The Voice of God?

This should be a fairly short post. I am an atheist and friends sometimes wonder how I square that with my interest in the music of Bob Dylan.

I am not a 'Dylanologist' and I do not pretend to know or understand his beliefs - and I do not want to know. When Dylan uses Biblical references, I understand them and can see their cultural and spiritual meaning (I was brought up in a Christian household and my mother is still horrified that she raised a heathen!).

Religion is often used by Dylan in a profound and beautiful way. But then, he has used Shakespeare, poetry, quotes from Humphrey Bogart, references to obscure literature... Bob Dylan has a way of amalgamating cultural touchstones and forming them into fresh and new expressions of time and space. He has a magpie mind - constantly collecting and re-using thoughts and ideas; making them unique again in new ways by placing them in a new context.

I once read a fan's comments, and she said she thought that Dylan had been sent to us by God as a prophet, and that the voice of the Lord was speaking through him. To me, that is pure nonsense.

I see Bob Dylan as an immensely talented individual. A human being. I recall reading somewhere that he himself was often surprised at the songs he wrote - that they seemed to come from the aether as though someone else was giving him the words. This is not unusual for creative people. Artists who have 'visions'; novelists who almost 'see' their characters and simply record what they do or say... poets for whom the words just tumble down into their minds unbidden.

This is the power of human creativity. But if someone wants to call it 'God' that is their choice. Not mine.

Suffice it to say that I accept the religious content of Dylan's songs. It does not affect my perception of his music. He still speaks to me about life, love, emotion, loss, transition... As with my religious friends, this is not a barrier.