popacrobat
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
he asked for some of this stuff to air prior to the fall so that it doesn't interfere with U2's publicity for the new album.
so, no.
Bono "Focus on the Family" program
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he asked for some of this stuff to air prior to the fall so that it doesn't interfere with U2's publicity for the new album.
so, no.
last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
I think these interviews are less about U2's new album, but more about the horrible book that was just released, I guess it's a personal PR thing and Bono is trying to do it before the album is released. Seems like he's trying to draw a clear line between his personal issues and the album promotion.
U217
War Child
I can't bring myself to listen to this interview. They aren't focused on my family. They're gunning for my family. I know Bono has to schmooze with some awful people, but Focus on the Family engages in spiritual abuse of people who don't believe as they do and they actively pursue legislation to harm our families. I know Bono may get help for his cause and if that's the outcome, great. I just hope somebody does a sage smudge to clear the foul energy of FOTF off him. 
last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
@u2.com has published a transcript of the interview:
Transcript: Bono - Husband, Father, Advocate (Focus On The Family Interview)
Transcript: Bono - Husband, Father, Advocate (Focus On The Family Interview)
Hollow Island
New Yorker
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Interesting interview. I assume the video he refers to is the one which inspired "Lemon." I feel really bad for anyone who lost a parent as a child.
It's odd that he cares so deeply about the underdeveloped nations that were being exploited by structural adjustments, but he seems to not care about all the countries - including his own - that are being absolutely destroyed by "austerity," a policy that has been proven to not work. One must wonder if he would have been as involved with Jubilee 2000 if he was as cozy with the financial elite and their political representatives then as he is now.
It is disgusting that he was interviews by these chumps, though. They're disgusting. I don't understand how he can chill with a quasi hate group like this. Sure, he's promoting his advocacy work, but there are some people you don't get in bed with, no matter how bad you wanna get your bang on. But I guess once you get sloppy with the war criminals and domestic terrorists Blair and Bush II you pretty much say "goodbye" to standards.
It's odd that he cares so deeply about the underdeveloped nations that were being exploited by structural adjustments, but he seems to not care about all the countries - including his own - that are being absolutely destroyed by "austerity," a policy that has been proven to not work. One must wonder if he would have been as involved with Jubilee 2000 if he was as cozy with the financial elite and their political representatives then as he is now.
It is disgusting that he was interviews by these chumps, though. They're disgusting. I don't understand how he can chill with a quasi hate group like this. Sure, he's promoting his advocacy work, but there are some people you don't get in bed with, no matter how bad you wanna get your bang on. But I guess once you get sloppy with the war criminals and domestic terrorists Blair and Bush II you pretty much say "goodbye" to standards.
Mrs. Garrison
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
maybe this would be a better topic for FYM?
lov12113
The Fly
FOTF is not a quasi-hate group. They are a religiously and politically conservative group. That is not the same thing. Conservatism does not equal hate, any more than liberalism equals communist. They have outspoken opinions about political and religious issues and usually side on the right. That, again, does not make them a hate group. I do not agree with many of their opinions, but they do not promote hate. Hate groups do exist on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum. FOTF is not that extreme. I personally applaud Bono for being willing to engage groups/people on both sides of the spectrum. If you only ever preach to your side, you can never have a dialogue with those you disagree with. Bono engages in dialogue. Good for him.
nbelcik
Refugee
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They are a hate group because they knowingly spread lies about LGBT people. They constantly defame and demean them. They go far beyond opposing same-sex marriage and say horrible things about LGBT people.
Peterrrrr
New Yorker
Thye are a very dangerous group, they do difference on some people. They dont want all people to have same rights.
jeevey
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
I don't know how much it's changed, but a few years ago they had regular talking points that gays are pedophiles and that gayness leads to bestiality. Nice.
nbelcik
Refugee
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They haven't changed at all, in fact they've probably gotten worse.
