American religion has adopted the rock band U2.
Its lyrics can be heard coming from pulpits. Its music ringing out in sanctuaries. Its videos show up in Sunday school classes.
Rabbi Steve Lebow of Kol Emeth in Marietta, said, “I taught a class on rock and roll and spirituality. When you do a search of which band has the most biblical allusions and spiritual themes, U2 comes up as number one.”
Jake Hill started teaching a class at Atlanta’s Saint James United Methodist Church in September called the theology of U2. It attracts about 15 people on Wednesday nights.
“Most of their songs have a message of unity, we are all in this together to make this work,” Hill said.
Friends in N. Ireland have told me that U2 travels with a Church of Ireland priest as their chaplain.
There is a lot of spirituality in rock and roll. Most of it is evil. Since when is “spirituality” always good. Of course if you are a gnostic….
Muisc in church is a issue that I wrestle with. I have played the style that‘s called rock since the late sixties and been in bands since then . Although I played brass etc in high school and ‘classical’ is still my first love, I have played guitar and bass in various rock, jazz, and funk groups and now I mostly play in a ”praise and worship” context. In short I’m influenced by a LOT of different eras. From Bartok to Brubeck , Varese to Van Halen or Miles to Mouusssorsky, I admire the variety of expression afforded by different styles
I have a confession. I’ve always thought of U2 as a derivative, mediocre band with an overwrought vocal style and nothing memorable to say. What’s worse is when bands try to emulate them, they end sounding doubly derivative. Oh yes, they have a ‘Christian’ message in a secular arena, and have sold tons of music, and I do wish them success, but in the end it’s not transformative. It may be ‘spiritual’ and ‘uplifting’ and that’s not necessarily all bad, but I do confess I’ve never bought into the mystique around the band.
Pb #2: what does that have to do with the article?