• SONGS
    • SONGS BY ALBUM >
      • BOY
      • OCTOBER
      • WAR
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE JOSHUA TREE
      • RATTLE AND HUM
      • ACHTUNG BABY
      • ZOOROPA
      • POP
      • ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
      • HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • SONGS OF INNOCENCE
      • SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
    • SONGS ALPHABETICAL >
      • 13 (THERE IS A LIGHT)
      • 40
      • A CELEBRATION
      • A MAN AND A WOMAN
      • A SORT OF HOMECOMING
      • ACROBAT
      • ALEX DESCENDS INTO HELL FOR A BOTTLE OF MILK
      • ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
      • ALL I WANT IS YOU
      • ALWAYS
      • AMERICAN SOUL
      • ANGEL OF HARLEM
      • ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
      • BAD
      • BEAUTIFUL DAY
      • BIG GIRLS ARE BEST
      • BOOK OF YOUR HEART
      • BREATHE
      • BULLET THE BLUE SKY
      • CALIFORNIA (THERE IS NO END TO LOVE)
      • CEDARS OF LEBANON
      • CEDARWOOD ROAD
      • CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
      • CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE
      • DESIRE
      • DIRTY DAY
      • DISCOTHEQUE
      • DROWNING MAN
      • ELEVATION
      • EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
      • EVERY BREAKING WAVE
      • EXIT
      • FALLING AT YOUR FEET
      • FAST CARS
      • FIRE
      • GET ON YOUR BOOTS
      • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
      • GLORIA
      • GONE
      • GRACE
      • HAWKMOON 269
      • HEARTLAND
      • HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME
      • I FALL DOWN
      • I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
      • I THREW A BRICK THROUGH A WINDOW
      • I WILL FOLLOW
      • I'LL GO CRAZY IF I DON'T GO CRAZY TONIGHT
      • IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS
      • IN A LITTLE WHILE
      • IN GOD'S COUNTRY
      • INTO THE HEART
      • INVISIBLE
      • IRIS (HOLD ME CLOSE)
      • IS THAT ALL?
      • KITE
      • LANDLADY
      • LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
      • LEMON
      • LEVITATE
      • LIGHTS OF HOME
      • LIKE A SONG
      • LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE
      • LOVE IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT
      • LOVE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN ITS WAY
      • LOVE IS BLINDNESS
      • LOVE RESCUE ME
      • LUCIFER'S HANDS
      • LUMINOUS TIMES (HOLD ON TO LOVE)
      • MAGNIFICENT
      • MERCY
      • MIRACLE DRUG
      • MISS SARAJEVO
      • MLK
      • MOFO
      • MOMENT OF SURRENDER
      • MYSTERIOUS WAYS
      • NEW YEAR'S DAY
      • NEW YORK
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • NUMB
      • OCTOBER
      • ONE
      • ONE TREE HILL
      • OUT OF CONTROL
      • PEACE ON EARTH
      • PLEASE
      • PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
      • RAISED BY WOLVES
      • RED FLAG DAY
      • REJOICE
      • RUNNING TO STAND STILL
      • SALOME
      • SCARLET
      • SECONDS
      • SILVER & GOLD
      • SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT
      • SO CRUEL
      • SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
      • SONG FOR SOMEONE
      • STAND UP COMEDY
      • STARING AT THE SUN
      • STATELESS
      • STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
      • STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
      • SUMMER OF LOVE
      • SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
      • SURRENDER
      • SWEETEST THING
      • THE BLACKOUT
      • THE FIRST TIME
      • THE FLY
      • THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GIVE YOU AWAY
      • THE MIRACLE (OF JOEY RAMONE)
      • THE PLAYBOY MANSION
      • THE SHOWMAN (LITTLE MORE BETTER)
      • THE TROUBLES
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE WANDERER
      • TOMORROW
      • TRIP THROUGH YOUR WIRES
      • TRYIN' TO THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WORLD
      • TWILIGHT
      • TWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
      • ULTRA VIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY)
      • UNKNOWN CALLER
      • UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD
      • VERTIGO
      • VOLCANO
      • WAKE UP DEAD MAN
      • WALK ON
      • WALK TO THE WATER
      • WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORLD
      • WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN
      • WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
      • WHITE AS SNOW
      • WHO'S GONNA RIDE YOUR WILD HORSES
      • WILD HONEY
      • WINDOW IN THE SKIES
      • WIRE
      • WITH A SHOUT (JERUSALEM)
      • WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
      • YAHWEH
      • YOU'RE THE BEST THING ABOUT ME
      • ZOO STATION
      • ZOOROPA
  • THEMES
    • ADDICTION
    • BEFORE THE FALL
    • BEING REBORN
    • BETRAYAL
    • BLINDNESS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • BROKEN HEART
    • CHALLENGING CHRIST
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST'S VICTORY
    • CONFESSING INABILITY TO CONNECT TO GOD
    • COVENANT LOVE
    • DANGERS OF RELIGION
    • DESPAIR
    • END OF THE WORLD
    • ENEMIES
    • FEMININE GOD
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOD VIA HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
    • GRACE
    • HEAVEN ON EARTH?
    • HOLLOW HEDONISM
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • LIGHT & DARKNESS
    • LOST & FOUND
    • LOVE IS ALL WE CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
    • LOVE THE HIGHER LAW
    • REDEMPTION
    • RUNNING TO OR AWAY FROM GOD?
    • SEX & SPIRIT
    • SPIRIT IS NOWHERE
    • SPIRIT TEACH ME
    • THE DOOR IS OPEN
    • TRUE TREASURE
  • QUOTES
    • ACCIDENTAL UNIVERSE?
    • ANTI-RELIGION
    • ATHEISM
    • BEING REBORN
    • BIBLE
    • BLESSINGS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST
    • CHRIST'S BIRTH STORY
    • CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS?
    • CHRIST THE SON OF GOD?
    • DAVID & THE PSALMS
    • EQUALITY & JUSTICE
    • ESSENCE MADE MANIFEST
    • FORCE OF LOVE & LOGIC
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOOD & EVIL
    • GRACE & KARMA
    • HEAVEN
    • HOLY SPIRIT
    • HYPOCRISY
    • IDENTIFYING AS A CHRISTIAN
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • INSTINCT
