U-2 lead singer, Bono, recently addressed the National Prayer Breakfast where President Bush and other national and international leaders gathered in Washington, DC. I am not much of a rock fan, but I find his remarks refreshing, authentic and a real call to action. Of course I did not agree with everything he said, but a lot of it is really great stuff. Here were some of my favorite bits:
Yes, it’s odd, having a rock star here—but maybe it’s odder for me than for you. You see, I avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it had something to do with having a father who was Protestant and a mother who was Catholic in a country where the line between the two was, quite literally, a battle line… One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.
For me, at least, it got in the way. Seeing what religious people, in the name of God, did to my native land… and in this country, seeing God’s second-hand car salesmen on the cable TV channels, offering indulgences for cash… in fact, all over the world, seeing the self-righteousness roll down like a mighty stream from certain corners of the religious establishment… I must confess, I changed the channel
Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives… I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill… I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff… maybe, maybe not… But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor. God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house… God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives… God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war… God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them.
There is a continent—Africa—being consumed by flames. I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did—or did not to—to put the fire out in Africa.
If you’d like to read the entire transcript you will find it here.
You may also be interested in the interview with Eugene Peterson on U2’s message:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4232
You may also be interested in the interview with Eugene Peterson on U2’s message:
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4232
I just want to say that my husband and I pastor a house church; however, we do not agree with the Emerging Church movement and I have a bone to pick with Bono! According to Tara Leigh Cobble, who wrote in her newsletter after attending a U2 Concert, that Bonno had the huge audience he was peforming for, chanting, along with him, the words, “Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all true. Jesus, Jew Mohammed-all True.” From this point on I can’t be impressed with anything Bono would have to say about anything. Jesus taught that He and Jews and Mohammed “collide.” He taught that He was the only One who is “True.” Bono may be a great musician and humanitarian but that is the same platform Satan operates from. Bono is a New Ager in disguise! If people want to know the “truth” they had better turn up the volumn on their spiritual hearing aids. Tickle, Tickle, Tickle. All that glitters isn’t God.-Karen
Following is a quote from the last paragraph of the article suggested by Glenn. “Let me just throw in one more thing. When I was listening to the music you sent me, I thought that with some of the music I grew up on — Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, all those people — when I compare Bono and U2 — the way they’re singing and the lyrics — it seems so much more honest. All that Frank Sinatra crowd, they weren’t telling the truth, they were just spinning fantasies. There’s something very refreshing about U2. It’s honest music. There’s an honesty and that’s why I think the word prophetic is accurate for them. They are not saying things that people want to hear to make them escape from their ordinary lives. They push us back into the conditions in which we have to live.”
I have no problem with Bono being “outside of the Church” but since when do we go outside of the scriptures to call something true and honest and prophetic. What in the world is true and honest and prophetic about Bono’s chanting “Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all True?” And the author and his book,”The Message” are not embraced by a large part of the Body of Christ. I think your ears are tickling -perhaps from Bono’s music or from the watered down verses in “the Message.” (and I am not a “King James Only.” Again, as our teachers used to say, “Put on your thinking caps.” The bible says those who are mature have had their sences trained to discern good and evil.” Let those who have ears to hear, rather than those who ears are being tickled, hear what the Spirit is saying!” _Karen
I just want to say that my husband and I pastor a house church; however, we do not agree with the Emerging Church movement and I have a bone to pick with Bono! According to Tara Leigh Cobble, who wrote in her newsletter after attending a U2 Concert, that Bonno had the huge audience he was peforming for, chanting, along with him, the words, “Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all true. Jesus, Jew Mohammed-all True.” From this point on I can’t be impressed with anything Bono would have to say about anything. Jesus taught that He and Jews and Mohammed “collide.” He taught that He was the only One who is “True.” Bono may be a great musician and humanitarian but that is the same platform Satan operates from. Bono is a New Ager in disguise! If people want to know the “truth” they had better turn up the volumn on their spiritual hearing aids. Tickle, Tickle, Tickle. All that glitters isn’t God.-Karen
If you’d like to read the article about Bono by Tara Leigh Cobble, yourself, go to http://www.relevantmagazine.com/pc_article.php?id=7089#pagetop.
