"Are you serious? I never thought that at all! "
How about some Tom Sawyer lyrics?
- "No, his mind is not for rent
To any God or government
Always hopeful yet discontent
He knows changes aren't permanent
But change is"
Or Freewill lyrics?
- "A planet of playthings
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
"The stars aren't aligned ---
Or the gods are malign"
Blame is better to give than receive"
I like Rush's music also, but it is definitely anti-Theist.
As for "Closer to the Heart" its sounds Socialist. "Men who hold high places" and "philosophers and ploughment" knowing their parts sounds kind of strange to me.
I still think taken in Pearts context, he was merely saying this modern day "Tom Sawyer" is a free thinker not taken to dogmatic thinking. Although sometimes vague, many of his lyrics seem to have similar themes like the other you've chosen. The Crux of the biscuit is:
Freethinker
A person who forms his opinions about religion and God without regard to revelation, scripture, tradition, or experience. Not what one determines, but how and why one determines. If you believe otherwise, that is Your Free will at work.
As far as the song "Free Will" lyrics, This is just his thought(I'm guessing) upon the philosophy of Free Will.
Free will Freedom of self determination and action independent of external causes.
This subject has been touched on by many in the past, Plato, Aristotle, Kant for example, These links are interesting on the subject.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/freewill/
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv2-29
Philosophical arguments can be used as either way I suppose, but aren't necessarily Anti-God.
And all this isn't necessarily my opinion so please don't fry me.
Another exellent and religious source on the subject of free will.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06259a.htm#chr
Rock On Bro!