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Hey, Gene!

I am so looking forward to the next Alive 4 album. I came all the way from Norway to Melbourne to see the amazing concert.
I recently picked up your latest book, which was is a fun read.
However, I have a question regarding your philosophies.

How can you say that it's good to be selfish and first and foremost take care of yourself and still support the war in Iraq?
If these soldiers were selfish, would they have sacrificed their lives for the US?

I bet you have a good explanation here, so i'd love to read it

Martin Blekkerud, Norway.

Response from Gene:

I stand by my words. Take care of yourself first, and then you can help other people. Make of that last sentence what you will.

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Hi Gener-Wiener,

Let me first state that I am a huge GENE FAN:) so please be gentle with my investment.
Even though I agree with most of your theories and beliefs, I still believe in Christ and don't force that on anyone. I think the masses have been led by poor examples and it has made the source (Big J) look bad. It will get worse too, but that is another topic that's sure to bore YOU.

Here's some interesting points I thought you might want to observe.

JESUS WAS A LOT LIKE KISS!

He didn't do drugs either.

He performed miracles to the masses.

He wanted people to love him, if they didn't that was ok.

He hung out with the bad guys and tried to help them be much cooler.

He really loves his fans.

He's got a a big tour coming up called, "The Rapture" you might have heard of it. If you haven't you will.

He would definitely have done book signings for HIS Book:)

Ron M
Burbank, CA
That guy you haven't hired yet for your magazine:)

Response from Gene:

Jesus Saves. Moses Invests. But, honestly, I hope all those guys just leave us alone.

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Gene

Hi there
A comment to say I totally agree with your response to a recent letter,concerning people being browbeaten about religion.
Recently my nephew was told he would be going to "hell" because there were only going to be a certain number of people going to "Heaven".
This was from a 6 year old to a 6 year old !!!!
Please people and parents.One day we will all find out the answer,it may be yours it may be mine, but for now shutup and wait in line.
Thanks
Deb

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Gene

I know you have supreme confidence in everything that you say, do or think, but you really contradict yourself in a lot of what you say. Recently you stated that you had very little time for fantasies or dreaming, huh? You, a man who has spent the better part of the last 30 years dressed up like Bozo the Clown on crack, a man who as a child spent a great deal of time reading Comic Books (even publishing a Fanzine) & watching Television, these are the very definition of fantasy. Maybe the point you tried to make was that you went on to accomplish things in life, which is great, but for you to say that for the most part you never had much time for dreaming seems a little absurd.


Mike Wreal


When You Wish Upon A Star, Makes No Difference Who You Are, Anything Your Heart Desires, Will Come To You..

Yeah, but it takes a lot of hard work, money & some luck, No Shit Sherlock..

Response from Gene:

Mike, there is dreaming and there is dreaming. Fantasy helps me be creative. But that doesn't mean I believe that statue over there is crying blood. You know what I mean!!!

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Gene,

I thought I'd throw this into the mix. Not saying what's right and what's not, that's for others to decide. Anyway, this piece is from a UK Sunday newspaper. Forgive the use of British Pounds Sterling and not the US $ as I'm unsure of the conversion, but I believe that £300 million = US$425 million (?). I digress...

"The wife of a Nigerian mulit-millionaire is taking her husband to court for half his fortune in a divorce hearing which could make British legal history as the most expensive ever.

Aduke Fernandez wants half of the £600 million assests she claims belong jointly to her and her husband, a £5 million lump sum and a monthly allowance of £75,000 for three years. She is also demanding he pay their 14 year-old daughter's school fees and £2,000 a month towards her upbringing. Mrs Fernandez's husband, chief Antonio Fernandez, who served as the Central African Republic's ambassaor to the UN, made his fortune investing in oil wells and gold and diamond mines. He has several bank accounts, some of which hold more than £1 million, and a £10 million home in New York. Barristers for Mrs Fernandez claim that at one point he was earning £83.7 million a month from his investments.

Mrs Fernandez says that the shares and investments total £600 million, all built up during their 21 year marriage, and she wants him to sell them and split the proceeds...

