"Belief" by John Mayer

In keeping with my continued slobbering over the new John Mayer record, I wanted to highlight the lyrics to the third song on the record entitled, "Belief". John is a lyrical genius, and the groove on this track is so deep, but I have to ask John what he is thinking with this one. I don't think I am down, but I hear where he is going with it. Here are the lyrics:

Is there anyone who
Ever remembers changing there mind from
The paint on a sign?
Is there anyone who really recalls
Ever breaking rank at all
For something someone yelled real loud one time

Everyone believes
In how they think it ought to be
Everyone believes
And they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor
But makes for the heaviest sword
Like punching under water
You never can hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition
And some have to know they tried
It's the chemical weapon
For the war that's raging on inside

Everyone believes
From emptiness to everything
Everyone believes
And no ones going quietly

Chorus:
We're never gonna win the world
We're never gonna stop the war
We're never gonna beat this
If belief is what we're fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand
Belief can
Belief can
What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand
Belief can
Belief can

He sounds quite similar to my favorite college professor, Jerry Soneson. "Belief's held absolutesly are mortally dangerous" (or something like that) was the banner that was raised over many of his classes. It was a consistent message.

Question for John and Jerry:

1. Isn't belief worth fighting for? (see line from the chorus)
2. Is there a means to know Truth?
3. You say "belief" is so dangerous. Do you BELIEVE this?
4. Will we not always have differing beliefs, and is this not just a reality of the world we live in?
5. Would the world be a better place if we all believed the same things?
6. Would you not say it is correct that all of us have beliefs, it's the nature of human exsistence, but the more important question is how do we go about communicating these beliefs to others?
7. Can't we say that some beliefs are more dangerous than others? Is so, then can't we also say it's reasonable to fight for certain beliefs?

We'll always be fighting for beliefs, John. The question is what are the weapos of war? Islamic Fundementalists would say that we fight with real flesh and blood. Christians would say that we fight on our knees in our prayer closet and with loving words that seek to pursuade and challenge. I am going to take my stand of belief with the latter choice.