Reply With QuoteYes!! I sure do!!
Hey, does anybody besides me feel that Elvis was more than an entertainer?
Yes!! I sure do!!
yeah of course. he is much more than that
Go on, Sivle. I don't think you've quite made your point yet. Probably everyone here thinks of Elvis as more than an entertainer, so kindly relate the title of your thread to your question for us.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Well it just seems to me that Elvis clearly posesses characteristics of a messianic or Christ like figure.
I think that's a bit too far. Maybe it's just what some of us like to see in him. He had some spiritual capabillities though. Some gifts other entertainers lack. There was a kind of electricity going back and forth between Elvis and his audience, like an exchange of energy that went far beyond a simple rock concert. I do believe he had some powers. It's a common thing for people of the South.
I believe honestly that Elvis was blessed by God in a way that no other entertainer has been. Who else is loved this much? Who else has had that much charisma, looks, personality, originality, and pure talent? Unfortunately he let the cares of this life like so many people, myself included take his eyes off of what was important. He let the devil dupe him into depression and despair. His only comforts were the women, the friends and the drugs. Those things only last for a little while and will eventually fail you. These were things he knew but yet he continued to do because he couldn't help himself. He had been saved when he was younger. He obviously had a relationship with God. How can you hear him sing "He Touched Me" or "How Great Thou Art", and deny that? I believe that Elvis lost his desire to live and was in complete misery and God knew this. He was not bearing fruit anymore so the Lord took him home.
MATTHEW 21
19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.
"I always liked that hillbilly."
-Waymore
EP once shouted at an audience member to "G-O-D-D-A-*-* Shut-Up" when he was singing a gospel song -------> he later busted a gut laughing about it, that he used the Lord's name in vain & nobody in the audience even batted an eye as a result of it.
--------------------------
In essensce:
EP's life (personal & career-wise) ....... & his religious influences (planted by his mother) ..... were deuling dichotomies that drove The Man / His Life / The Legend ..... both pre & especially post-1977 (It has become even more so, predictably & understandably, posthumously, within the fandom.) WHY? EP is a reflection of human-nature (ie: ourselves) & our own searches / struggles.
It is definitely a FASCINATING subject area worthy of further / deeper study .... Elvis as a secular saint. It is also a very, very, real phenomenon out there - unlike with any other "celebrity."
It is a bizarre aspect of The Elvis World whose threads can be found winding thru just about everything in The Elvis World. Ironically, it is also a large driving force behind The Elvis World. It goes to the very heart / crux of THE MYTH vs. REALITY that is all pervasive in The Elvis World, as well.
Viewed in these terms, ........ absolutely, YES, there is much, much more to Elvis.
"It is always the music, & so much more."
- Me
- Capt. "EL."
Very well said, Cappy...I like the self-quote too.
Speaking of quotes of yours, not knowing how this thread had developed since my last posting (but having some idea--which wasn't really on target), I was just sure that your reply was going to include the term "fissured ceramics".
I'm glad this thread didn't go down the road I thought it might. Thanks for keeping it real, everybody.
I just want to briefly add that if one is to think of any latter-day figures as possibly being messiahs, then Elvis--despite some personality traits which on the surface might make him seem anything but--is a not so illogical contender.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Thanks, Bobby, ......
Ah, yes ........ lol!! ........ The Fissured Ceramics Brigade ...... well, ...Originally Posted by Lonniebealestreet
I was just sure that your reply was going to include the term "fissured ceramics".
That is what I was alluding to with the "bizarre" terminology.
There is indeed a lot to admire about EP The Man & all fans definitely know about The Music aspect (because that is where it ultimately begins, but never ends - despite many that claim the contrary for their own reasons).
- Capt. "EL."
I don't have a clue what you're talking about. Anyone care to fill me in?
The way I see it is...
There's more to life than music. Music is tapping into something deeper. And again, there's more to life than music.
Cryptic? Maybe.
I'm not a religious person myself but I sure do appreciate Elvis' gospel recordings and his own attempts at searching for things greater than himself. You DO have to wonder what it's all about and why we exist if there aren't bigger things going on.
Today, there are people like George W. Bush who likes to act 'messianic' and the Pope, who is considered to be the 'replacement' of Jesus Christ on the earth. I think both of these guys are hurting a lot of people - the first one by sending kids in to war, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. The second one stimulates the spreading of AIDS in Africa by condemning condomn use - he is also not very helpful to the catholic boys who have been and are being abused in the roman church. And what is the gay and lesbian bashing thing all about?
I think Elvis has at least the same worldwide recognition (and probably more) than Ronald Reagan, father and son Bush and Bill Clinton altogether. Elvis was a normal human being like we all are but at least he is not responsible for war and poverty!
Spiritual songs were a very important influence for Elvis and the religious songs helped him to develop a very special voice, so very different from other 'rock stars' like Robert Plant, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Frank Zappa or Freddy Mercury.
I guess Elvis confronts people with their spiritual and religious longing through his voice. Having said all this, it seems to be clear that Elvis had a relationship with Jesus - of course the Mexican Sundial Suit was a beautiful manner to symbolize 'the sun/son of god who gives his life for the earth to live'.
I TOTALY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HERE!
