On mullets and Bono's musings about Christianity

Patrick Swayze and Bono are having a debate about which one of them invented the mullet. That is hilarious. My favorite part is this quote by Bono:

I read somewhere that people think Patrick Swayze invented the mullet. Someone needs to tell him I invented the mullet.

My vote goes to Bono, just because I like what he says in this article about his faith (I'm going to quote a ridiculous amount of it, because I couldn't seem to find a place to stop.)

The interviewer, Mr. Assayas, begins by asking Bono, Doesn't he think "appalling things" happen when people become religious? Bono counters, "It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma."

The interviewer asks, What's that?

"At the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics — in physical laws — every action is met by an equal or an opposite one," explains Bono. "And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that ... Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I've done a lot of stupid stuff."

The interviewer asks, Like what?

"That's between me and God. But I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge," says Bono. "It doesn't excuse my mistakes, but I'm holding out for Grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the Cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity."

Then the interviewer marvels, "The Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. I wish I could believe in that."

"The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death," replies Bono. "It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of Heaven."

The interviewer marvels some more: "That's a great idea, no denying it. Such great hope is wonderful, even though it's close to lunacy, in my view. Christ has His rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?"

Bono comes back, "Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: 'I'm the Messiah.' I'm saying: 'I am God incarnate.' ... So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was — the Messiah — or a complete nutcase ... The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's farfetched."

Besides, I think Bono invented a word up there - "religiosity" - so it follows that he probably invented the mullet as well.

Also, about five of my favorite songs are by U2, and, sorry Patrick, but She's Like the Wind is not among my favorites. No offense Johnny Castle. Although - "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" IS one of my favorite movie lines. Hmm. This is hard.

Incidentally, referring to my previous post - this is not part II.