One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God

by Christian Scharen

U2 is widely hailed as the greatest rock and roll band in the world, and lead singer Bono is often seen in the media touting humanitarian goals. Now Christian Scharen provides a thoughtful look at the driving force behind the band. Bono and other band members are marked by the Christian faith of their Irish backgrounds. Scharen reflects on how U2 "fits within the longer Christian tradition of voices that point us to the cross, to Jesus, and to the power of God's ways in the world" as he explores the music's honest spiritual questioning. Music lovers, pastors, and anyone on the path to God will value this book.

Genres: Music, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Religion, Biography

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Christian Scharen (PhD, Emory University) is vice president of applied research at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City, New York. He has authored a number of books, including One Step Closer, and is the book review editor of Ecclesial Practices.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into bible influenced song writing.

Great read for any U2 fan. Gained insight and knowledge that I did not previously possess. Gave me deeper meaning to the songs and a stronger connection to the music.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Step Closer is okay. When I began reading it, I wondered if I was reading Greg Garrett's We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2, under a different cover and author name. I guess there will never be more than a few years in between books about U2 and Christianity. Of the two books, my slight preference is for Garrett's, which seems to do a better job of integrating information about the band into the Christian apologetic discourse. Scharen's book, on the other hand, often feels like more of a Christian apologetic text, with a bit of U2 tacked on at the end of each chapter. You don't have to read very many books about U2 before you begin seeing the same Bono quotes and stories again and again, and that is the case with these two books as well; there are only so many published interviews with Bono, after all.

However, One Step Closer is not written for an audience that's already read every article and book about U2. Scharen explains that it's primarily aimed at high school and college-age readers, and especially at readers who have little (or negative) experience with Christianity. I don't know if that age group is interested enough in U2 anymore to invest much in this book, but if they did they would probably enjoy it.

Two little details puzzled me in this book. One is Scharen's claim on page 80 that "I should note, Adam was agnostic regarding these faith commitments at the time. He has since become a Christian." Nowhere else have I read anything so definitive about Adam's Christian commitment, so I'm not sure where that factoid came from in Scharen's book. The other detail is the cover of the book, which is a photo of only half of U2--Bono (of course) and Larry. This does actually reflect the fact that most of the quotes in One Step Closer are from Bono, with the other band members making rarer appearances throughout. But still: U2 is four guys, not two.

[Craig Toerpe · Rating 3 out of 5]

For anyone who has taken the time to develop a friendship with me, they will undoubtedly know I am a dedicated U2 fan. Growing up in the 80's, U2 was on the radio all the time. As I continued to grow and mature, so did U2 and their music...almost as if they were writing songs for my life's soundtrack.

I found this book on a recent trip down to our St. Louis Seminary. The book was being featured on one of the tables as you walked into the bookstore. As soon as I saw Bono on the front cover, I grabbed the book, completed my purchase, found a bench outside in one of the courtyards and began to read.

Fascinating read...and I am still on the fence on whether I like the book or not. The author, Scharen, has done his research, and makes a pretty strong claim for the band's Christianity, although Bono has not gone on record stating he is a devote Christian, "he would like to be one," he does advocate Christians to help those in need.

"One Step Closer," is not just a title of the book, but a title of a song that U2 wrote, which you can find on the Atomic Bomb album. The songs origins come from a conversation Bono was having with lead singer Noel Gallagher, whose father was on his death bed. Bono asked Noel, "Do you think he believes in God.." Noel replied, "Well, he's one step closer to knowing now."

So, I will let you read this one and draw your own conclusions

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know me well at all, you know that U2 is my all time favorite band. I had the amazing opportunity to see them live the last time they came to Atlanta and it was well worth the price of admission. The fact that they sang one of my favorite songs, 40, made my experience “even better than the real thing” (sorry, I promise no more U2 song title puns). One of my life-long friends got me a book for Christmas several years ago and I just finally got around to reading it. One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters To Those Seeking God by Christian Scharen takes the reader through twelve different topics regarding Christianity and shows how different songs in the U2 music catalog fit within these topics.

The topics covered include: Singing Scripture, Psalms as Thanksgiving and Lament, Wisdom as Desire and Illusion, Prophecy as Judgment and Hope, Parables as Offense and Mercy, Apocalypse as Ecstasy and Healing, Singing the Cross, Faith (Not Sight), Hope (Not Possession), Love (Not Power), Now (Not Yet), and Singing the Truth. (Read my review in its entirety at: http://scottcouey.com/2012/11/07/one-...)

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great book. It looks at different U2 songs through a spiritual lens. I like the way the author talks about following Jesus and the way he shows how U2's songs give access to God in a fresh and different way. You can really see how the members of U2 are following their calling in God as a rock band. I love that you can like U2 and not listen to the lysrics as talking about God at all, but if you are looking it is clear as day and that is what I like most about this book the kind of hidden message.

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a close look at the spiritual influence on the lyrics of many of U2's songs.Took a little while to get into this book. Found myself much more interested as I kept reading. Wish there were a little more actually from the band members themselves as opposed to the author's opinion on it, although I believe from the evidence he puts forth it makes for a pretty good bet that his opinions are pretty close.

[Shawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Put this in the "knew it would be bad before I read it" file. Most of the books I have presented in the U2 file are from evangelicals trying to ride a trendy wave. Do yourself a favor and just read "U2: At the End of the World" not only because it is a secular work, but because it is an honest work.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love U2's message and have attended a fantastic U2Charist at an Episcopal church in Houston but I'm not very good at reading theological studies-my brain can't wrap around them, so this book was a little deep for me. I think I'll just listen to the music. HA

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it was a well written book where the author uses the band's lyrics and the theology behind them. There were several interesting points the author made. He quotes heavily from Bono, and I wish there would've been more from the other members.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

For U2 fans who want to learn more about the band's spiritual focus.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. I love it