U2, Faith without the Christian rock label

U2 has a respected and admired career in rock ‘n’ roll, a type of music notorious for rewarding artists who sing about more base things than the world and one’s place in it.

The band — or in some cases just frontman Bono — has played pop star, pariah, prodigal son and proselytizer. But the spirituality coursing through 30 years of U2’s music has never earned U2, who play the Toyota Center on Wednesday, the tag of Christian rock band, a stigma of sorts in mainstream music. The band has deftly kept its spiritual and secular sides in proportions that wouldn’t limit its reach.

Greg Garrett, a professor at Baylor University and author of We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2, suggests Christian rock has become a toxic phrase in pop “for a good reason. We have Christian art in which the art is less important than the Christian part.

“U2’s beliefs filter into their work, but that’s not their primary reason for making music.”

The Rev. Genevieve Razim, associate rector at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, says, “as an Episcopalian, I always had a hunch that cool and Christian were not mutually exclusive; U2 affirmed that for me.

“There were so many messages from the media that being a Christian meant being rigid and square and intolerant, and here was this rock band asking bigger questions and expressing their faith.”

So the band has for years made songs about peace, justice, spirits and mysteries, and done so in a way that suggests an inclination toward elevation, from its early use of psalms to a panoramic worldview today.

Full Houston Chronicle Article

Posted in Pop Culture, Spiritual, U2 | Comments Off on U2, Faith without the Christian rock label

The map that changed the world

The Waldseemuller map was drawn 15 years after Columbus first sailed the Atlantic and is responsible for how America got its name.  There’s some other interesting tidbits about it, read about it here.

launmapchgworld

Posted in Interesting | Comments Off on The map that changed the world

Bag of Randomness

  • Oprah and U2 will be in Dallas on Monday.  The rumor de jeour is that she will make a special appearance at the concert at JerryWorld.
  • From my understanding Oprah is also going to take advantage of the Victory Park scene at the American Airlines Center after her gig at the State Fair of Texas.  Charlie Gibson should have also taken advantage of Victory Park when he was here.
  • And I hear Oprah is going to sit in during the early evening local news cast on WFAA.
  • Other than presidents, I’m not sure if two bigger stars have been in this area at one time.  Well, other than the time Barry Switzer was coaching the Cowboys and Barry Manilow was in town.
  • Maybe Oprah wants to try the fried butter.  Here’s a picture of the fried butter right before a friend ate it.
  • I’m really looking forward to this U2 concert.  Surprise, surprise.
  • Nathan S. made a very good point yesterday – anytime “on campus” is added to a post it automatically intensifies it.
  • I’m looking forward to seeing the moon crash this morning.
  • I think Republicans are more homogeneous in thought and belief than Democrats.  Democrats by their nature are broad in thought and acceptance, that is, they are liberal.  Because of that, Republicans should never fear a Democratic majority.  Their broad thought keeps them from unifying on issues.
  • Great tornado photography
  • Avalanche Skier POV Helmet Cam Burial & Rescue in Haines, Alaska
  • A man used his own stem cells to grow an ear on his arm
  • Some reality tv star busted her breast implant during a challenge.  Link
  • 50 Tweets That Will Echo in History
  • Impressive fake stitches for Halloween
  • 9 Daring Doughnut Sandwiches
  • A nice time-waster: Archive of American Television
  • Another fun time-waster: dots
Posted in Goofy | 4 Comments