Karen
Following is a quote from the last paragraph of the article suggested by Glenn. “Let me just throw in one more thing. When I was listening to the music you sent me, I thought that with some of the music I grew up on — Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, all those people — when I compare Bono and U2 — the way they’re singing and the lyrics — it seems so much more honest. All that Frank Sinatra crowd, they weren’t telling the truth, they were just spinning fantasies. There’s something very refreshing about U2. It’s honest music. There’s an honesty and that’s why I think the word prophetic is accurate for them. They are not saying things that people want to hear to make them escape from their ordinary lives. They push us back into the conditions in which we have to live.”
I have no problem with Bono being “outside of the Church” but since when do we go outside of the scriptures to call something true and honest and prophetic. What in the world is true and honest and prophetic about Bono’s chanting “Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all True?” And the author and his book,”The Message” are not embraced by a large part of the Body of Christ. I think your ears are tickling -perhaps from Bono’s music or from the watered down verses in “the Message.” (and I am not a “King James Only.” Again, as our teachers used to say, “Put on your thinking caps.” The bible says those who are mature have had their sences trained to discern good and evil.” Let those who have ears to hear, rather than those who ears are being tickled, hear what the Spirit is saying!” _Karen
If you’d like to read the article about Bono by Tara Leigh Cobble, yourself, go to http://www.relevantmagazine.com/pc_article.php?id=7089#pagetop.
Karen
Karen and others,
First, let me be clear. I’m not a U2 fan, nor much of a rock fan at all. I just like many of the things Bono is saying these days about God, the failures of religion and the call to help find solidarity with the plight of the poor and oppressed. When I read your comments and the Relevant article my first thought was that this couldn’t even be true. If Bono made the comments assigned to him then in so many ways he would have to be a spiritual fraud because that’s not the way he talks or lives.
Doing a bit more searching, however, I found reports a bit different. As a man growing up in Ireland in the 1900s with a Catholic Mom and a Protestant Father, where people are being blown up for their religious differences, I can understand his passion for us all to coexist. We have the share the planet despite those differences, or simply launch a holy war where the post powerful army annihilates the others. One person quoted him as saying that what was ‘true’ was not all the monotheistic religions, but that they are all children of Abraham, which is true.
So what did Bono say that day? I don’t know. Is it possible he was misinterpreted? Yes. If he wasn’t misinterpreted would I agree with him? Absolutely not! Anyone who says Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all true is intellectually dishonest. Each represents an ultimate claim to truth that negates the others being true. If that’s his campaign, that will become evident in time. If, however, someone is distorting (intentionally or unintentionally) that we somehow find a way to peacefully co-exist on the planet despite our religious differences, that is unfair as well. How can anyone look at the Middle East, terrorism or capitalistic exploitation of undeveloped countries and not cry out for peaceful coexistances as members of the human race? That’s something we all have to be workiing on.
I am reminded of the Proverb that says someone’s story or accusation might seem true until you hear the other side of things. So don’t judge until you’ve heard both sides. I try to live that way. Karen, your cautions will certainly effect how I listen to Bono in the future, to see if he has an agenda here I haven’t seen before. But I’m not going to judge a man’s life simply because of something someone thought they heard at a noisy rock concert. Time will make this clear, I’m sure.
Almost every time I quote anyone on this blog, someone sends me some accusations against them from off the Internet, or a quote from their writings they disagree with. Just to be clear, when I quote someone here it is not an endorsement of them or everything they do or say or have ever done and said. It’s simply that I like what they said, or wanted to respond to it, so I’m passing it on.
I do not look for perfect people to quote. Then I wouldn’t even be able to quote myself!
