Has Maynard James Keenan of Tool found Jesus?

This news story from VH1 says so. So does this news story from the unofficial Tool fan site. I don't know, but I sure hope so. As a Christian, I pray for everyone to find the salvation that Christ provides. I especially pray for this of people I am close to or who I am affected by, and MJK is one of those people.

Yes, I know the story seems to have surfaced on or near April Fool's Day. Yes, the Tool website has done some notorious April Fool's Day gags in the past, including announcing that the band had broken up.

Yes, Maynard James Keenan is notoriously anti-religious in his lyrics. Tool has a song called "Opiate" (based on Marx's "opiate for the masses" comment about religion) with lyrics that say:

If you want to get your soul to heaven.
Trust in me, now don't you judge or question.
You are broken now but faith can heal you.
Just do everything I tell you to do.
Deaf and blind and dumb and born to follow.
What you need is someone strong to guide you, like me.

Another song entitled "Eulogy" seems to be based on Nietzche's proclamation that "God is dead". The lyrics for that one state:

He had a lot to say.
He had a lot of nothing to say.
We'll miss him.
Get off your cross.
We need the space to nail the next fool martyr.

MJK is constantly referencing psychology, philosophy, and religion in his lyrics. They are, quite possibly, the most intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics I've ever had the pleasure to listen to. MJK is a not a songwriter; he is a poet. Aside from perhaps Beethoven, he is probably my favorite musician of all-time.

With his music, he has always seemed to be searching for truth and questioning everything. That is a good thing. More people should search for truth and question authority at all times.

But did he really find Jesus?

My guess is no. It's probably all a joke. But man, I sure hope it's true. I can only imagine what sorts of lyrics he can write in praise of God. What a great story this will be if it's true.