U2isthebest
ONE love, blood, life
I'm currently re-reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis which, I'm sure most of you know is where Bono conceived the idea of Macphisto for ZOO TV. For those of you who might not be familiar with the book, Macphisto is based on Screwtape a demon secretary who is writing letter to his nephew a junior demon who is trying to tempt a new Christian off the path of faith. Lewis wrote it from the devil's point of view to show his reasons and devices for destroying lives. As Bono has said later that was U2's reasoning behind Macphisto and much of the ZOO TV tour. However there's a quote in the book that sums up a lot of the theme of U2's music and spiritual journey in general. This is, of course, from a letter Screwtape has sent his nephew. Throughout the book Jesus is referred to as "the Enemy". "Our cause is never more in danger than when a human no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." To me, many U2 songs are about the struggle when God seems absent, about doubt, the "dark night of the soul" as Edge has described it, yet I've never listened to a U2 song without feeling hope. Bono has an amazing gift of being able to write lyrics about a person in a state of despair, yet, and I feel this is because of his strong faith, there's always a belief that God will intervene once again. To me, that's the essence of "Beautiful Day" most strong. I just wanted to share! God Bless!