After officially revealing that he was diagnosed with leukemia, the support for Behemoth’s Adam “Nergal” Darski has been overwhelming with fans and bands reaching out to see how they can help. And for the first time since making his illness public, Nergal has released an official statement. In addition to thanking everyone for all of their support, Nergal assured that not only will he fight the disease, but that Behemoth will in no way be put on hold.
But if that wasn’t enough to give you hope that he will indeed beat this, then his words about changing his anti-religious ways will. You can read the entire statement here, but here is an excerpt that proves that no illness will prevent him from taking on religion:
“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!”
In other words, even in difficult times, Nergal is still the black metal God we all love. In so many ways, this is a great sign of hope for Behemoth fans and concerned metal heads. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to Nergal and his family.
