Bono, U2 Frontman Talks About Christ, God, and Religion In General in 2006 Book 'Bono, In Conversation with Michka Assayas'

In a 2006 book entitled, 'Bono, In Conversation With Michka Assayas,' Bono also revealed information about his take on Jesus, God and religion in general. 

The book chronicles a series of intimate conversations between Bono and his friend Michka Assayas, a music journalist who has dealt with U2 since its inception. Throughout the course of the book he speaks about faith, family, commitment, his influences, service and passion.

Assayas spoke first to Bono about his interpretation of Christ.  "My understanding of the Scriptures has been made simple by the person of Christ. Christ teaches that God is love. What does that mean? What it means for me: a study of the life of Christ," Bono said, according to the book.  "Love here describes itself as a child born in straw poverty, the most vulnerable situation of all, without honor. I don't let my religious world get too complicated. I just kind of go: Well, I think I know what God is. God is love, and as much as I respond [sighs] in allowing myself to be transformed by that love and acting in that love, that's my religion. Where things get complicated for me, is when I try to live this love. Now that's not so easy."

He then moved on to speak about the dynamic differences between the  Old an New Testaments in the Bible.  "I accept the Old Testament as more of an action movie: blood, car chases, evacuations, a lot of special effects, seas dividing, mass murder, adultery. The children of God are running amok, wayward. Maybe that's why they're so relatable," Bono said.  "But the way we would see it, those of us who are trying to figure out our Christian conundrum, is that the God of the Old Testament is like the journey from stern father to friend. When you're a child, you need clear directions and some strict rules. But with Christ, we have access in a one-to-one relationship, for, as in the Old Testament, it was more one of worship and awe, a vertical relationship. The New Testament, on the other hand, we look across at a Jesus who looks familiar, horizontal. The combination is what makes the Cross."

However, Bono acknowledges that, for all of the good that religion can do in the world, it can also wreak havoc and sometimes cause more problems than it fixes.  "Religion can be the enemy of God. It's often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building," he said.  "A list of instructions where there was once conviction; dogma where once people just did it; a congregation led by a man where once they were led by the Holy Spirit. Discipline replacing discipleship."

However, the idea behind the religion makes sense to Bono and the idea behind it often leaves him in awe.  "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," he said.  "You see, 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. It's clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I'm absolutely sure of it. And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that 'as you reap, so you will sow' stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. 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."

Bono went on to explain the beauty behind Grace and the sacrifice that was made through Christ in order to allow God's Grace to fall upon us.  "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," he said.  "That's the point. It should keep us humbled . It's not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven."

Bono said he believes that Christ is the ultimate example, however, it is up to the individual to decide whether not to believe in him and allow those beliefs to effect us as human beings.  "In order to follow him, however, w"If only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed," he said.  "When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s[ins] and everybody else's. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that's the question. And no one can talk you into it or out of it."

In a more recent interview with Focus, Bono echoed the same kind of argument that he had made in 2006, according to WND.com. "When people say 'Good teacher,' 'Prophet,' 'Really nice guy,' ... this is not how Jesus thought of himself.  So, you're left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who He said He was or a complete and utter nut case," he said.  "And I believe that Jesus was, you know, the Son of God... I understand that for some people and we need to... if I could be so bold, need to be really, really respectful to people who find that ridiculous."

Bono went on to openly talk about scripture and his religious beliefs, but made a point of emphasize the importance of respecting others' differences while staying true to ones own beliefs. "You've gotta be very careful that grace and politeness do not merge into a banality of behavior, where we're just nice, sort of 'death by cupcake,'" he said. "Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn't have many manners as we now know."