There are so many challenging and insightful words from Bono, here.
“The key that great art has in common with Christianity is that, know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Here’s what he says about a lot of Gospel music:
“A lot of Gospel music for me is lies, because there are people pretending everything is great and it doesn’t ring true to other people.”
You may need to watch this more than once, as there are many different things to take away from this video:
[tentblogger-youtube iUvt_5ob3zg]
“Duality is the mark of a lot of great art and it’s one of the things missing from a lot of, for instance, Christian art, because there’s no tension.”
Thoughts?
[HT: Shaun Groves | Image via Trey Ratcliff]
Bryan Chalker says
Loved U2 since high school. Nice seeing my kids getting into their music. I’ve always enjoyed Bono’s take on life in general – but his statements on Christian living have always been the most interesting. Is there a full interview online? Also, is that Hybels interviewing him?
Eric Dye says
I’ve found his statements on Christian living very interesting as well. As for the deets surrounding the video — you’ve got me on that one!
Rosie Perera says
The whole interview is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dq7V7gh0rA (poor quality). From about 7:15 is where he starts talking about art and Christianity, and this quote is at 8:52. A better quality version of most of the section on art is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUvt_5ob3zg
Eric Dye says
Cool! Thanks!
Jonathan Assink says
I agree with what he’s saying. I do get a little tired of beating the “Christian art is bad” drum though. Let’s start celebrating artists of faith who make great art. Change takes action, not just complaining about the status quo.
Josh Wagner says
Agreed.
Eric Dye says
Maybe if more “Christian” art wasn’t bad, there wouldn’t be a drum to beat?
Daniel says
This. Exactly. Bad art is accepted as good by Christians because it’s Christian.
Sheldon Curry says
Bono is dead on. Thanks Eric, for sharing the video.
Among many big issues here:
Who decides good & bad?
“Christian”, in the art sense, is a marketing term. It identifies targeted content. Nothing more.
It doesn’t exist in any other context, just as “Christian” nations, clothes, fast-food chains or consumable products don’t exit.
“Christian” describes an individual heart-based belief system.
We know that art (good or bad) moves hearts.
Art plays second fiddle to heart. (Without heart, there is no art.)
What would Jesus do? Point us to people with heart disease.
Art is merely one tool of many that can lead to open-heart surgery by the Spirit of Truth. We don’t control the outcome of that operation.
So ultimately, good and bad are irrelevant personal opinions.
Change of damaged hearts is all that matters.
Eric Dye says
Great stuff, Sheldon. Thank, you. 🙂