Leonard Cohen wrote: "There is a crack in everything....."

[guillaumeb]

From the Leonard Cohen song, Anthem:

There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in

What does this have to do with religion?

Consider the concept called “original sin”. Many Christians believe that humans are born with sin as a result of being descended from Adam. Jesus said nothing about this idea, nor is it directly spoken of in the Bible, but the idea is very popular and has been much discussed among theologians.

But if we consider the fact that humans are not perfect, and that nothing in creation is perfect, (“There is a crack in everything”), original sin can be seen as an acknowledgment of this inherent and inevitable human imperfection.

As to the second line, “That’s how the light gets in”, I see that light as the realization of the Creator’s existence, and the first step on the path of enlightenment. We must admit our imperfection, and we must work to perfect what is cracked.

Others may read the lines differently. Leonard Cohen himself was a Jew who also became a Buddhist monk, but speaking of his maternal religion, he said: I’m not looking for a new religion. I’m quite happy with the old one, with Judaism.

[thewhollytoast]

1. Oh Willy

You are just plain adorable.

Toast

[guillaumeb]

2. Pliers?

[msongs]

3. original sin can also be seen as a fear based way of keeping the priest class in power lol nt

[guillaumeb]

4. Can be, but is not limited to that definition. eom

[sprinkleeninow]

5. The Anointed One says 'we' are also of a 'royal priesthood'.

[sprinkleeninow]

6. 'Original sin.' All human beings [plus the innocent animal kingdom-all creation for that

matter] are born/enter into a fallen state which is the condition of the world bc of the deceit of the enemy of life and everything good, Satan.

We are not necessarily born with 'Original Sin' in us.

Just sayin'.

[sprinkleeninow]

7. Mon cher, Guillaume! 💓

[Jim__]

8. Cohen's Anthem doesn't make me think about original sin.

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Yeah the wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in

[guillaumeb]

10. "There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)"

Imperfection.

[Voltaire2]

9. So do we go with the author's intent?

Neither Buddhism nor Judaism have a doctrine of original sin, that religious idiocy is a development of early (2nd century) Christianity.

So is a work of art’s meaning what you read into it or what the artist intended?

[guillaumeb]

11. We can go with both.

Answering your question.