Mrs Fernandez claims her marriage to her 66-year-old husband has broken down irretrievably since they separated and he moved to France this May. He now gives his address as care of the Ritz Hotel, Paris.

His wife claims he became 'irrationally jealous' of a personal trainer she employed in 2001 and even set up surveillance equipment in the family home to spy on her.

In her divorce papers she cites what she describes as his domineering attitude to her as a reason for divorce, saying 'He has no respect for educated women.'

Mrs Fernandez's barrister Charles Macnair QC, said she needs the money to finance the lifestyle she has become used to."

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Well, methinks you should have put this guy on your 'send him a copy of my book' list. Might have saved him a bit of stress...

Myself, having recently got married in April, couldn't possibly comment.

Dwight Fry
Wales.
COME TO THE UK, YOU BUGGERS.

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Hi Gene,

Thought you might get a quick laugh out of this!

A very confident Gene Simmons of KISS walks into a bar of the hotel where the band was staying and took a seat next to a very attractive woman.

He gives her a quick glance, then casually looks at his watch for a moment.

The women notices this and asks, "Is your date running late?"

"No," he replies, " I just bought this very expensive state-of-the-art watch and I was just testing it."

The intrigued woman says, "A state-of-the-art watch? What's so special about it?"

Simmons explains, "It uses alpha waves to talk to me telepathically."

The lady says, "What's it telling you now?"

"Well, it says you're not wearing any panties...." 

The woman giggles and replies, "Well it must be broken because I AM wearing panties!"

Gene smirks, taps his watch and says, "Hmmm...damn thing's an hour fast."



~Carl from Florida

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Hi Gene,

Thanks for another great book!  I admire anyone who makes a living, and the kind of money you make, by doing what he loves. I wish ‘business’ professors had half the business savvy you have; and they wish they had half the money you have.  It irritates me that many people dismiss you as an imprudent “rock star”, and do not understand how hard you worked to get where you are. Anyone can go to school, get an entry-level job, move up etc….that’s the easy way. What you did with your life takes balls!  I love your line “expert business people work for me.” 

Rough segue…..I hope you decide to do another solo album in the future; your 1978 album is one of my favorite albums that I think hold up beautifully today.  Do you have any plans to do live theatre? You would make a great Sweeney Todd – tough vocals though– for anyone!



Onwards and Upwards

Mike

Rhode Island

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Hey Gene,

I found something funny in our local paper that reminded me of you. Our supplement "Parade" has a little section that lets readers complete famous sayings, last weeks was "A fool and his money...." A very knowledgeable reader responded "......are soon married"

J

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"Well. Let's see. Am I to understand God isn't the one who is supposed to communicate with his children? YOU are??? Crap. Further, as a Theology student, kindly note, Jesus (remember, often referred to only as "Rabbi") may or may not have said any of the things attributed to him. Simply because no one who wrote the New Testament was there at the time. Check with your Priest.

I reject any idea that tells me God only has one way. Yours and anyone else's. Keep your thoughts to yourself. The rest of the world is sick and tired of being browbeaten.

And, what if I'm right and you're wrong?"

Gene,

First off, my intent in my the letter (that your reponse above is a response to) was not intended to tell you how to believe but to help to explain the Christian mindset...or mine, at the very least. To help explain why Christians can sometimes seem bothersome to many.

I'm not going to argue about what Jesus said or didn't say. I believe evidence that supports the idea that New Testament authors were alive while Jesus was here and recorded his words accurately. You seem to believe evidence to the contrary.

I have never "browbeaten" anyone and simply share my beliefs when asked or prompted. I have the right to share my thoughts with anyone that I choose...just as you do. I have the right to believe as I choose...just as you do. You have an amazing forum for sharing your beliefs and philosophy on life. You are even in a position to write and print a book and have thousands and thousands of people exposed to your thoughts and ideas...with many probably doing their best to follow your philosophy word for word. If someone told you to "keep your thoughts to yourself," I know what your response would be. Mine is the same whether it's you or any other person telling me what to do.