Wayne
Karen and others,
First, let me be clear. I’m not a U2 fan, nor much of a rock fan at all. I just like many of the things Bono is saying these days about God, the failures of religion and the call to help find solidarity with the plight of the poor and oppressed. When I read your comments and the Relevant article my first thought was that this couldn’t even be true. If Bono made the comments assigned to him then in so many ways he would have to be a spiritual fraud because that’s not the way he talks or lives.
Doing a bit more searching, however, I found reports a bit different. As a man growing up in Ireland in the 1900s with a Catholic Mom and a Protestant Father, where people are being blown up for their religious differences, I can understand his passion for us all to coexist. We have the share the planet despite those differences, or simply launch a holy war where the post powerful army annihilates the others. One person quoted him as saying that what was ‘true’ was not all the monotheistic religions, but that they are all children of Abraham, which is true.
So what did Bono say that day? I don’t know. Is it possible he was misinterpreted? Yes. If he wasn’t misinterpreted would I agree with him? Absolutely not! Anyone who says Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all true is intellectually dishonest. Each represents an ultimate claim to truth that negates the others being true. If that’s his campaign, that will become evident in time. If, however, someone is distorting (intentionally or unintentionally) that we somehow find a way to peacefully co-exist on the planet despite our religious differences, that is unfair as well. How can anyone look at the Middle East, terrorism or capitalistic exploitation of undeveloped countries and not cry out for peaceful coexistances as members of the human race? That’s something we all have to be workiing on.
I am reminded of the Proverb that says someone’s story or accusation might seem true until you hear the other side of things. So don’t judge until you’ve heard both sides. I try to live that way. Karen, your cautions will certainly effect how I listen to Bono in the future, to see if he has an agenda here I haven’t seen before. But I’m not going to judge a man’s life simply because of something someone thought they heard at a noisy rock concert. Time will make this clear, I’m sure.
Almost every time I quote anyone on this blog, someone sends me some accusations against them from off the Internet, or a quote from their writings they disagree with. Just to be clear, when I quote someone here it is not an endorsement of them or everything they do or say or have ever done and said. It’s simply that I like what they said, or wanted to respond to it, so I’m passing it on.
I do not look for perfect people to quote. Then I wouldn’t even be able to quote myself!
Wayne
You know what? It is a sad time we live in. Check it out. If you know so much about Bono, check it out. Check it out and don’t put your head in the sand. We live in a day where this is to be suspected. If you want to follow anyone headlong into whatever because you find it hard to believe than so be it; but otherwise check it out! Why are you so shocked that someone popular could possibly be a spiritual fraud. They certainly would not see themselves that way- particularly in this day and age when tolarance for all religions is being pushed and the “great falling away” is taking place. or do you not believe that is happening? Let’s just believe everyone, right? That’s biblical! I am “fini!” -karen
sad.
Karen, it seems that you missed Wayne’s points completely.
Dave
Deaar Wayne, please forgive me, my comments were not meant as an attack against you. I too have read some things about Bono on his own websit. If you were to go to your most spiritual leader and read the same things on his web, I think you would begin to question his spirituality also. In the article taken from U2 Biographies, Biography:Bono at http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/ it is quoted that Bono’s Nicknames/Alter-Egos: are “The Antichrist*, Alton Dalton, The Mother Teresa of Abandoned Songs, the Sonic Leprechaun, The Fly, The Mirrorball Man, Mister MacPhisto- “He is quoted as saying that “addressing AIDS is at the core of the Church’s purpose and at the core of how outsiders see the church.” It is not hard now to catch the error in this type of thinking and to see what it is doing to the Church. If there is a famine of the Word in our life, this sounds good. But if instead, the Word is more precious to us than riches and we have hidden it in our hearts, we will know that the core of the Church’s purpose is saving souls from hell, aids is secondary. Concerning the asterisk after his Alter-Ego name “Anti-Christ, I could not determine what the asterick was pointing to in the rest of the article. I had hoped maybe he would speak about how it was a joke(some joke) or even an error, but nothing so redeeming! The Anti-Christ just happens to be one of his nicknames!
