Are Dream Theater Christian?

[ar]

I've wondered about that for a while. It seems like they have Christian influences in their songs and albums, but does any one know any concrete proof that they are?

Thanks :D!

GBP

[iLikePie]

i think you'll find that a lot of bands in the metal/hardcore genre can have spiritual sounding lyrics, but in some cases it's just because it suits the style and can help create the feel they're looking for.
an example is Killswitch Engage - some people say the writer is religious, i dunno, but the lyrics are definitely of a spiritual nature.

in any case, even if some or all of the band members are religious, they're NOT a religious band, and i know taht a lot of bands get annoyed when people try to pidgeon-hole them like that.

[danielson]

Never heard of Dream Theatre being called religious before...

The only bands I know for certain that are christian bands (or, rather...have christian members and spiritual lyrics) are Trouble and Place Of Skulls. And they're two of the best bands ever.

[garyzero]

Never heard of them being christian. But they are a bad ripoff of Queensryche and Fates Warning, IMHO. :)

[FatesKeeper]

If the band isn't a "Christian band", at least some of their songs are Christian. The song,"A Change of Seasons" says
"Oh come let us adore him
Abuse and then ignore him
No matter what
Don't let him be
Let's feed upon his misery
Then string him up for
all the world to see".

I'm pretty sure he's talking about Jesus Christ there, correct me if I'm wrong.

[saxx]

edit//
Would it change your view of the band if they were Christian? Why are you asking? If their lyrics are open for interpretations. then you can assume whatever you want, if you happen to know one of them is Christian, still assume away. If they make a formal statement saying they are Christian, then yeah, i think its safe to say. Though if they haven't your left with assumptions.



If the band isn't a "Christian band", at least some of their songs are Christian. The song,"A Change of Seasons" says
"Oh come let us adore him
Abuse and then ignore him
No matter what
Don't let him be
Let's feed upon his misery
Then string him up for
all the world to see".

I'm pretty sure he's talking about Jesus Christ there, correct me if I'm wrong.

Or transvestites, just saying.

[Syous]

Meh, a lot of tool songs have Christian undertones, but they also have a lot that are very antiChristian.

[sabijon]

well, everybody has its own point of view, if you want to believe on certain things u can actually find ways to explain it to yourself, and if you don't, its easy to find excuses, ^^,

[DanontheMoon]

@Syous - there are a lot of bands like that, too - like 'Lamb of God'?

[DW Duke]

I've wondered about that for a while. It seems like they have Christian influences in their songs and albums, but does any one know any concrete proof that they are?

Thanks :D!

GBP

"John is a Christian and open about his religion in interviews - Jordan Rudess confirmed this in a post on his forum."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Myung

Three members are Christian and two are Jewish:

http://faq.dtnorway.com/question/114

How about a little music for the soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W70LZxzp2js&feature=related

[blacklizard]

First of all DT rocks. Secondly mike portnoy is GOD. thirdly DT uses a lot of keyboard maybe thats why u felt like that.

[graylensman]

Fourthly Jesus can shred with the best of 'em. Fifthly of Jack Daniels.

[r3h0ld3r]

an example is Killswitch Engage - some people say the writer is religious, i dunno, but the lyrics are definitely of a spiritual nature.

From my understanding, Killswitch's first singer was a christian, and so his lyrics were possibly founded on christian ideals.

However, as far is dream theater goes...I've never heard that question before. I don't believe they are christian.


DT uses a lot of keyboard maybe thats why u felt like that.

A lot of bands have a keys player...like, black metal, goth, power metal...so I don't really see the connection between keys and christian music. Keys are used everywhere.

[elcape]

thats your point of view your own intrepertation

[Arkatox]

I notice that this is a revival, but I just found this site on Google, and I think I'll have my say:

Dream Theater is not what I'd call a 'christian' band, though all of the members are christians. Well, Myung and LaBrie are Christians, Portnoy (now a former member) and Rudess are Jewish, and Petrucci is Catholic Christian.

A lot of their songs subtly hint at them being christians (and no I'm not guessing, I know for a fact from both 94,854,327,863,281,495 different interviews, AND Wikipedia), such as In the Presence of Enemies, The Ministry of Lost Souls, The Twelve-Step Suite, and several more.

Rudess has come out with an instrumental album that have only Christmas songs that are CHRISTIAN Christmas songs, and several songs in the Falling Into Infinity Demos (ex: a line in the original version of 'Take Away My Pain': I was sitting on the edge of my bed / Staring at the paper through my tears / It read, 'Say Goodbye to Jesus' / The world he left will never be the same / You took away my hero / Will you take away my pain) plainly imply that they are Christians. They have done the song 'O Holy Night' a few different times (I originally found one of them on GrooveShark, and heck I'd recognize LaBrie's vocals anywhere).

Anyway, just thought I'd jump in, since most of you guys don't seem to know DT's background. (TREASON!) :D

[Arkatox]

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to address the 'A Change of Seasons' matter. Dream Theater has said many different things in their lyrics that sound like they mean something, but means something totally different. I have no clue what exactly A Change of Seasons is about, and who knows, it might be mocking God there. It's not as if they haven't mocked God before. Heck, 'In the Presence of Enemies' is about a man who sold his soul to the devil! 95% of that song is about someone hating God, but in the end getting saved. I have a feeling that the part in A Change of Seasons may be similar in that sense.

[kirupa]

Arkatox - this is probably one of the best thread revivals I've seen! :)