It was time to go home. Elvis knew it too. You always hear folks saying that he knew he was soon going to die.
What i love most about Elvis Presley, is i can relate to him as a real person. I can see man who is struggling in this world trying to balance the world and faith. I think of my daily struggles trying to be a Christian in this world, but utilimately being a faulted human being first. I do not have half of what was thrown on this man's sholders! He is the true example of what goes on. Some times i sit in church and i look around and think how everyone else seem's to be handling life much better then i am. But if you were to put them all under the same scope Elvis Presley was, you'd see that struggle. That's what should be out there in the Christian World. Life is a struggle and you will not totally hide from it. Even in your most uplifted state of mind and your best years, you are human and will struggle no matter what.
BUT
Struggling with Jesus on your side is much better then struggling alone! You can't win alone. With God, you win in the end...no matter what!
I feel like im rambling here, haha.
I just feel good in knowing Elvis is in heaven and all his struggles that we can all see now, are good for us to see. I think went he went home finally, he was relieved!
///also let me say one more thing///
I think he's life is a good example of what happens to a human being when another human being try's to make him bigger then God. Put's him up on a pedistal so high, only God can truly reach him. It's too much and nobody can stand up to it. Nobody is meant to stand up to it. It's in the Bible as such.
Ok i'm done now, hahaha.....Leave your donation at the door!
Trish
1977
Well, look at all the beautiful remarks on this website. Could become an interesting discussion!
Of course everyone has his or her own relationship with God and Jesus. We are all unique - that's what makes life so exciting. I like the term 'unity in diversity' because of it.
I believe that the dead will be resurrected: it's a very important theme in Jesus' life, for example the resurrection of Lazarus was a miracle which Jesus made possible. Resurrection and life after death had already been a theme in Hebrew and Egyptian religion, which are the two major streams out of which Christianity evolved - and Jesus, the chosen son of god, also called the first of human beings (re)born and resurrected out of death revealed to the people of the earth how important the life after death is (some call it 'heaven' or 'the kingdom of God').
Although this may sound incredible, there are scientists who have theories about resurrection constructed with cosmological models. I can recommend the work of Frank J. Tipler, an American scientist specialized in physics who has written a book about the universe and the omega point theory as (scientific!) proof of life after death. The guy has got a website, so if you're interested visit http://www.math.tulane.edu/~tipler/summary.html !
When Elvis is resurrected I would like to meet him! I would definitely want to make music with him - and maybe he can then ask the (also resurrected) modern 'pop stars' what they were thinking when they were making pop music extremely boring and dull!
And, Elvis loved children very much and at that point of the evolution of the universe maybe Elvis can ask evil parents why they are the cause for so many unhappy children.
Of course, on the youngest day (of resurrection), some members of presidential families like the bush dynasty will be running scared because of a guilty conscience - so afraid that He might show. But as far as I know, there will be no more injustice in the kingdom of God and what was hidden, shall be revealed: the truth will come out!
I acknowledge that most of what's said here is healthy discussion, but knowing how such topics can quickly degenerate into less than productive conversation, we need to steer clear of religion and politics here when they do not directly relate to Elvis (not to mention their being off-topic). Thanks.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Amen.
- Capt. "EL."
Absolutely!!! Count me on that list Sivle... I DO BELIEVE (KNOW
Elvis means so much!
Let the stars fade and fall, and I won't care at all, as long as I have you.
Elvis...
http://myantiquemusicbox.wordpress.com/
http://wendy56.wordpress.com/
"You've got it all together like a lovin' machine
You're lookin' like glory and walkin' like a dream...
Mother nature's sure been good to Y-O-U"
Wendy
Elvis was a man, who walked a road none of us can ever know. He was so chrismatic. He was blessed by God and knew it. But I feel he always felt he should be doing more with the blessings he was given. He just wasn't sure of what it should be. The fact that we see this in him, the special qualities, shows he maybe was right. But he was a man and his weaknesses(all of us have our weaknesses)perhaps kept him from finding what he should have done. Priscilla claims he would have become a preacher, maybe so who knows. I believe, like Billy Graham, for all his weaknesses I will see him in heaven.
I recently heard an interview with Elvis from 1956, and it was refreshing to hear such a young thankful, respectful, unassuming and deeply religious entertainer go on about how he owed all his success to Jesus and how his faith helped him, and about his parents and the col. (little did he know!) doing so much for him, and all the fans. I think it says alot about the man that kept the young kid still inside and never took for granted his success or his fans.
He remained deeply religious, and was always searching for the truth, constantly questioning and probing. This is a sign of the true Christian, the one on the verge of becoming enlightened. I believe he may have reached enlightenment and not known it. The ones that reach this level never know it, they never think they found the answer,(unlike Geller who thinks he did a long time ago and was responsible for Elvis's spritual guidance. HE just put Elvis on a path ! I think Elvis was closer to the Truth than Geller ever thought about getting. He should have been Geller's guide!!!!!) they never are resigned to follow the rest of the sheep. This person gets the closest to God, I think. Some of his religious songs, especially live, really are heavenly and right up there with angels "rejoicing on high". You have to have some kind of inside track to feel and emote that kind of sprituality!
Got my family, my kids, my books and my music, I'm good, yeah, I'm good.....
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