U2, Doubt, and Faith

In honor of  U2’s phenomenal show last night at FedEx Field (“Cardinal McCarrick is in the house!” -Bono) I’d like to discuss the themes in their hit “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”.  In 1987, the song was performed during their Rattle & Hum celebration tour at Madison Square Garden featuring the gospel choir, New Voices of Freedom. It is a powerful arrangement, and today I found the original video on YouTube.

You would think, by the joyful praising of the choir, that they are singing about faith, but the song clearly states that this person has considered the Jesus thing but still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. When asked by Rolling Stone about the meaning of the song, Bono himself said it was an “anthem of doubt more than faith”.

How can someone say “You broke the bonds and You loosed ths chains” and yet doubt? How can someone say “You know I believe it” and yet still be searching?  Interestingly, there is a line in the new U2 song Crazy that says, “How can you stand next to the truth and not see it?”

I think the answer comes down to a person’s daily life experience. When I am having a philosophical or theological argument with someone about some specific topic, I always end up wanting to ask the questions, What in your life would have to change if you changed your view? Would you have to create a new relationship with your mother? Would you have to stop sleeping with your significant other? Would you have to make time in your schedule to serve? Would you have to start taking better care of your body?

We all know people who seem to be very stubborn in their lack of faith. Conversation after conversation, they still won’t budge. But I would suggest being a little more curious about their daily life experience. What are they holding on to? What are they scared of on the other side of of the doubt/faith decision? Far more than any rational argument, your curiosity, love, and personal concern may be what they are looking for. And may be the reason they stop looking, and believe.

7 Replies to “U2, Doubt, and Faith”

  1. This is an interesting post…. What is on the other side of doubt? Maybe it’s fear rather than stubbornness. I fought faith for a long time because I knew it would require me to take specific action, and that scared me. Would others judge me? Would others shun me? Would I actually need to trust? Trust alone was a foreign concept.

    Someone suggested that I ignore my doubt and just act as if I had faith. I tried it and what help me “to the other side” was praying the Rosary. Meditation on the mysteries helped me a lot- especially meditation on Christ’s agony in the garden. All of a sudden, I just got it that there was nothing in this world I will experience that Christ didn’t. It gave me this kind of “I got your back” sense that helped me overcome my fears.

    On the topic of changing attitudes-
    I was complaining about something I said I “had” to do today, and someone suggested (ahem) that I change my thinking and think about the things I “get” to do today. Instead of groaning that “have” to go to the grocery store, think about the fact that I “get” to go to the grocery store- I have close and easy proximity to food, food is abundant, I can afford it, etc.

    1. In my earlier years I spent time sailing on ships at sea. Out there I would hear the word “attitude” used in navigation and in targeting celestial bodies. A positive attitude is one that is above the horizon, and a negative attitude (not really used) looks below the horizon…interesting the spiritual parallel don’t you think?

  2. I clicked on the video and am listening to this marvelous song. I too was at the concert the other night (FANTASTIC). I’ve loved U2 since their second album, October, way back in 1982 or 83. I’ve seen them 4 or 5 times now. I’m still waiting for the “hymns of praise and other religious songs” compilation to come out — and of course it would include this song. I think, though, that it’s not actually a song about doubt. I think it’s a meditation on St. Augustine — “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” As human beings, we can never rest in God until we are with Him in Heaven, so, even though we believe, we are still in the state of exile from the wholeness of God’s love by virtue of our human condition.

  3. I think Colleen is on to something here. What ever U2 may mean, it is clear from Christian teaching that this world can never satisfy us. We have an infinite longing and live in a finite world. Hence our blogs theme: What are you looking for? Maybe it’s God.

  4. I clicked on the video and am listening to this marvelous song. I too was at the concert the other night (FANTASTIC). I’ve loved U2 since their second album, October, way back in 1982 or 83. I’ve seen them 4 or 5 times now. I’m still waiting for the “hymns of praise and other religious songs” compilation to come out — and of course it would include this song. I think, though, that it’s not actually a song about doubt. I think it’s a meditation on St. Augustine — “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” As human beings, we can never rest in God until we are with Him in Heaven, so, even though we believe, we are still in the state of exile from the wholeness of God’s love by virtue of our human condition.

  5. Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones are timeless….I never get tired of listening to them!

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