There has been a lot of discussion lately about the role of religion. This subject was thrust into the limelight by none other than Mormon convert Glenn Beck who outrageously stated that if a religion has “social justice” in its mission statement, then run the other direction as fast as you can. This suggestion was rightfully lampooned from all directions. And is hopefully being generally ignored.
I was reminded of Beck’s statement when I read the following in the May&June 2010 AARP: The Magazine (by Bill Newcott):
“The child of a Protestant mother and a Catholic father in Dublin, Paul Hewson attended church with his mom–while his dad waited outside. Years later Paul, now known as U2 lead singer Bono, told the National Breakfast in 2006 that the experience taught him “religion often gets in the way of God.” Young Paul drifted away from church–and from his birth name. In the early 1970s he tried on a number of stage names, including Bonavox, before settling on the one that has seen him reach the top of the rock world. U2 has sold 145 million records, but Bono’s legacy may be as a global citizen–championing refugees and fighting poverty and disease in the Thrid World. It all goes back to the lessons he learned as a kid, sorting out whether God dwells in a spired building or an open heart. As he told the prayer breakfast: “The poor are where God lives.”
If one reads about the mission of Christ in the New Testament, it seems a whole lot closer to Bono’s philosophy than to Beck’s.
Religion can definitely distract from God (http://bradcarmack.blogspot.com/2010/04/diversity-problem-restoration-religion.html). Adherence to divine command theory can also interfere with ethical reasoning (http://bradcarmack.blogspot.com/2010/01/divine-command-theory.html).