Back when Creed put out their Human Clay album, I began developing the idea about Stappism. Now, I have nothing against Creed as a band, in fact, I love Mark Tremonti’s guitar work and believe him to be one of the premiere soloists in recent years. However, and sadly, Tremonti is about the only reason I give a damn about Creed and Alter Bridge, come to think of it.
Stappism is the belief structure of Scott Stapp, which is based on Christianity, but really does not conform to any known denomination.
Stapp is believed to have left Creed for two reasons. One of them being to abandon the rock-and-roll life to raise his kid. The other is a confliction of music idealism. The very same reason Zach De La Rocha left Rage Against The Machine. It is believed that Stapp desired to make music that was less metal and more etheral.
Evidence that supports the latter reason is found in his post-Creed work in which he supplemented a song to The Passion Of The Christ: Songs disc and later in an interview was asked if he should be called a Christian artist or an artist who is a Christian. Stapp replied:I’m an artist who’s a Christian, because I don’t write music to be evangelical. Now, if that happens, it happens. My dad’s a dentist, and he’s a Christian. Now, does he put in Christian fillings? No, that’s just part of his three-dimensional life. Now, there are people that are Christian artists, because they have a purpose to be evangelical for Christ. I don’t feel I’ve been called to that yet. Now, that could change. There’s no telling what kind of call God will put on my life.
Unfortunately for Scott, his lyrics are too much to ignore. His latest song, Relearn Love, is certainly much softer than the softest stuff he put out with Creed. With previous songs like “Higher,” the essence of Stappism is preaching the Christian belief through the style of music that had been, and still is to some extent, demonized by conservative Christian groups. Stapp’s belief structure is easily recognizable in his lyrics through a variety of Creed songs, but it’s this belief, coupled with the style of the music, that sets it apart from any other Christian denomination.
[size=150]What are your thoughts on Stappism?[/size]