Mrs. Garrison
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Von Schloopen
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Good news on AIDS in Africa: Religious leaders help fight disease. - Slate Magazine
I'd guess most of these religious groups don't support gay rights, let alone marriage.
Should their efforts to educate about AIDS be ignored? They're bigots after all.
Most Africans are devoutly religious. Which ostensibly means they're probably not "gay rights" people.
We should let them rot? We should help bigots?
One thing at a time.
Von Schloopen
Refugee
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Thye are a very dangerous group, they do difference on some people. They dont want all people to have same rights.
Do one for Africa. I'm not sure 2013 America and 2013 Africa provides an apples to apples comparison. Homosexuality is illegal in most of Africa. Why even help them?
jeevey
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
That's not what I'm saying at all. I was speaking to the question of whether or not FOTF promoes hate, which in some cases I think they may.
Personally I have a hard time feeling unqualified approval of the work of evangelical groups in Africa. Having grown up among them I've really had a chance to see how this humanitarian work has an ulterior motive. They're not doing it exactly because they simply love people and want them have better lives- they're doing it to make converts. Also I've seen how Africans can work as a sort of trophy prize for American evangelicals. They really get to pat themselves on the back for helping these poor benighted helpless Africans, and feel really proud of themselves for the things they do or give. It's often not an attitude that's deeply respectful toward the people of Africa- there's a bit of the great white father about it. So while I'm glad they are sometimes doing things to help people, I'm uncomfortable with the ideological pressuring they do.
lov12113
The Fly
Jeevey, there are different kinds of evangelical Christians. There are those that you speak of: doing anything humanitarian in the name of making converts. And there are evangelicals who do not have ulterior motives in humanitarian work. Those evangelicals tend to be more on the progressive side of things. However, I think most people in general are either consciously or unconsciously spreading their ideology through everything they do (this is a principle of psychology that is widely understood to be accurate in the psych community. I have a master's degree in psych so I can't help throw in a few psychology principles). People who are not evangelical Christians are still unconsciously spreading their beliefs and worldviews through their work, too. That being said, there is actually a very wide spectrum of "evangelical" Christianity.
jeevey
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Sure. I was speaking specifically of the FOTF-friendly ones, which do tend to be quite ulterior.
Cactus Annie
Refugee
Is Billy Graham a fundamentalist?
jeevey
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
As far as I understand it Christian fundamentalism is predicated on a literalist interpretation of the Bible- the Bible gives a reliable account of what God wants to know about him and should be read as plainly as possible. It includes certain doctrines like scriptural inerrancy, the virgin birth of Christ, usually a seven day creation, substitutionary atonement (Jesus took your punishment from God in your place) and the physical resurrection and second coming of Christ. I do recall Billy teaching all those things. He's a sweet man, but this is kind of his scene.
lov12113
The Fly
Fundamentalists do hold the above concepts/doctrines. But so do many evangelicals who are not fundamentalists. Billy Graham has been known more as a non-fundamentalist evangelical.
Think of fundamentalists as the extreme end of evangelicalism. Fundamentalists tend to be judgmental, very stuck on deciding "who's in and who's out" of their circles, and very black and white in their thinking. While some of that can permeate other evangelical groups, many evangelicals are softer and tend to not be quite as extreme as fundamentalists. Of course there is a whole spectrum of evangelical/fundamentalist culture. Billy Graham is not nearly as extreme in his message as some fundamentalist groups and lies on a different part of the spectrum of evangelicalism/fundamentalism. (I know it's a bit confusing as fundamentalists and evangelicals share common roots, but there is a big difference in the extreme circles and the less extreme circles).
I'm not too surprised that these groups are anti-gay because most of Africa is very conservative.
However, it is great to see anyone tackle the AIDS issue there. There's a lot of ignorance about the disease, and there's the belief that having sex with a virgin can cure you - hence why many young girls and small children are being raped. So, anything to help and spread awareness is great.
