Following Saved, Shot of Love reintroduced secular themes into his music; but “Property of Jesus” is the center song on the first side.  Additionally, Infidels was viewed as a return to the “old” Bob Dylan by most; however, the title clearly has religious connotations – and might even represent a dagger toward his critics.  “Man of Peace” on this album – as in, “sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace” – could easily have fit onto one of the earlier albums. 

Wikipedia says that “Infidels is seen as his return to secular music, following a conversion to Christianity, three evangelical gospel records, and a subsequent return to a secular, culturally Jewish lifestyle” (whatever that is supposed to mean).  

*       *       *

Infidels marked a change in musical direction for Bob Dylan with the addition of Jamaican rhythm section Sly & Robbie; Mark Knopfler returned for that album, and the personnel also included Mick Taylor, who was with the Rolling Stones from 1969 to 1974. 

*       *       *

There was a noticeable dip in the ratings given by rock critics of Bob Dylan’s Christian recordings.  That was not true so much for Slow Train Coming – Robert Christgau of the Village Voice gave the album a B+ and wrote:  “The lyrics are indifferently crafted.  Nevertheless, this is his best album since Blood on the Tracks.  The singing is passionate and detailed.”  Allmusic and Rolling Stone both rated the album ***.  

For Saved, the Rolling Stone rating stood, but Allmusic gave the album only **, and Christgau scored it as C+.  Entertainment Weekly showed a C–.  Shot of Love had ** from both Rolling Stone and Allmusic; Christgau and Entertainment Weekly showed B–.  

With Infidels though, all was forgiven:  Rolling Stone and Allmusic were both at ****.  

*       *       *

Why did Bob Dylan quit recording Christian albums if he retains his Christian beliefs?  One factor is likely that all of this criticism directed at Bob Dylan stung – he is not as above it all as it might appear.  A quotation from Wikipedia that I read some months ago that is no longer in the article on Infidels states:  “It has been reported that reviews like these of Dylan’s religious works depressed the musician profoundly, inspiring Dylan’s comment at one concert that he was only referred to as a ‘prophet’ when he was a ‘secular prophet’ (paraphrased).”  

(August 2014)