The same article is quoted “As the group’s lead singer and lyricist, Bono has written songs which have taken people on spiritual journeys, turned them on sexually, or inspired them to change.” Now that’s the sign of a good Christian rock star, one who turns his audiences on sexually and doesn’t mind his biography on his own website depicting him in these words. I think I may have read the same things about Jars of Clay, Petra, Audiarennaline, etc! I am being facetious! Yes, yes, I think Bono is one whose spiritual opinions I can trust. This tastes like yummy fruit to me. Karen
I will try to e-mail Bona and ask him personally about these things but I think he will probably say something “deep” along with “judge not least you be judged.” If he is the spiritual giant and the prophetic voice some say, then why does he alllow the picture painted of himself on his own web. If he has grown past all this why not say. The falllllliiiiinnnnnnnggggaaawwwwwaaaayyyyyyyy is happening! Fini, fini, karen
Lastly, as Apostle Paul said about himself referring to his being the last of the foundational Apostles on which our faith is built(a whole other subject), please check out the website and view Bono and his band in concert at http://www.goodfight.org/ -scroll down half way and click on U2. Also if you go to his website at http://atu2.blogspot.com/ you will find them-U2- mocking the author of the web I have mentioned, implying that he has turned off his “irony sensor” and that all this is just irony and a joke or something of that nature. See and decide for yourself. Karen
You know what? It is a sad time we live in. Check it out. If you know so much about Bono, check it out. Check it out and don’t put your head in the sand. We live in a day where this is to be suspected. If you want to follow anyone headlong into whatever because you find it hard to believe than so be it; but otherwise check it out! Why are you so shocked that someone popular could possibly be a spiritual fraud. They certainly would not see themselves that way- particularly in this day and age when tolarance for all religions is being pushed and the “great falling away” is taking place. or do you not believe that is happening? Let’s just believe everyone, right? That’s biblical! I am “fini!” -karen
sad.
Karen, it seems that you missed Wayne’s points completely.
Dave
Deaar Wayne, please forgive me, my comments were not meant as an attack against you. I too have read some things about Bono on his own websit. If you were to go to your most spiritual leader and read the same things on his web, I think you would begin to question his spirituality also. In the article taken from U2 Biographies, Biography:Bono at http://www.atu2.com/band/bono/ it is quoted that Bono’s Nicknames/Alter-Egos: are “The Antichrist*, Alton Dalton, The Mother Teresa of Abandoned Songs, the Sonic Leprechaun, The Fly, The Mirrorball Man, Mister MacPhisto- “He is quoted as saying that “addressing AIDS is at the core of the Church’s purpose and at the core of how outsiders see the church.” It is not hard now to catch the error in this type of thinking and to see what it is doing to the Church. If there is a famine of the Word in our life, this sounds good. But if instead, the Word is more precious to us than riches and we have hidden it in our hearts, we will know that the core of the Church’s purpose is saving souls from hell, aids is secondary. Concerning the asterisk after his Alter-Ego name “Anti-Christ, I could not determine what the asterick was pointing to in the rest of the article. I had hoped maybe he would speak about how it was a joke(some joke) or even an error, but nothing so redeeming! The Anti-Christ just happens to be one of his nicknames!
