U2 and theology of the cross

i'm starting to research for a book on the rock band U2 and the theology of the cross. jurgen moltmann has said, 'there is a good deal of support in the tradition for the theology of the cross, but it was never much loved.' (the crucified god, 3). found in certain parts of st. paul, martin luther, dietrich bonhoeffer, jurgen moltmann, douglas john hall, and very many others. and it is this tradition that i think makes the most sense of bono and of the theology of U2.

here is why: martin luther, writing in his heidelberg disputation, thesis 21, wrote: 'a theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil. a theologian of the cross calls the thing what it actually is.' those with scriptural depth like luther will here isaiah 5: 'woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.'

this tradition makes more sense of U2 because, as opposed to the theology of glory that presents divine revelation in a straightforward and authoritarian way, the theology of the cross makes way for argument, for doubt, and therefore for real humanity. it is a worldly theology, even a 'religionless' theology best summed up by douglas john hall in this classic painting of st. francis getting the blessing of pope innocent III.

why do a book on U2 and theology of the cross? they are the band of my generation. and they have way more influence than even mega-best selling pastor rick warren with 16 million copies of his book purpose driven life. and i think U2 is a much deeper theological perspective that what pastor warren offers. so the book would be trying to give an interpretive frame from the christian tradition to what U2 has been and is about theologically.

i think i'll do bits of the book here as i work on it, and maybe i can put feedback i get in the book itself as sidebar conversation. some pretty deep reflection goes on about U2 and faith on the web. here, for example, is the first single from U2's forthcoming release, "how to dismatle an atomic bomb" with theological and biblical commentary following picked up off the web.

U2 - Vertigo

Uno, dos, tres, catorce
Turn it up loud, captain

Lights go down
It's dark, the jungle is
Your head can't rule your heart
I'm feeling so much stronger
Than I thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something I can feel
Feel

The night is full of holes
These bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold
They twinkle
As the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance
At least they know

I can sell the beats
I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails
Has Jesus 'round the neck
Swinging to the music
Swinging to the music

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something I can feel
Feel

Shot dead
Shots fall
Show me, yeah

All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want
And no one gets hurt

Hello, hello
Hola
We’re at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
Lights go down and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

from fenwick@bdgroup.com:

" I find it hard to believe that people can, in such a short time say this song has no depth. I will admit it has taken me years to fully appreciate Bono's lyrics but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I think this song is about the alure and draw of temptation on ones life. Temptation is a meaningless concept to someone that does believe in God but I clearly think that Bono has been driven in his life to find his place in the world that God created for us. The meaning of this song clicked for me in the bridge, "All this can be yours..." which is a close paraphrase of Matthew 4:9 when Christ is being tempted by satan in the wilderness. All he was asked to do is to bow down and worship satan and everything that they saw would be given to him. But of course... Satan was speaking to the creator so, not much of a deal huh?? Verse 1, "and though your soul it can't be bought your mind can wander" What an image of fighting with what you know to be RIGHT and moral and what you feel will be more fun. Verse 2, beautiful image of the night sky and the heat of a wild club with many things that a 40 something married man may want to partake in but he decides to step back and ask for the check and head out... the girl with the red nail polish and the guilt inducing imagry of a crucifix hanging around her neck.
and of course the bridge... as mentioned above.
BUT the last verse. when the lights go down the grace and love of God give him something "I can feel"
and
"your love is teaching me how to KNEEL"... in prayer

I think it is an honest struggle to understand the world that we live in as a believer that longs to honor
the All Mighty and yet enjoy the world. The VERTIGO is the not the just the fear of heights but the fear of the FALL, the fall from grace and maybe even the fall into sin. Of course that's just my opinion.

and from another commentator on :
" Try this on, for those of you who like s**t like this:
(uno, dos, tres, catorce) 1, 2, 3, 14

Book of James Chapter 1, Verses, 2, 3, and 14

(2)Count it all joy, my bretheren, when you meet various trials(3), for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (14)but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

pure coincidence, probably, but it makes me look like I know what I am talking about

Comments

[karen]

I initially liked U2 because of their style of music and how they have managed to stay in the cutting edge of rock music across the decades. But now, I also respect them for their thought provoking lyrics which are deeply spiritual. And I definitely agree that their theology has a much deeper perspective than the likes of pop-Christian culture 'theologians' like Rick Warren. I look forward to following your research on your blog.

[rick luoni]

On a Tuesday night in 1980 while working at a small independently-owned record store I opened an album by an unknown band. The album was white with black writing. It said U2/Boy. I did not know if the band was U2 or Boy. The first song was "I will follow" and I was hooked for life. I eventually turned my college dorm on to this unknown band. There was something magical about this guys nearly 25 years ago... there still is.

I once heard BB King say that Bono was too young to write lyrics that deep. :) "When Love Comes to Town."

Thanks for your post.

Rick