I don’t think I like your religion
by Elouise
I’ve included a few comments below about the context for Morton’s lyrics.
Religion
I don’t think I like your religion
Don’t always make the best decisions
Not sayin’ you don’t have good intentions
I know that you are only humanBut you blame your God when it’s your own fault
Where is the love that your God spoke of?
Your God has nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with themThat’s what you were told, let’s just be honest
You didn’t even take the time to find it yourself
You just took their words to be true
You don’t even know why you believe what you doBut you blame your God when it’s all your fault
Where is the love that your God spoke of?
Your God has nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with themYour God has nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them
Nothing to do with them (repeated twice)P. J. Morton lyrics to Religion, recorded on his Grammy-nominated hip-hop album, Gumbo
This past weekend I listened to a public radio interview with hip-hop artist P. J. Morton. His father, also a musician, is an ordained clergyman. Morton talked about his commitment to hip-hop, his religious upbringing, and the way it influences his music. I didn’t make notes, but here’s part of what I heard during the interview.
The religious language of white evangelical Christians who supported Trump for president reminds Morton of the way white slavers kept Black slaves in their place. Thus, “I don’t think I like your religion.” This kind of religion became a vehicle for inhumane political ends during slavery. Today, this kind of religion is still a vehicle for inhumane political ends. It’s supported now as then by unexamined, faulty assumptions about the God of Christianity.
Morton’s response is simple: Don’t blame God “when it’s all your fault.” Don’t expect God to bless your decisions. They’re based on faulty, unexamined notions about God. What you call God’s will, supposedly being worked out through Trump, is your own uninformed will dressed up in religious language. God is not your puppet. And Trump is not God’s agent sent to do your faulty bidding.
You are, after all, “only human.” Even though you may have good intentions.
Too bad the Grammys chose to overlook Morton’s prophetic music.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 30 January 2018
Studio-recorded video found here on YouTube
Interview excerpt found here, plus a link to an audio of the full interview with Michel Martin on NPR’s All Things Considered
Sing it, PJ! Lord, have mercy – and help me to understand, with you, why I believe as I do, in your love that has everything to do with everything. Thank you again, Elouise.
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You’re most welcome Nancy! 🎶
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Very interesting. If God loves all his creation unequivocally, then he loves all equally, and then our challenge becomes to decide who and what we are in relation to everything we experience.
He does not condemn any part of creation, which all serves a very useful function in helping each of us to decide what we choose, what we prefer. I do not condemn Donald Trump, even though I dislike his stance on most things, and will openly fight them. But I bless all circumstances, since these help me to choose, and are therefore a gift to me.
That’s how I see Life, today, anyway. Might be different again tomorrow. 🙂
Bless you, always, XXX 😀 😀
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Yes to all circumstances being helpful. Even (or especially) those we don’t like. As for PJ’s song, it rightly makes a distinction between God and religion. The former is not the latter, and vice versa. Which leaves us plenty of room for error and changing our minds! 🙂 Not a bad thing, as you point out.
Hoping this was a sunny day for you! 🙂
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Great post Elouise. My father used to say, “God has a great product but a lousy advertising department.”
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Wonderful comment from your father! Thanks, John.
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Think I’ll just leave it at the title 👿 😛
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I wonder why I’m not surprised? 😊
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I like the lyrics. Thanks for sharing.
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You’re welcome! 💐
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Lol! Elouise, I hope you enjoyed watching the Grammys. 😊
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Hi Demil! It’s great to hear from you. I didn’t watch the Grammys–too much input too late at night for me….:( I really liked the interview, though, with PJ, and the song I posted. Super! No matter what the Grammy judges thought about it. 🙂
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Lool @ too late. Its nice to be here again too.
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