The same article is quoted “As the group’s lead singer and lyricist, Bono has written songs which have taken people on spiritual journeys, turned them on sexually, or inspired them to change.” Now that’s the sign of a good Christian rock star, one who turns his audiences on sexually and doesn’t mind his biography on his own website depicting him in these words. I think I may have read the same things about Jars of Clay, Petra, Audiarennaline, etc! I am being facetious! Yes, yes, I think Bono is one whose spiritual opinions I can trust. This tastes like yummy fruit to me. Karen
I will try to e-mail Bona and ask him personally about these things but I think he will probably say something “deep” along with “judge not least you be judged.” If he is the spiritual giant and the prophetic voice some say, then why does he alllow the picture painted of himself on his own web. If he has grown past all this why not say. The falllllliiiiinnnnnnnggggaaawwwwwaaaayyyyyyyy is happening! Fini, fini, karen
Lastly, as Apostle Paul said about himself referring to his being the last of the foundational Apostles on which our faith is built(a whole other subject), please check out the website and view Bono and his band in concert at http://www.goodfight.org/ -scroll down half way and click on U2. Also if you go to his website at http://atu2.blogspot.com/ you will find them-U2- mocking the author of the web I have mentioned, implying that he has turned off his “irony sensor” and that all this is just irony and a joke or something of that nature. See and decide for yourself. Karen
Just for the record…the site @U2 (atu2.com) is NOT the band’s official web site. The site is produced by U2 fans for U2 fans. Opinions on this site cannot be assumed to (necessarily) be those of the band.
Just for the record…the site @U2 (atu2.com) is NOT the band’s official web site. The site is produced by U2 fans for U2 fans. Opinions on this site cannot be assumed to (necessarily) be those of the band.
Gee, they sure are coming from a biblical perspective-his fans. If I had that great a following and spouted out filth the way he did in the goodfight clip, then I would be willing -even convicted to need to- give my testimony how I had denounced the satanic impersonations and language and darkness and honestly and clearly try to lead my old fans into the arms of Jesus. Talk about an opportunity for Eternity. Instead his big push is AIDS-wow-think of all the fans who could get saved vs all the fans who might be properly treated for AIDS. It is strange to me that thier salvation is not tops on his list. I have not read one thing about his renouncing these things. He has just continued on in his humanitarian endevours. I don’t get it but I don’t like rotten fruit but maybe others who defend him do. The bible teaches us that there will be deceivers amoung us and they can’t deceive us by saying they are not believers and that they do not believe Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins- but instead, they will have just a little twist that if not detected will infect many. They will profess to be like us-but they won’t be like us. Here it comes -I am judging! Others would say I’m using discernemt. -Karen (this is a dead horse but maybe someone will check it out. I think it is a kick that no one knows for sure where he stands and he enjoys that. It is like a game of cat and mouse and that is not honest.) Karen
Gee, they sure are coming from a biblical perspective-his fans. If I had that great a following and spouted out filth the way he did in the goodfight clip, then I would be willing -even convicted to need to- give my testimony how I had denounced the satanic impersonations and language and darkness and honestly and clearly try to lead my old fans into the arms of Jesus. Talk about an opportunity for Eternity. Instead his big push is AIDS-wow-think of all the fans who could get saved vs all the fans who might be properly treated for AIDS. It is strange to me that thier salvation is not tops on his list. I have not read one thing about his renouncing these things. He has just continued on in his humanitarian endevours. I don’t get it but I don’t like rotten fruit but maybe others who defend him do. The bible teaches us that there will be deceivers amoung us and they can’t deceive us by saying they are not believers and that they do not believe Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins- but instead, they will have just a little twist that if not detected will infect many. They will profess to be like us-but they won’t be like us. Here it comes -I am judging! Others would say I’m using discernemt. -Karen (this is a dead horse but maybe someone will check it out. I think it is a kick that no one knows for sure where he stands and he enjoys that. It is like a game of cat and mouse and that is not honest.) Karen
I’m gona go ahead and take the words that are in this article alone and what they say. I see absolutely no need to swing at the guy who said it. Does investigating Bono’s background/mission further the Kingdom? No. Is he the anti-Christ? Don’t care. Was the message relevant to today’s society and did it have a profound meaning? Yes. So I’m leaving it at that. Now I am going to have a cheese burger a coke and a smile.
