Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Bono - Karma versus Grace

... at the centre 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 [sic] 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 will you 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.... I'd be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. 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.

Bono on Bono, Conversations with Michka Assayas, Hodder and Stoughton 2005

On the basis of what I have read in the book, Assayas isn't a Christian. I'm impressed by the fact that Bono was able to communicate these deep Christian ideas to a non-Christian. If you are a Christian, how many non-Christians have you talked to about grace?