Religious Nuts Political Fanatics: U2 in Theological Perspective

Description: Weaving the threads of U2s lyrics scripture and theology into one cord this book tracks the Irish rock bands theological insights and perspectives through their poetry. Along this lyrical path we encounter the characters of the Drowning Man the Wanderer and the Sojourner. Though seemingly different they are one and the same and they represent each of us. If youre a U2 fan a theologian or both Religious Nuts Political Fanatics: U2 in Theological Perspective will offer a different angle of popular culture and theology. Endorsements: Vagacs isnt imposing a theological agenda on a secular band. Rather he is taking up the theological invitation indeed the theological challenge inherent in the artistic vision of U2. This book isnt so much a theological exposition of the meaning of U2 lyrics as it is an entering into a conversation with the band because there are important matters that need to be discussed places of darkness that need some light. This book opens our eyes to light that is shining in the midst of the darkness of a postmodern world. U2 is not the light of the world. Jesus is. Rob Vagacs joins U2 in following that light helps that light to shine brighter through his theological engagement with their music and invites us to walk in that light. --Brian Walsh from the Introduction Too much Christian writing about U2 is hampered by not really being about U2 at all: its grasp of the bands vision stops at citing a few obvious lines from the big hits. Vagacs goes deeper inviting us to an imaginative roundtable where albums B-sides and live performances join Biblical and contemporary authors in conversation on the great U2 themes of exile eschatology justice and redemption. And a stimulating conversation it is: alert to intertextual echoes always ready with an apt citation and as interested in analyzing the Wanderers postmodern disorientation as in extolling the joys to be tasted in That Other Place. Even those whove read every word ever written about U2 will find some new ideas here and I hope follow them home. --Beth Maynard Co-editor of Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog Vagacs manages the near impossible--he makes fun-to-ponder observations no one else has made before about U2 and their Death and Resurrection Show. He does it by allowing the songs to comment on each other and by letting bright lights like Walter Brueggemann Richard Bauckham and Trevor Hart in on the conversation. Religious Nuts Political Fanatics is a lovely book. --Angela Pancella Staff writer atu2.com About the Contributor(s): Robert Vagacs received his theological training at Wycliffe College University of Toronto. He and his wife reside in Waterloo Ontario.