I was at a U2 concert recently. I also have the live DVD so I went back to watch it before I posted here to make sure. What Bono says is Jesus, Jew, Mohammed it’s true, all sons of Abraham. That is much different than the way the article made it sound. This is not a false statement, it is a true one. Coexist is a very relevent prayer for our times we face in the world today. Karen, I think we all need to be much more careful in finding out the truth before we believe everything we read or hear. As for the goodfight.org website that has a film explaining that Bono and his fellow band mates are ministers of satan, they could not be more wrong in the arguments they make about the band. I can go through all the the things they point out in the clip you can watch on their site and disprove the points they are trying to make. I have read interviews or seen interviews with Bono explaining much of this stuff. I will give one example here. They show a video of the band in concert and Bono has on a neckless with an upside down cross. They say the upside down cross is a sure sign of satan worship. I have heard Bono speak of this as an emblem of a Patron Saint of Scotland who asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy enough to die in the same manner as his savior. Things aren’t always as they might seem. I will say this, I can not from where I sit and watch Bono know for sure if he has some secret sinister agenda. From what I have seen, read and heard I am choosing to believe that he is genuine and until I know different I will continue to admire his work in music and his humanitarian work. At least he has been consistant with all of this from the beginning. He has not grown weary in doing good.
I’m gona go ahead and take the words that are in this article alone and what they say. I see absolutely no need to swing at the guy who said it. Does investigating Bono’s background/mission further the Kingdom? No. Is he the anti-Christ? Don’t care. Was the message relevant to today’s society and did it have a profound meaning? Yes. So I’m leaving it at that. Now I am going to have a cheese burger a coke and a smile.
I was at a U2 concert recently. I also have the live DVD so I went back to watch it before I posted here to make sure. What Bono says is Jesus, Jew, Mohammed it’s true, all sons of Abraham. That is much different than the way the article made it sound. This is not a false statement, it is a true one. Coexist is a very relevent prayer for our times we face in the world today. Karen, I think we all need to be much more careful in finding out the truth before we believe everything we read or hear. As for the goodfight.org website that has a film explaining that Bono and his fellow band mates are ministers of satan, they could not be more wrong in the arguments they make about the band. I can go through all the the things they point out in the clip you can watch on their site and disprove the points they are trying to make. I have read interviews or seen interviews with Bono explaining much of this stuff. I will give one example here. They show a video of the band in concert and Bono has on a neckless with an upside down cross. They say the upside down cross is a sure sign of satan worship. I have heard Bono speak of this as an emblem of a Patron Saint of Scotland who asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy enough to die in the same manner as his savior. Things aren’t always as they might seem. I will say this, I can not from where I sit and watch Bono know for sure if he has some secret sinister agenda. From what I have seen, read and heard I am choosing to believe that he is genuine and until I know different I will continue to admire his work in music and his humanitarian work. At least he has been consistant with all of this from the beginning. He has not grown weary in doing good.
In Jesus I see the God who refuses to judge those outside the box of reliogious “rightness”. He only spoke of judgment for the judges sitting in Moses’s seat and that with tears. Then He offered intersesion for them with His dieing breath. It’s not about who is right and who is wrong. It’s about Him, crucified for Bono, the judges and us all.
In Jesus I see the God who refuses to judge those outside the box of reliogious “rightness”. He only spoke of judgment for the judges sitting in Moses’s seat and that with tears. Then He offered intersesion for them with His dieing breath. It’s not about who is right and who is wrong. It’s about Him, crucified for Bono, the judges and us all.
Very well said Steve. While I was reading this the other day I couldn’t help but think of how Bono has throughout the years handled all the criticism from the christian community. He has never at least in public defended himself against the attacks as far as I know. He acts totally uneffected by it. I think we all could learn from that example.
Very well said Steve. While I was reading this the other day I couldn’t help but think of how Bono has throughout the years handled all the criticism from the christian community. He has never at least in public defended himself against the attacks as far as I know. He acts totally uneffected by it. I think we all could learn from that example.
