For those who have not yet heard, the long-lived ensemble of rock royalty known as U2 are coming to Fordham’s Rose Hill campus this Friday, for an early-morning concert to be featured on the television show "Good Morning America." The rumors began earlier this week and were confirmed in an email from Fordham President Joseph McShane, SJ, today to the university community. The 8:00 am concert will be preceded by breakfast starting at 5:00. Only those with Fordham IDs will be allowed in, according to Fr. McShane’s email. People are to gather on Edwards Parade, the commons fronting Keating Hall, beginning at 5:30. The setup was already underway when I got to the office (in Keating) this morning at 9:30. It looks like the band will be playing on the Keating steps.
This band will be conjuring rock at Fordham a few dozen feet from where we teach students in ministry, 3rd floor Keating, at the Graduate School of Religion.
U2 give an example of rock itself as ministry--of, around, and through that ambiguous but essential rockish atmosphere so inadequately denominated "the secular."
A few other theological thoughts on the U2 setup at Rock and Theology.
Tom Beaudoin
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
