their own suppositions on the subject, even if it means imposing their own beliefs on BoC’s artwork. And that’s fine. I think ultimately, spirituality, the unseen, and the supernatural are of great interest to them and it inspires their artwork, and this certianly can be so without them adhering to any specific beliefs.

And this is coming from a narrow-minded monotheist who believes in a vindictive sky-god, or whatever supposition people want to make there as well.

[Wildfire]

Yeah, sorry I feel bad for saying narrow minded now, but I hope people understand what I mean. Once you get involved with monotheism, the dogma tends to lead to ideological thinking is what I meant.

[magrathea_ultima]

My take...
(disclaimer, I have been labeled an agressive atheist before.)

To me, and this is just an opinion based on their interviews and body of work.

What I see is a context, a visual and work that explores with a certain fascination the concepts of what spirituality and religion, cults and all that gravitates into that area.

Interest, exploration and fascination does not mean that they are themselves spiritual. If anything, the fact that it is a theme that is recurrent to them seems to indicate in my opinion their fascination with something they might see as how does the human psyche and brain works at the deeper levels. I would say that if anything, that interest might be fueled by their own personal beliefs. An exploration into what makes us humans and how does the believing brain work considering that we are so badly equipped to face the reality that is around us (our fives senses are woefully limited, our brain has all sorts of safeguards, pattern recognition inherited from deep past, etc).

I cannot say for sure if Mike and Marcus are aligned in their thoughts or beliefs in this. I find that Inferno has vibes of conflict within it and the innuendo of spirituality is pervasive through it. To me, it raises question of what is going on within the BoC unit.

In My view, as per the original question, I believe that they are trying to find what makes humans fascinated with the intangible, especially when it comes to a belief in superior existence, or even to extra-terrestrial life, the universe as a greater whole.

I am obviously tainted in my observations having spent the best of my life exploring the why people gravitate to religions, cults, paganism, etc. but I would say the blokes are clearly in the camp of how come this plethora of spiritual avenues exists and what makes them so convincing and addictive to those who embrace them.

i.e. I believe they have a spiritual life but I would tag it as more from an understanding it than living it.

Atheists can have a spiritual life, just not something that caters to discover the deeper meaning in all things, humility, and inspiration in the natural world, the cosmos, and scientific discoveries.

I would tag them as Agnostic if I had to provide a definite label.