Discoteque
Rock n' Roll Doggie
Couldn't find the original thread, so starting a new one.
I finally got my copy of "Walk On: the Spiritual Journey of U2" and have read about 1/3 of it so far. I have somewhat mixed feelings on it. It's obvious that much of the book is based on Steve Stockman's own beliefs, opinions and feelings (as he didn't even interview U2 for the book...perhaps he feared that Bono might go off into some area that might not have jibed with what Stockman wanted for his book?), Stockman definitely has some valid points about the music industry and Christianity, the ongoing struggle between the two, and the barriers that might come from being put into that particular box called "Christian music."
For as long as I have been a Christian, this issue has been foremost in my mind. Music is of fundamental importance to me, and the limitations of this particular musical genre is the reason that I don't like much of--or even most of--the music out there that is labeled "Christian." Though my head tells me that perhaps I ought to add more Christian music to my life, my heart has a very hard time agreeing with that! Though the face of Christian music is changing radically (there are many more styles of Christian music out there today), still, much of what I know and hear in Christian music speaks of the same restricted concepts: praising, thanking and honoring God. While this is a wonderful, noble and virtuous expression of faith that I believe in - God should be praised and thanked and glorified - I very rarely hear Christian music that speaks of REAL LIFE and the REAL world: the injustices done to innocents; the persecution of the Church; the death and dying of millions from disease and starvation; the way that religion divides people, etc. THIS IS WHY U2 speaks to me and touches me so deeply. Because, as Christians, they chose to limit themselves only to as much as they could absorb from the world around them, not to confine themselves to a limited musical genre simply because others deemed they must do so. They're not afraid to go out and dip a toe in the water, even if the water is ferociously hot, and they might be burned!
I was very upset when I read about what happened to Andy McCarroll and Brian Houston; that people would be so legalistic as to feel that squelching the very gift bestowed upon them was the best thing they could do for themselves and for God! To think that Larry, Bono and esp. Edge came close to having that also happen to them...well, I simply can't imagine a world without any of them separately, and ALL of them together as U2.
I think Bono was right: I believe that they are one of the great groups...they certainly have a message and a fervor that none of the other "great groups" seems to have grasped or extended to their fans and audience.
Just wondering what anyone else's thoughts are on the book (so far)??
Disco
I finally got my copy of "Walk On: the Spiritual Journey of U2" and have read about 1/3 of it so far. I have somewhat mixed feelings on it. It's obvious that much of the book is based on Steve Stockman's own beliefs, opinions and feelings (as he didn't even interview U2 for the book...perhaps he feared that Bono might go off into some area that might not have jibed with what Stockman wanted for his book?), Stockman definitely has some valid points about the music industry and Christianity, the ongoing struggle between the two, and the barriers that might come from being put into that particular box called "Christian music."
For as long as I have been a Christian, this issue has been foremost in my mind. Music is of fundamental importance to me, and the limitations of this particular musical genre is the reason that I don't like much of--or even most of--the music out there that is labeled "Christian." Though my head tells me that perhaps I ought to add more Christian music to my life, my heart has a very hard time agreeing with that! Though the face of Christian music is changing radically (there are many more styles of Christian music out there today), still, much of what I know and hear in Christian music speaks of the same restricted concepts: praising, thanking and honoring God. While this is a wonderful, noble and virtuous expression of faith that I believe in - God should be praised and thanked and glorified - I very rarely hear Christian music that speaks of REAL LIFE and the REAL world: the injustices done to innocents; the persecution of the Church; the death and dying of millions from disease and starvation; the way that religion divides people, etc. THIS IS WHY U2 speaks to me and touches me so deeply. Because, as Christians, they chose to limit themselves only to as much as they could absorb from the world around them, not to confine themselves to a limited musical genre simply because others deemed they must do so. They're not afraid to go out and dip a toe in the water, even if the water is ferociously hot, and they might be burned!
I was very upset when I read about what happened to Andy McCarroll and Brian Houston; that people would be so legalistic as to feel that squelching the very gift bestowed upon them was the best thing they could do for themselves and for God! To think that Larry, Bono and esp. Edge came close to having that also happen to them...well, I simply can't imagine a world without any of them separately, and ALL of them together as U2.
I think Bono was right: I believe that they are one of the great groups...they certainly have a message and a fervor that none of the other "great groups" seems to have grasped or extended to their fans and audience.
Just wondering what anyone else's thoughts are on the book (so far)??
Disco