It is hard not to ignore the homophobia in Africa, but you also can't ignore that most of the continent is torn apart by AIDS. I don't think we should punish a whole continent for its homophobia by ignoring any efforts to help those infected with AIDS. We should acknowledge both because both issues are hurting that place.
jeevey
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
It seems like the differences are mostly cultural rather than doctrinal, doesn't it? For the most part they believe the same things, but differ on how to live it out. I seem to recall that Billy started out much more on the fundamentalist end of things and slowly moved over time. He started doing things like sharing with Catholics and spending time with certain presidents, and lost some cred among the very hard liners that way. He even said that the most gifted preacher of all his children was his daughter! Now that is a big step.
I understand that it's tough for progressive evangelicals to get labelled with the same brush as the fundamentalist ones. No one really wants to be associated with the Dobsons and the Robertsons and the Falwells, but progressive evangelicalism as a cultural movement is really so new that it's just barely getting popular awareness. For a long time Jim Wallis and the Sojourners really did seem to be waving that flag all alone.
stagman
War Child
Really great interview, confirms to me that Bono's faith is real and he has some wonderful takes on scripture that is usually only seen a few certain ways by most.
I think more poeple should look at what Evangelical christians are doing and the fruit of thier collective work in the poorer nations, in thier own towns/cities with the unfortunate and thier selfless love for others that they interact with daily. Not a look at me, look at me attitude but a humble attitude led by grace.
I think more poeple should look at what Evangelical christians are doing and the fruit of thier collective work in the poorer nations, in thier own towns/cities with the unfortunate and thier selfless love for others that they interact with daily. Not a look at me, look at me attitude but a humble attitude led by grace.
Peterrrrr
New Yorker
I dont care if they do good, but when they preaching against gay rights I get angry. Well I also think it is strange that they praise to an evil god...
So, what are you doing for the poor in Africa?
These groups are sadly anti-gay, but they are working hard helping those who need it.
Peterrrrr
New Yorker
The gays in Africa are some of the "helping those who need it", christian evangelicals have done horribel things in Africa to gay-people...
And what about the others who helping the poor?
You also didn't answer my first question. What are you doing to help those in need?
And let's not forget that most Africans are anti-gay anyway, so the homophobia that is preached doesn't matter to them. Should we ignore the entire continent then?
Peterrrrr
New Yorker
As I wrote I dont mind them doing good, the problem is that they doing it not just for helping them but also preaching about something that isnt thruth. Wich is very awful, because Africa is a very ppor country with very little eduation.
The more relgion a country have the more murder , other crimes, lesser education, higher abortion, higher divortion... it has in statics. Just look at Usa for an example. The states with most atheist got higher education, higher IQ, less murder, less other crimes, less devorce, less abortion...
Relgion is bad for a country, thats why they should just help and not preacing lies.
Also The Salvation Army has done alot bad for homosexuals to...
Well first I live in Sweden and we are known for being one of the best countries in donating money to poor countries in % through our assets wich goes through taxes.
I am a humanist anda very active debater who fights for the right for people in countries where homosexuals, women, childs have realy hard sitiuaitons by relgion. The Humanist orginisation is expanding and doing more and more for countries with bad sitiuations.
What do you do for the people(homosexuals, women, child) who is under religious oppression in poor country but also in counrty like USA where gays not have the same rights?
Dosnt matter to them? Before a couple of evangelicals went down to preach the message of the bible the homosexuals did have it better then now. The evangelicals provoke with the message of bible wich lead to laws against homosexuality in a country in Africa! It lead to death penalty in that country beacuse of the evangelicals from America.
I agree with most of your statement, BUT you can't separate paying taxes and morality/ethics for 100%. I'm a fiscal lawyer and taxes do have ethical and moral elements. Of course, I can understand why U2 or other companies or any individual person don't care about those elements, but it's a fact that you can't seperate them from a methodological point of view.
Besides, not everyone/every company minimises the amount of taxes they pay. Especially 'larger' companies do have tax control frameworks and cooperate with tax authorities in a bilateral way.
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