"It's not about charity, it's about justice."

Tim at Occasio has some reactions to the Idol event last night. A number of similar thoughts went through my mind while watching the part of it I was able to catch.

"Bono and the Cross"

It usually takes me a good 10 minutes and 6-8 powerpoint slides to summarize the 30-year spiritual history that this cartoon gets across in a few quick glances. (Hint to readers: I didn't get it at first, but the Zoo-era image depicts surfing.)

"One life so large that it must live in many little ones in order to manifest its countless facets"

The blog Nameless, Faceless Love posts a detailed reading of "One" as a love song to the church. This is not a standpoint I'd ever considered trying to hear the text from, but it has a couple interesting moments and becomes almost an examination of conscience.

[Update: Fresno Dave riffs on this and related issues here.]

Note to readers

Reblogger is back. Thanks for your patience.

Surrender

A very well written personal reflection on the song "Surrender" is up at @U2. It's worth reading as a piece of writing and for its use of a lyric that isn't spoken much of, but also as an illustration of a completely secular revisioning of one of U2's long line of "idolatry songs." Absolutely fascinating piece for anyone who is interested in how thoughtful folks who aren't tuned in to U2's Christian theological underpinnings nevertheless reflectively appropriate their work as personally (in fact many might say "spiritually" here) meaningful.

For example, Sadie's story is seen independently of any grace/works context, the "it" that frustrates the narrator's efforts to "look for you" becomes a positive goal, and the resultant ending salvo ("if I want to live, I've got to die to myself someday") is reframed as "if I want to live, I have to be true to myself but always ready to change." I wish a hundred more people like this would help me understand how they hear U2 by writing a hundred more pieces like this.

Thanks

Just a quick thank you to all the folks at Cedarville University. I really enjoyed the various events today - the honors class, the faculty lunch, and the public event this evening - and was delighted by the thoughtful, God-honoring, and unusually well-informed conversations and questions that ensued. Thanks for inviting me and for bringing your intellects and your faith to the analysis of art!

Cedarville reminder

I'm currently at Cedarville College in Ohio doing some speaking, and a reminder that tomorrow night's U2 event is open to the public, 8 PM at the Stevens Student Center.

Better than church

The folks over at Interference have been discussing the question "Have you ever had a spiritual experience at a U2 concert?" Writers' perspectives and priorities vary, but it's an instructive read.

the grave is now a groove

Speaking in Ohio

This coming week I'll be speaking at Cedarville University in Ohio. While I have four different engagements there, the only public U2-related event is Thursday night at 8 PM in the Stevens Student Center; it's called "The Goal Is Soul: The Work and Witness of U2." I'll also be in Cincinnati (no public events) for the first couple days of the week. If you'd like to try to connect while I'm in Ohio, drop me an email.

April 4