No Evidence of Jesus

A few days ago I was told that there is no evidence of Jesus Christ ever existing. You know the one. The guy who died on the cross. The dude who fed thousands with a couple loaves of bread and some fish. The man who everyone thought was crazy except twelve men. Yeah that Jesus Christ. I could not believe what I had heard. Jesus was not real? Was not flesh and blood? I know plenty of atheists who know that Jesus was a real person, but this was the first time I have ever heard the theory that he did not exist.
But I’m not writing this to prove her wrong. No, this reflection has nothing to do with her thoughts on Jesus as a man. Her theory just simple provoked a little thought into my mind. A little thought on an issue that I have not really spent time on thinking about in recent years. That issue would be my religion. I hate saying religion, it makes me feel so narrow minded, so I’ll use a different word. My belief. I do not understand the concept of making people feel like idiots for what they believe.
You’re a Christian? You’re a dumbass.
I try really hard not to judge other people. Ok, I don’t try that hard, but I do try harder than most Christians. What is ironic is that I was told never to judge as a Christian. If I were to record a conversation that me and my fellow “believers” have, and play it back, what would I hear? I would hear a conversation that would be full of judgments. Did God put us on this earth to judge? Christians are not suppose to judge. I am a Christian, and I am here to tell you that if somebody is judging you, they are probably a Christian.
We think that because we know Jesus’ teachings, and listen to them, we have more of a right to tell people they are wrong. But Jesus’ teachings told us something different. We judge. We decide. You’re wrong. We’re right.
You’re a homosexual? Heathen!
You have had sex? Whore!
You drink and party? God has given up on you!
You all shall burn in hell for what you have done!
Is this really what we should think? Is this what Jesus taught? Last time I checked, Jesus hung out with the whores and the drunks. We have turned into what Jesus hated.
We are the Pharacies.
We are the ones that deserve hell.
This girl told me there is no evidence of Jesus. And I know, I know, she meant the physical existence of Jesus, but Jesus should be alive and well today. Christians should be the new Jesus. Spreading the idea of hope and joy. Instead, we sit here and judge you for your sins. We may have sin, but we don’t have sin like those people. They roll around in their filth and their disgusting habits. God has left them a long time ago.
Jesus would be ashamed of us. Instead of shining our light towards people who need it, we keep it to ourselves, and call them sinners because they don’t have it. Shameful.

Narrow Stairs

It has been 3 years since Death Cab for Cutie came out with their first major label album, Plans. It has been 3 long years since we have heard a new song by the band that made indie mainstream. But in March the wait was finally over when they cam out with their new single. I was stoked when I first heard about “I Will Possess Your Heart.” I was in my friend’s car when he asked me if I wanted to here the new Death Cab song. Of course I wanted to hear it. He turned on his iPod, and he turns the volume a little higher as we waited. We listened through almost five minutes of interlude. I was rather impatient as I waited to here what Ben Gibbard had to say in this song. Finally, after the extremely long instrumental intro, he sings. After about five lines, I was confused. This wasn’t the Ben Gibbard who sang about love or about heartbreak. No, Mr. Gibbard orchestrated a narrative of a stalker. A stalker longing for his target. Needless to say, it wasn’t what I was expecting, and I came to the realization that this was a new Death Cab. A new, darker sound. And I wasn’t sure if I liked it.
Then came May 13, and their new album came out. I still wasn’t sure about “I Will Possess Your Heart”, but I still got it anyways. I popped in the CD and started my decent on Narrow Stairs.
I was excited to see what lessons Mr. Gibbard wanted me to learn now. The first song, “Bixby Canyon Bridge”, started and seemed to have the same eerie feel as “I Will Possess Your Heart” had. Gibbard sings about a lover who has lost her soul, as if she has died along with it. This confirmed my suspicion that Death Cab has changed. A darker, some what creepy, Death Cab. The guitar repeats the same distorted chord as Ben repeats the words “a dream”. It was an odd side to Death Cab, but it seemed to leave me interested. This is when their first single comes in. As I listen I want to skip the long five minute intro, but decided to let it play through as I thought about an essay that Ben Gibbard wrote in Paste Magazine.
In the article, he explains the long intro. Stating that the intro is a stalker, like the one he is singing about in the song, and the longer it goes on, the more you want it to go away, but it won’t. Oddly enough, I wanted the intro to go away, and in that way, it was serving its purpose.
After “I Will Possess Your Heart” leaves me feeling dirty and a little creeped out, the band kicks into an upbeat poppy melody, bringing a tap, tap, tap to my feet. Though, “No Sunlight” is musically joyful, the lyrics seem to suggest otherwise. Gibbard sings about his optimism of life as a boy dwindle away as life brings him new experiences. This leads into, “Cath…” a story about a girl who is getting married, but is not ready for it, and is not sure if it is what she wants. So far this is the most “Death Cab sounding” song on the album. “Talking Bird”, is lyrically my favorite song on the album. Gibbard sings about his bird, and as it sits in its cage, it does not realize that it can leave if it wants, because the windows are open. It seems that Gibbard is singing about a relationship with a girl, and if she stays, his love will remain as well. Next is “You Can Do Better than Me”, a self-loathing song that sounds, at least musically, a lot like a Beach Boy song. After this short song, my favorite song of the entire album comes in with its simple drumbeat. “Grapevine Fires” is a narrative of a major fire, and the characters first hand account. I am more connected to this song, because living in San Diego; it reminds me of some dark times. A Beautifully poetic story that gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it. Four more songs to go and I already feel connected to this album. Nothing can top Grapevine Fires, but “Your New Twin Size Bed” comes close. Another narrative of broken heartedness, and another song that sounds like old Death Cab. Gibbard sings about the character getting a new, smaller, bed as the other bed was too big for one person to sleep in. “Long Division” is yet another upbeat song, but with more abstract lyrics. Gibbard talks in a metaphor of math, making this one of Death Cab’s most abstract songs, lyrically, in their entire career. Following Long Division comes my least favorite song of the album, “Pity and Fear”. Another oddly creepy song for Mr. Gibbard. Singing about a man who sleeps with random women, with no commitment, but does not envy his own lifestyle, and wishes he could change. It has been a long journey on these Narrow Stairs, and “The Ice Is Getting Thinner” is the perfect ending to the album, as Gibbard sings about his relationship in a metaphor of seasons. I can’t really explain this one; it is just something you have to listen to. Calm guitar and bass leads the album out as Gibbard sings, “The ice was getting thinner/under me and you”.
Narrow Stairs is a world away from Plans. Darker and less sympathetic characters, but it left me with a better taste in my mouth. With Plans it took me a while to start really liking it, but after first listen, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Narrow Stairs, and embracing the new, dark, creepy side of Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie.

The First of Many

This is the first blog I have ever made. There isn't much I have to say at this time. Mainly this blog is to publish my work. This is the first of many posts, and more should be coming soon. But I don't know why I am writing this now, because probably no body will read this post, but it's my blog, and i can write if I want to. Stay tune for more posts.