Avenged Sevenfold singer Mr. Shadows discussed deep topics about religion, spirituality and the universe during his appearance on the podcast Artist Friendly With Joel Madden. Speaking about his personal beliefs and his experience with the psychedelic substance 5-MeO-DMT, the singer shared his views on human connection, the universe and the search for meaning.
A personal vision of spirituality
Mr. Shadows explained why he does not consider himself religious: “I'm not religious at all. I find beauty in aimlessness. I think this represents the ultimate freedom. I don't want to be told what to do or follow a prescribed path. What matters to me is love, my family, empathy and contributing to the evolution of human exchanges. But, in the end, none of that really matters, because in a time frame of five billion years, no one will know we were there.”
He added that for him, belief in God is often based on “circling discussions” and assumptions: “There's always this question: 'What created this?' These are conversations that go around in circles. At some point, we have to recognize that this quest for answers ends up being more human than universal.”
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A transformative experience with 5-MeO-DMT
Mr. Shadows recounted his experience with 5-MeO-DMT, nicknamed “the God molecule,” which changed his perception of the universe and human relationships: “When I took 5-MeO-DMT, the goal was to make the 'me' disappear. It was a terrifying experience, but it made me understand that we are all connected. After that, I realized that it doesn't matter what names you give things. I saw my friend Jeremiah, who is very religious, and I said to him, 'You were right. What you call God and what I felt is the same thing.' We just give different names to this universal connection.”
These thoughts also inspired the lyrics of the song Nobody : “The first line says: 'I am a God. I'm awake. I am one in everything.' It reflects this idea that we are all a part of the universe, without distinction or separation.”
A Buddhist Perspective on Unity
Mr. Shadows also cited a Buddhist saying to explain his understanding of the universe: “Enlightenment is when the wave realizes that it is the ocean. We are all connected, we are part of something bigger. Once I understood that, I realized that what my friend calls 'God' and what I felt are ultimately the same thing.”
An artist in search of experiences and connections
Beyond his personal beliefs, Mr. Shadows continues to push artistic boundaries with Avenged Sevenfold. Their latest album, Life Is But A Dream…explores philosophical and existential themes, reflecting his deep thoughts on the universe and the meaning of life.
