Issuing his first statements since the announcement that he has leukemia, Behemoth frontman Nergal had a lot to say. First off, he thanked all his fans for the outpouring of support. He then mentioned that Behemoth will be back on the road as soon as he is done with his treatments. Then, he had a few choice words for people who were saying he should now turn to Christianity due to his ailment. Yet another reason why Nergal is the man:
Finally, I want to comment on some opinions which, provoked by religious circles, lead to far-fetched and inaccurate interpretations. I was surprised to hear my illness became a pretext for some people to embark on their own crusade. Opinions suggesting I might come closer to God or abandon my ideals and grovel to the only correct world view in this country not only surprised but also frightened me. This is a typical example of supporting one's own views by preying on someone's misfortune. 'He fell ill so he will convert to Christianity, he will discover the religion he fought against is actually close to him.' Halt! Why should the illness change my point of view? It is true this is a difficult time for me and the thoughts of ultimate matters are hard to chase away. But the idea that I will change my opinions, priorities, and values as a consequence of my illness sounds as if someone regards my head, and not my body, ill. Suggesting I might convert are ridiculous. To what would I convert? After all, I know Christian mythology pretty well, not only in its literary version, and I find nothing good, creative or beautiful in it. I read books better and wiser than the Bible. War, blood, blackmail, rapes, incest, pedophilia, zoophilia, collaboration and treachery – each page emanates with evil. Some may say I don't understand the message of the Bible. I'd rather say the Christianity is nothing more than a rusty and archaic structure that is going to fall down any moment. It lasts only because of the gullible that follow the shepherd blindly; without any questions, without any consideration, not to any promised land, but to an intellectual slaughter. So, I say to those, who see some chances to break my rules, and myself because of the illness: over my dead body!
Oh, hell yes! Good to see that even in the face of death, Nergal is still strong in his beliefs. I don't see how anybody can expect a dude who literally rips passages of the Bible on stage to suddenly do a 180, and actually take what's in the book seriously. Go Nergal! [via Metal Insider ]
