Thrice – To What End

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  General Comment:There is alot being thrown around in here that isn't reflective of the song as a whole.The writer is not saying he ias a scientific materialist.Rather he is asking if this is the correct philosophical assumption why proceed on.Since common public(Even christians to my suprise) live as if this assumption were true he has wrote this peice to provoke thought of our existensial predicament in a materialistic universe.If death is the ultimate destiny of human beings and the universe as a whole then it doesn't matter if we ever existed or not. If our thoughts are just chemical reactions pre-determined by the external stimuli our brain recieves.Why get on here and debate passionately about anything?Noon'es throught would have any value to them.moreover, if this is true we don't even have the free-will to pick what we believe in which is self defeating if you ask me.because according to this doctrine "we believe in determinism because we were determined"lol.Some philosophers try to manuver their way around this by saying are mental states supervene are brains reactions, but causation is still a way one street.the brain causes are beleifs. But to sidestep this issue.let me continue in the previous direction of my post by adding that the search for truth and living in accord with that truth is pointless in ths worldview.Does it matter what one believes considering our destiny is unrelated to how we live or think? In this view Hitler didn't do anything 'Objectively" wrong. what he did is just unsociable relative to certain societies.when one gets blown up by bombs their atoms just rearrange themselves into something else. how can there be any intrinsic worth to atoms?have youi measured it in a testube? Also, let me add Certain atheist are constantly ranting Christians shouldn't waste their only lives believing in a God or else they would have wasted it. But in materialistic worldview there is no objective purpose to being here. so how could we waste a life.It's like being on a sinking ship with no hope of rescue:there really is no difference between the person who spends the 'moments' toturing people and the person who spends his time loving others. because all of the people and their thoughts crumble to death.Can we as humans live consistent witrhin this worldview? most of us try not to think to deeply about the big questions like this and instead fill our minds with distractions and trivialisms to avoid the the thoughtlesly accepted view of materialism.but when pushed to the logical conclusions of this view we wil find most conclude it is unlivable.It's time to quit hiding behind the themes and virtues passed through western tradition by Christianity and face up to your worldview.

  Flag bremon July 24, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:This song is asking all the non-believers "to what end do you proceed" if we are just on earth because of a big bang and evolution. are we just going to die and rot?
  he doesn't think so, because human nature is so amazingly intricate and powerful. it has to mean SOMETHING in the end.

  Flag onefatloveon February 12, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:To me this song is basically saying, science is proving these days that emotions and feelings are just components of chemical inbalances and the like so if feelings like hate or love are just byproducts then are we just fooling ourselves?
  
  A great song whatever your interpertation

  Flag neeker51on February 15, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:Is it me or the first time he shouts ''TO WHAT END'' he really sound like Craddle of Filth

  Flag TheEyeIsBlindon December 13, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:In one word, this song is about existentialism. In it's most general form existentialism is the philosophical belief embracing the view that the suffering individual must create meaning in an unknowable, chaotic, and seemingly empty universe.

  Flag no-faith-but-greedon April 09, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:the song is essentially asking why we're here, what is our purpose to be alive. Why do we have poetry, and art and the like?
  
  IMO he is questioning the atheist point of view that life is an accident, that everything in the universe is meaningless.
  
  This is a little thing my dad wrote which has a good amount of relevance:
  
  crowhill.net/blog/…

  Flag liebherkon February 13, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:Dustin is not taking any sides of any religion or science. But, religion and science naturally come out of what he is saying. He is asking "what of the art and books, music and poetry..." Really that all just has the meaning of the interpreter, its something everyone has to figure out for themselves. It's what makes us human. The line "If you reduce me" means their is more to being alive than just chemical reactions.

  Flag goffshas17on February 12, 2005   Link

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  General Comment:no, i don't think dustin is saying fuck evolution and chemical reactions completely. i think he's intelligent enough to know that those are valid absolutes to the way the human anatomy funtions on a microbiological level. but i think he, just like a ton of other people, also believes that there is a spiritual essence to humans, and this is the key that bridges the gap between an "empty vessel" and a person who can love, hate, write poetry, and feel the pain of a broken heart. and he isn't necessarily refering to evil, angels, and ghosts in terms of their typical meaning. by "evil to rise up above", i don't think dustin is refering to Satan, and i don't think he's thinking of cherubs when he sings about "angels". those words are used metaphorically, in my opinion. but regardless of whether you think it's a religious song or not, it's an amazing song to say the least. the lyrics obviously spark critical thought in the minds of the youth, which is something music should do more often. and the music itself is breath-taking. the guitar chords and progressions, the yelling of certain lines by all the band members in unison.....all of this and more make it my favorite thrice song.

  Flag asshaton April 20, 2004   Link

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  General Comment:This song says fuck evolution fuck chemical reactions controling how I feel, there's more to life than just what can be proven through science.

  Flag xposixXxcorexon April 01, 2003   Link

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  General Comment:didn't anyone notice that in the cd booklet it says: "to what end (exposing the naturalistic worldview)"...
  as far as i know naturalism is all about: everything can be proved, the human body works because of chemical reactions, science can explain certain things....
  and so i guess dustin wants to question that point of view! he doesn't believe that chemical reactions can 'cause such strong emotions as hate, love etc. well somehow i agree 'cause i think the way the human body works and the way you feel are two different things (everyone feels different and you can't really explain feelings)! i like that idea... i'm an atheist but in terms of human beings i agree that there has to be some kind of soul or whatever 'cause who tells me how hate or love feels like????

  Flag MyChemicalThursdayon March 05, 2003   Link

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