Jimmy Carter, it seems, believes in the separation between church and rock. The former president, whose 1976 White House campaign saw both performances by the Allman Brothers Band and the introduction of the term "born again" to the Washington media's lexicon, has revealed in a new book that he became disenchanted with Bob Dylan after the singer was converted to Christianity. Writes Kevin Mattson in his history of Carter's "malaise" speech, "Jimmy Carter's favorite rock musician now refused to sing the songs the president most enjoyed . . . [those] written before Dylan found Jesus."
Not that Jimmy Carter was ever the great Christian leader evangelicals expected. He nearly lost the Christian vote when he admitted to lusting after women other than his wife in a Playboy interview shortly before voters went to the polls. As president, he went after Christian independent schools' tax-exempt status.
But Carter's distaste for Christian Dylan speaks more to his social-justice views than his religious allegiance: Carter once said he'd never understood the confilct between landowner and farmworker until he heard Dylan's song "Maggie's Farm." It's understandable that Carter would have found more Christian relevance in Dylan's anti-war and civil-rights songs than in his reinterpretations of Bible passages.
Read the Beliefnet Interview with Jimmy Carter.
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jESUS NEVER GAVE AN OPINION. hE ALWAYS STATED FACT. hE WAS NOT HELD CAPTIVE BY HIS EMOTIONS. we SHOULD TRY OUR BEST TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE.
What in the world could Jimmy Carter possibly know about Bob Dylan and his music, his faith, and what he tries to get across in is songs? Often times I myself must listen to one of Bob's songs 10 times before the creativity of the words finally hit me. Bob Dylan is a diverse performer and a genius in his musical and lyrical compositions.
Bob, I love you and every note and word you have produced in your lengthy career. I've been listening to you since I was 14 years old and when you started blending Christianity into your lyrics, it was a smooth transition and those who loved you way back in the day, still love you today. I had the pleasure to watch you perform live in Frederick,Maryland when you were out on tour for your then new cd coming out, "Modern Times". There were too many people there stuck in the 60's wanting to hear "Maggie's Farm" and "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands". Time has moved on and a true fan will move along beside you and enjoy your work.
Keep up the awesome work, God bless you and remember to always walk in the spirit.
Not one single one of my days goes by without Bob Dylan in it. Thank you Bob.
Karen S Augustsson
Ok so Bob eventually realized that he wasn't put in the position he was in be chance, and his art reflected that. He was blessed with a gift that very few have, and once he realized the source, he used it as a servant uses a broom. He is the greatest poet of our time and one of the greatest of ALL time. Why? How? I think you know. And I'm sure Jimmy does too.
Wow, this is news to me. Congratulations Dylan! Mr. Carter, who are we to judge, lest we be judged? lol I'm sure Bob is just tore up about this... I'm sure he loses sleep at night. :)
Blessings!
Jimmy Carter on steroids... Remember when Jimmy was tricked by Castro and he turned loose his criminals on our shores so we could put them in our prisons Now a new presidend is bringing Prisoners from Cuba to live in our prisons. Hey Rush Limbaugh can you read this?
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