    • LOVE
    • MEETING GOD
    • MUSIC
    • SEX
    • TERRORISM
    • THE POOR
    • TRANSCENDENCE
  • SONGS
    • SONGS BY ALBUM >
      • BOY
      • OCTOBER
      • WAR
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE JOSHUA TREE
      • RATTLE AND HUM
      • ACHTUNG BABY
      • ZOOROPA
      • POP
      • ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
      • HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • SONGS OF INNOCENCE
      • SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
    • SONGS ALPHABETICAL >
      • 13 (THERE IS A LIGHT)
      • 40
      • A CELEBRATION
      • A MAN AND A WOMAN
      • A SORT OF HOMECOMING
      • ACROBAT
      • ALEX DESCENDS INTO HELL FOR A BOTTLE OF MILK
      • ALL BECAUSE OF YOU
      • ALL I WANT IS YOU
      • ALWAYS
      • AMERICAN SOUL
      • ANGEL OF HARLEM
      • ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE
      • BAD
      • BEAUTIFUL DAY
      • BIG GIRLS ARE BEST
      • BOOK OF YOUR HEART
      • BREATHE
      • BULLET THE BLUE SKY
      • CALIFORNIA (THERE IS NO END TO LOVE)
      • CEDARS OF LEBANON
      • CEDARWOOD ROAD
      • CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS
      • CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE
      • DESIRE
      • DIRTY DAY
      • DISCOTHEQUE
      • DROWNING MAN
      • ELEVATION
      • EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING
      • EVERY BREAKING WAVE
      • EXIT
      • FALLING AT YOUR FEET
      • FAST CARS
      • FIRE
      • GET ON YOUR BOOTS
      • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
      • GLORIA
      • GONE
      • GRACE
      • HAWKMOON 269
      • HEARTLAND
      • HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME, KILL ME
      • I FALL DOWN
      • I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
      • I THREW A BRICK THROUGH A WINDOW
      • I WILL FOLLOW
      • I'LL GO CRAZY IF I DON'T GO CRAZY TONIGHT
      • IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS
      • IN A LITTLE WHILE
      • IN GOD'S COUNTRY
      • INTO THE HEART
      • INVISIBLE
      • IRIS (HOLD ME CLOSE)
      • IS THAT ALL?
      • KITE
      • LANDLADY
      • LAST NIGHT ON EARTH
      • LEMON
      • LEVITATE
      • LIGHTS OF HOME
      • LIKE A SONG
      • LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE
      • LOVE IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT
      • LOVE IS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN ITS WAY
      • LOVE IS BLINDNESS
      • LOVE RESCUE ME
      • LUCIFER'S HANDS
      • LUMINOUS TIMES (HOLD ON TO LOVE)
      • MAGNIFICENT
      • MERCY
      • MIRACLE DRUG
      • MISS SARAJEVO
      • MLK
      • MOFO
      • MOMENT OF SURRENDER
      • MYSTERIOUS WAYS
      • NEW YEAR'S DAY
      • NEW YORK
      • NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
      • NUMB
      • OCTOBER
      • ONE
      • ONE TREE HILL
      • OUT OF CONTROL
      • PEACE ON EARTH
      • PLEASE
      • PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)
      • RAISED BY WOLVES
      • RED FLAG DAY
      • REJOICE
      • RUNNING TO STAND STILL
      • SALOME
      • SCARLET
      • SECONDS
      • SILVER & GOLD
      • SLEEP LIKE A BABY TONIGHT
      • SO CRUEL
      • SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS
      • SONG FOR SOMEONE
      • STAND UP COMEDY
      • STARING AT THE SUN
      • STATELESS
      • STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE!)
      • STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF
      • SUMMER OF LOVE
      • SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY
      • SURRENDER
      • SWEETEST THING
      • THE BLACKOUT
      • THE FIRST TIME
      • THE FLY
      • THE LITTLE THINGS THAT GIVE YOU AWAY
      • THE MIRACLE (OF JOEY RAMONE)
      • THE PLAYBOY MANSION
      • THE SHOWMAN (LITTLE MORE BETTER)
      • THE TROUBLES
      • THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE
      • THE WANDERER
      • TOMORROW
      • TRIP THROUGH YOUR WIRES
      • TRYIN' TO THROW YOUR ARMS AROUND THE WORLD
      • TWILIGHT
      • TWO HEARTS BEAT AS ONE
      • ULTRA VIOLET (LIGHT MY WAY)
      • UNKNOWN CALLER
      • UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD
      • VERTIGO
      • VOLCANO
      • WAKE UP DEAD MAN
      • WALK ON
      • WALK TO THE WATER
      • WHEN I LOOK AT THE WORLD
      • WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN
      • WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME
      • WHITE AS SNOW
      • WHO'S GONNA RIDE YOUR WILD HORSES
      • WILD HONEY
      • WINDOW IN THE SKIES
      • WIRE
      • WITH A SHOUT (JERUSALEM)
      • WITH OR WITHOUT YOU
      • YAHWEH
      • YOU'RE THE BEST THING ABOUT ME
      • ZOO STATION
      • ZOOROPA
  • THEMES
    • ADDICTION
    • BEFORE THE FALL
    • BEING REBORN
    • BETRAYAL
    • BLINDNESS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • BROKEN HEART
    • CHALLENGING CHRIST
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST'S VICTORY
    • CONFESSING INABILITY TO CONNECT TO GOD
    • COVENANT LOVE
    • DANGERS OF RELIGION
    • DESPAIR
    • END OF THE WORLD
    • ENEMIES
    • FEMININE GOD
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOD VIA HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
    • GRACE
    • HEAVEN ON EARTH?
    • HOLLOW HEDONISM
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • LIGHT & DARKNESS
    • LOST & FOUND
    • LOVE IS ALL WE CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND
    • LOVE THE HIGHER LAW
    • REDEMPTION
    • RUNNING TO OR AWAY FROM GOD?
    • SEX & SPIRIT
    • SPIRIT IS NOWHERE
    • SPIRIT TEACH ME
    • THE DOOR IS OPEN
    • TRUE TREASURE
  • QUOTES
    • ACCIDENTAL UNIVERSE?
    • ANTI-RELIGION
    • ATHEISM
    • BEING REBORN
    • BIBLE
    • BLESSINGS
    • BLIND GENERATION
    • CHANGING THE WORLD
    • CHRIST
    • CHRIST'S BIRTH STORY
    • CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS?
    • CHRIST THE SON OF GOD?
    • DAVID & THE PSALMS
    • EQUALITY & JUSTICE
    • ESSENCE MADE MANIFEST
    • FORCE OF LOVE & LOGIC
    • GOD-SHAPED HOLE
    • GOOD & EVIL
    • GRACE & KARMA
    • HEAVEN
    • HOLY SPIRIT
    • HYPOCRISY
    • IDENTIFYING AS A CHRISTIAN
    • IMAGINATION & GOD
    • INSTINCT
    • LOVE
    • MEETING GOD
    • MUSIC
    • SEX
    • TERRORISM
    • THE POOR
    • TRANSCENDENCE
Bono's Bible

