Bono on Jesus...

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jphelmet

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Just curious how many have read the in Conversation w/ Bono book. Does Bono seem more up front and direct about his faith than ever before? It may just be the nature of the book or just the way I am reading it but he seems to be bringing most everything in the book back to his faith. Just one quote that sticks out to me: (I just finished the book today).

Author: ...Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God isn't that a bit farfetched?

Bono: No, It's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucious. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off the hook. Christ says: No. I am not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I am not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying "I am the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no please, just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. Your a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we are going to have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was- the Messiah- or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson. This man was like some of the people we've been talking about earlier. This man was strapping himself to a bomb, and had "King of the Jews" on his head, and was they were putting him on the cross, was going: OK, martyrdom, here we go. Bring on the pain! I can take it. I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched...
 
jphelmet said:
The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched...

i don't think it's that farfetched, myself. :wink: amazing though...

anyway, maybe Bono's feeling more Christian lately. I liked Bono's lyrics and quotes on religion in the 90s cos I could relate to them. but he can believe whatever the hell he wants to, I suppose. :shrug:

I still can't see him being the type that thinks non-christians are going to hell...

btw, I havent read the book.
 
the clarity shines through more than ever.

Bono believe that Jesus is the Christ. And he believes in every word Jesus said.

Awesome.
 
MadelynIris said:
the clarity shines through more than ever.

Bono believe that Jesus is the Christ. And he believes in every word Jesus said.

Awesome.

It works for him, so that's good.

Does how Bono views Jesus (or even religion/faith in general) affect how you (that's anyone reading this post) do?
 
indra said:


It works for him, so that's good.

Does how Bono views Jesus (or even religion/faith in general) affect how you (that's anyone reading this post) do?

I would bet there are alot of Christians that Bono has inspired to think outside the box.
 
What's interesting is that there are still those in this forum who thinks he's a false prophet, that he's fallen, that he's not really a Christian...
 
indra said:


It works for him, so that's good.

Does how Bono views Jesus (or even religion/faith in general) affect how you (that's anyone reading this post) do?

I was brought up by non-practicing Christians that sent me to Catholic Church. My Mom is Protestant and my Dad is Catholic. I got nothing out of CCD classes except that I would rather be anywhere else but. I made my first communion and confirmation, but never retained anything I learned except I didn’t feel worthy enough to be in a Catholic Church because I wasn’t willing to confess my sins and didn’t want to say prayers for repentance. My curiosity in Christianity came from U2. Their faith is so strong. This incredible song "40" that everyone joyful sang out into the streets in 1984/1985 came straight out of the Bible? I bought a Bible for my home when I was getting married in 1989 and the first thing I did was read Psalm 40.

The process for me was very slow and it wasn't until Bono said a prayer in concert 2001 that I crossed over to really wanting to learn to be a Christian - whatever that was.

In the fall of 2002, I started attending a Church to learn more about Christianity. I chose to attend a First Congregational Protestant Church because that is what my husband and best friend experienced. I am very happy to be a part of a church family and I doubt I would have walk through the doors had it not been for Bono.

I learned through Bono that it’s OK to question and be angry with God. I learned about Grace and decided that perhaps God will be OK with me if I am a good person and try to help those in need. Before, I believed that saying a prayer was a punishment for sinning. Now, if I say a prayer – it is to praise God and thank God. If I pray, it is to ask for support for loved ones or those in need – that good things will happen.
 
Re: Re: Bono on Jesus...

Se7en said:


sounds very c.s. lewis. i don't think it's a fair dichotomy. :shrug:

It is indeed a C,S, Lewis deal, and I do think it's a fair dichotomy.

Christ called himself the Son Of God, The Messiah, God. If he was not what he claimed to be, and yet thought he was, he was totally insane. If he's not what he claimed to be, and didn't even think he was, he was a liar of great magnitude. Either way, insane or liar of great magnitude, he's not what people think, a "good man", or "great teacher", or "prophet".

So Christ is either Liar, Lunatic or Lord.
 
So Christ is either Liar, Lunatic or Lord

Yup. Day or night, black or white.

'Christians' believe this - if you don't believe he is the Christ, well then, Jesus would say you're lost.

That's the difference.
 
MadelynIris said:


Yup. Day or night, black or white.

'Christians' believe this - if you don't believe he is the Christ, well then, Jesus would say you're lost.

That's the difference.

Huh? I don't quite get what you mean here....

Or is it just a little nicer way of saying "you're going to hell?" :wink:
 
It's funny but I've never been told that I wasn't a real Christian until I started coming to interference. I guess the mask of the internet allows people to say things they wouldn't in real life, or maybe I just wasn't paying attention before.
 
Re: Re: Re: Bono on Jesus...

80sU2isBest said:

It is indeed a C,S, Lewis deal, and I do think it's a fair dichotomy.

i'm not surprised, and i wouldn't be surprised if most believers agreed with you. it's a very easy argument to make, especially if you believe the bible to be 100% accurate. for the rest of us who don't, it's sort of a farce since it does not even begin to take into account possibilities of misquoting, misrepresentation, or misunderstanding of jesus' message; human tampering with texts; implications of mythology (turning water into wine, turning into light); or the first century jewish context.
 
BonoVoxSupastar said:
It's funny but I've never been told that I wasn't a real Christian until I started coming to interference. I guess the mask of the internet allows people to say things they wouldn't in real life, or maybe I just wasn't paying attention before.
Who told you that you're not a Christian? What reason did that person give?
 
80sU2isBest said:

Who told you that you're not a Christian? What reason did that person give?

Not so much that they told me personally, but their attacks on Bono etc include me. But there are individuals who say those who drink alcohol aren't real Christians therefore they don't think Bono is really saved or anyone else for that matter. One individual once even said that those who vote Democrat or believe in Catholocism aren't real Christians. There are certain individuals who've said that if you don't believe in every word face value, such as the world was really created in a week, then you aren't a real Christian. But the best is one recently who went off on how Bono is a false prophet because of the whole 'COEXIST' thing and that anyone who listens to his message will "die a permanant death"...yet they went to the concert.

I've just never heard such hard line judgements before. I mean I guess I've heard them, I just didn't know that there are those that really believe that way, but to each their own.
 
I have been told by a person on this board that I don't really believe in God. And he was a self-professed Christian, so there you have it.
 
anitram said:
I have been told by a person on this board that I don't really believe in God. And he was a self-professed Christian, so there you have it.

I don't understand how anyone can say whether you believe in God or not. How can they read your mind?

As far as being a Christian, however, a case can be stated, by using what the Bible says, that a certain person is or isn't a Christian. For instance, if a person doesn't believe that Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross to save mankind from the penalty of sins, then it can be said that person isn't a Christian, since that is part of the Biblical requirements of being a Christian.
 
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