Also, you could be right and I could be wrong. Absolutely. I almost do hope you are right. If you are right(based on your beliefs as presented in past letters), there is nothing past death and we are all quibbling over what's "truth" for nothing and everyone gets off "scott free" with no consequences. There won't even be a consciousness left to evaluate an afterlife. If I'm right, a lot of people are in for a rude awakening and may be facing something terrible beyond words. The idea of countless millions facing an eternity of suffering is not one that sits well with me. I hate the idea. I hope you are right but believe otherwise.

Still a fan.

Respectfully,

Brian Ashmore

Response from Gene:

The consequences of bad behavior while you are alive, is why we have the military and police. Don't kid yourself. It's true that some bad guys get away scot free. But, it's also true, if you will allow me, that if Hitler, right before he killed himself, asked for Jesus' mercy, he might be let into Heaven.

Can't wait for the letters on this one.

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Gene said:
"I don't want a Christian or a Muslim or anyone else telling me they're are enlightened and I am not. "

As a Christian, I agree that you should not be accosted by others with view points you do not agree with. And as a Christian I also feel that I do not have to tolerate being accosted or belittled by others who have beliefs different from mine (such as you).
I certainly will tolerate an atheist, Satanist, Wicca, or pompous loudmouths telling me that they are enlightened and I am not.
It is a two way street Gene. Don't dish it out if you don't like it in return. You frequently belittle and antagonize religion and Christianity, but then preach about how people, usually referring to Christians, should not belittle and antagonize others who are not of the same religion.
You are most definitely entitled to your OPINIONS, just as I am to mine. And I am just as entitled to voice my opinions as you are yours.
That is the hypocritical paradox that I find among people who are hostile to religion. They will go around talking about religion in a negative way to anyone and everyone, especially religious people. Then when religious people attempt to voice their opinion they are told "Don't shove your religious crap down my throat. I don't want to hear it." Well, by the same token, don't shove your anti-religious feelings down my throat. I don't want to hear it.
However, in the meantime, if you continue to voice your opinions about religion, don't be surprised if others voice theirs right back to you.

Regards,

Namrag
Dayton, Ohio

Response from Gene:

You're misdirected, perhaps but at the very least, uninformed. Firstly, I am not anti-religious. I am anti-pain in the ass people who come up to me and tell me what the "true path" is. By definition, that is Christianity. You need to be educated in the history and intention of the Church. It is YOUR DUTY, as defined by your religion, to tell others of the error of their ways.
And, I resent that.

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This is to address all of the recent letters from well-meaning Christians and not-so-well-meaning Christians. All though I am in total disagreement with Gene when it comes to his interpretation of Scripture. I do agree that no one has a right to judge another persons belief or lack of belief.

I believe that God does exist and that he did create the Universe. I believe that he did in fact send his only Son to die for our sins that we may have salvation from our sins. However I also believe that God gave us FREE WILL!! It is not my place as a Christian or even as a non-Christian to judge others based on their belief system. Would I like for everyone to confess the name of Jesus Christ, of course I would. However, the only thing I can do is just share my testimony and live my life to the best of my ability based on the Scripture. If someone chooses not to believe, hey that's ok, it honestly doesn't bring me down and I truly do not judge ( I AM NOT QUALIFIED TO). I would like to make one suggestion though. If you have never read the Bible, I would like to suggest that you do. Forget all the religious mumbo-jumbo and just read it has if you were reading any other book. I found it to be the greatest book ever written when it comes to learning how to live a successful life and obtaining the tools gain wealth.

I hope my heart came through on this and no one misunderstands anything I wrote. Point - Believe what you want to believe and learn to love each other no matter what.

Erik

Response from Gene:

Beautiful letter. Unfortunately, it's not very Christian.

The reason you have Missionaries, is to "save souls." It's either called "outreach" or some other romantic name. But it means, Christians are directed to tell everyone else their religion is wrong and that Christianity is the only religion.

I agree with your point. People should be left alone to decide what they want to believe. God (I would assume) is the only judge and in either case, it's nobody's business what God intends or does not intend.