I think what Bono said in that quote was right on. I don’t know anything about him as a person, and I didn’t read the rest, so I can’t comment on that.
I think it’s sad that someone has to categorize a person, label them, and if they aren’t perfect then condemn them. That is NOT what Jesus would do at all. I can agree with what you say without agreeing with ALL that you say and do.
If we don’t get past this preteen, black and white, us or them attitude then it will eventually destroy us all. Jesus was about love, truth, compassion and forgiveness, not rigidity, finger-pointing, conformity, and hate. The latter attitude was why I left the twisted thing that passes for church in this country.
I thought after 3 years out of the church I was over this. But I guess I’m not.
I think what Bono said in that quote was right on. I don’t know anything about him as a person, and I didn’t read the rest, so I can’t comment on that.
I think it’s sad that someone has to categorize a person, label them, and if they aren’t perfect then condemn them. That is NOT what Jesus would do at all. I can agree with what you say without agreeing with ALL that you say and do.
If we don’t get past this preteen, black and white, us or them attitude then it will eventually destroy us all. Jesus was about love, truth, compassion and forgiveness, not rigidity, finger-pointing, conformity, and hate. The latter attitude was why I left the twisted thing that passes for church in this country.
I thought after 3 years out of the church I was over this. But I guess I’m not.
I love this exchange with Bono. Pretty good question from Q, pretty great answer from Bono.
Q: Money. Irishness. God. Which one couldn’t you live without?
Bono: Wow. Well it’s an easy question to ask but… here’s a thing. When I was 16, my head was exploding. I just felt my life was going nowhere. I didn’t fit in. I couldn’t get a job. I didn’t know how I could do my exams and I wasn’t even sure I could concentrate at college. In those days, I remember, a prayer came up inside me. I said “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life but if there’s a God out there, and I believe there is, and You want me to do something, then I’m ready. I don’t have any plans for myself and I’m available for work.” Pretty much within a few months of that epiphany I had joined U2 and started going out with Ali. A pretty good two months! Now had my destiny been — if the God in heaven had said I want you to become a fireman and run up very dangerous buildings and save people’s pets, I’d like to hope I’d have gone at it with the same gusto. So — I couldn’t let go of my faith. But what’s more interesting is that I don’t think God will let go of me. I love it when people on bar stools rub their chins and say do you believe in God? That’s so presumptuous. A much more important question is does God believe in us?
Q: That sounds like you believe you were chosen.
Bono: No, no, no, I don’t believe that. I do think God gets a laugh out of using some very poor materials. I volunteered is what I’m telling you.”
–Bono in Q Magazine
I love this exchange with Bono. Pretty good question from Q, pretty great answer from Bono.
Q: Money. Irishness. God. Which one couldn’t you live without?
Bono: Wow. Well it’s an easy question to ask but… here’s a thing. When I was 16, my head was exploding. I just felt my life was going nowhere. I didn’t fit in. I couldn’t get a job. I didn’t know how I could do my exams and I wasn’t even sure I could concentrate at college. In those days, I remember, a prayer came up inside me. I said “I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life but if there’s a God out there, and I believe there is, and You want me to do something, then I’m ready. I don’t have any plans for myself and I’m available for work.” Pretty much within a few months of that epiphany I had joined U2 and started going out with Ali. A pretty good two months! Now had my destiny been — if the God in heaven had said I want you to become a fireman and run up very dangerous buildings and save people’s pets, I’d like to hope I’d have gone at it with the same gusto. So — I couldn’t let go of my faith. But what’s more interesting is that I don’t think God will let go of me. I love it when people on bar stools rub their chins and say do you believe in God? That’s so presumptuous. A much more important question is does God believe in us?
Q: That sounds like you believe you were chosen.
Bono: No, no, no, I don’t believe that. I do think God gets a laugh out of using some very poor materials. I volunteered is what I’m telling you.”
–Bono in Q Magazine