GRACE & KARMA


…the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma. 2005 ー Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas

[Christ’s death] should keep us humbled… It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven. 2005 ー Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas

It's a powerful idea, grace. It really is. And... we hear so much of karma and so little of grace. Every religion teaches us about karma and, well, what you put out you will receive. And even Christianity, which is supposed to be about grace, has turned... redemption into good manners, or the right accent, or... good works or whatever it is. I just can't get over grace ー (it's) so hard to find. October 18, 2001 ー "U2 Plans To Bring Grace To The Concert For New York City" by Gary Graff (Launch.com)

I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace. 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 ー in physical laws ー 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… I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. I’d be in deep shit. 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. 2005 ー Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
 
Psalm 40 is interesting in that it suggests a time in which grace will replace karma, and love will replace the very strict laws of Moses (in other words, fulfil them). I love that thought. David, who committed some of the most selfish as well as selfless acts, was depending on it. That the scriptures are brim full of hustlers, murderers, cowards, adulterers and mercenaries used to shock me. Now it is a source of great comfort. 1999 ー Selections from the Book of Psalms (Introduction by Bono) ー Pocket Canons​

I wasn't looking for grace, but luckily grace was looking for me. November 3, 2005 ー Interview with Jann Wenner (Rolling Stone)
See Themes
Grace