Collideoscope

Our Month in My Life blogger, Jared, brought up a really interesting topic yesterday regarding Bono and his band, U2. I've decided to weigh in (yea I'm even compelled to weigh in) but please take my comments in the spirit of lively discussion and not as an attack on Jared, Bono, or anyone else. Let this be, shall we say, the cyber equivalent of a little chat at the coffee shop.

I have long been fascinated with Bono and as he is from Dublin (the place to which my family and I will be moving to work as AIMers), I have additional interest in what he's all about. He makes incredibly good music, writes phenomenal lyrics, and goes around holding audience with Popes, Presidents, and just about anyone who has a cause of some kind. But I, along with millions of others, still cannot pinpoint exactly what he's all about.

I confess that on more than one occasion I have reached out to purchase U2's greatest hits cd that softly calls my name each time I buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but each time I feel checked by the Holy Spirit not to go there. In a quick one sentence summary, I don't believe all music has to necessarily be "Christian" but it is extremely important to me to know what a singer, musician, and band stands for and how they behave behind the scenes for me to buy into their music. I still haven't figured out who Bono and company are (though I have listened to some of their stuff before, and I have given How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb a once over).

In my quest to see what they are all about I have come across two important articles. The first was written in 2005 by a Christian recording artist by the name of Tara Leigh Cobble. She attended a U2 concert and stated that Bono chanted "Jesus, Jew, Mohammed-all true" to the crowd (this has been disputed by others). The action left her feeling let down and she even asserts that Bono could be a type of anti Christ. What is interesting about this is that the Christian community lashed out at Cobble for daring to speak against Bono, and I even heard a pod cast where Derek Webb railed on her and defended Bono (I would link to it but it has since been taken down). Why the defense of Bono? I get the feeling sometimes that the public in general wants to hear no negative words about him.

The second article was written in late 2006 and is called "I Have Forgiven Bono". While I'm sure he's delighted to know that he has found forgiveness from this person, it is interesting to note that even in one of the few negative articles I've ever seen on him, the author is "forgiving" him, thus invalidating the criticism. Also, the editors of that particular website preface the article to make sure that all readers know that they like U2 and do not necessarily agree with the author. Why all defensive?

To me, the bottom line on Bono is this. Yes, he asks some probing spiritual questions in his lyrics. Yes, he sings about the spiritual quest we are all on. Without a doubt his songs have spiritual overtones and even when the do not they are usually about some worthwhile cause. But Bono never offers an answer! And that is the key (the song "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" comes to mind). Bono asks the right questions but doesn't offer any answers. And that is a shame because the mass, worldwide appeal that he has gives him the opportunity to offer the hope of Christ to millions, maybe even billions. And it is an opportunity he misses.

Having said that I likely will at some point again check out "Yaweh" to give it a listen with Jared's words in mind. And yes a class combining OT theology and U2 song lyrics sounds fascinating. But to buy in to U2's message and send them straight to my mp3 player?

They still aren't what I'm looking for.