Sabbath with Matisyahu

Mastisyahu sings 'King without a crown'

Hey gang. I'm feeling a bit daughter-of-Israel-ish this morning. I woke up with a hankering of Matisyahu.

Yah.

Even though I talk about my being atheist, religion and spirituality have always been important in my life. I take seriously people's claims of a life of divinity. It's why I come down so harsh on x-tian fundamentialist dominionists who use the name of Jesus not just in vain but for Power.

It's also why, when I come across people like Matisyahu, I stand in awe.

I find Matisyahu inspiring for his commitment to his religion through his art. It is a high-wire act, to be so successful in a world known for sin when at the same time you are striving for holiness. I find that honorable and inspiring because it's the faith he has in the transformative power of his art is what makes me reckon with his religious faith. Not a lot of people are successful at that --and that includes guys like Yussuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens.

Matisyahu can kick Yussuf's musical butt any day. Seriously. The guy's from Brooklyn.

So once the novelty of seeing a hasidim singing raggae wears off, bear withness to the true heir of Bob Marley.

Check out Matisyahu's Video "Youth" at my cross-post at The Daily Gotham.

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Words to live by

"Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them, and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does this not involve the principle of a national establishment...?"

— -- James Madison, "Essay on Monopolies" unpublished until 1946, cited in Brant, Irving, The Bill of Rights, 1965, from Albert J. Menendez and Edd Doerr, The Great Quotations on Religious Freedom