Temptation is hard to resist. Clearly, he was playing with fire, but it remains it remains to whether he was actually unfaithful.

Setting aside the laudable things he's done, accusing a person of something like that is a hefty charge. And since there are only a collection of a few photos on Facebook to tell the story, we shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. In may be that he was simply indulging in his star power and had a couple of girls on his arms, but otherwise, he did nothing wrong. Or maybe they were just having a good time and he didn't get it through his thick head as to how it would look. So, let's not throw him under the bus yet.

Jared, I don't know, I kind of see where David is coming from. We (you, me, David, many who post here) know Bono.

This is who he is. He's the same guy who uses the "f" word frequently at his concerts, and almost always pulls a buxom girl up on stage to dance suggestively with.

I still love the guy......I would guess that U2 has more impact for the cause of Christ than MANY Christian bands.....but such things aren't measurable.

I still believe Bono to be a Christian used by God.

I don't agree with him smoking in the "One" video, or dancing around in a devil's outfit on the Zooropa tour, or going on vacation without his wife (who he is away from a lot to begin with) let alone partying on a yacht with teenage girls.

I believe these things hurt his witness and keep him from having more of an impact for Christ.

I guess I'd like to ask - what is the purpose of the post? To make us think twice about the saintliness of Bono? I think we all have.

Man.

I think if this weren't Bono, you guys wouldn't be responding this way.

The point of this post is to report this story, about a guy most of us admire and respect.

What do you think about it?

It's okay, because he's "simply indulging in his star power," but otherwise nothing wrong with it.

If a picture showed up on Facebook of me with my arms around two nearly naked girls, along with a story about me and a buddy partying with them on a private yacht, I don't think "Hey, I'm just indulging in my ________ power" would fly with the missus.
:-)

Here's another point of posting it: I knew if I did, without much commentary other than to indicate he is flirting with the devil here, I would get comments indicating it's no big deal, it 's okay, it's part of his culture, it's Bono so you know everything is cool, judge not lest ye be judged, etc.

If it was, say, I don't know, Joe Biden, I bet the responses would be different.

The man has a wife, and neither of those bikini girls are her.

Nope. And I'm really looking forward to their upcoming album. :-)

whew!.......ok, good......didn't want to lose you from the fan club......I'm hearing good things about the new album.

One more thought......Bono has a European bent to his perspective on Christian Morality - that doesn't make it ok - but it is a moral perspective consistent (I think) with a lot of European Christians.

David, what are you reading?

Jared, I could ask you the same thing. I didn't say that you accused him of anything, but you can't tell me that everyone wasn't thinking that he cheated on his wife. And let me admit my error and rephrase; by "nothing wrong," I meant that there wasn't evidence of him committing adultery. I didn't mean there was "nothing wrong" with him hanging with those girls, as it was clearly inappropriate and again, playing with fire. My apologies for not being clearer.

As to Bono's behavior, he lives the world of celebrities and it is hard to not be influenced by those standards. He may not have given a second thought to being with those girls and may have had no intention of doing anything more than that. That doesn't make it right, particularly when it puts that temptation so close, but I was pointing out that that is a plausible explanation.

I also find it telling that other posters on this thread interpreted volumes out of my choice a of a few words and divined my whole opinion on the situation. That's exact reason I called for moderation, as people are very apt to jump to conclusions.

Jared - leave it up to a Bono post to bring me out of mere lurker status! Ha!

Let me start by saying I am not a Bono apologist. I gave up a long time ago trying to make sense of some of the stunts he has pulled in the past. Although I do happen to disagree with a previous poster in regards to his Macphisto persona! I tend to think him dressing up as the devil was a stroke of artistic and satirical genius on his part! It was just unfortunate that most people didn't get the point of it. That being said, I definitely don't have him on some kind of moral pedestal or think that he is a perfect example of what a believer should look like. However, I do think he is worthy to be emulated when it comes to his actions and influence on behalf of the poor, as well some of his lyrical ideas and thoughts on God's justice and love versus our own hypocrisy and pride.

In regards to this picture, I feel that it is shady and unfortunate. But I also think that there are probably hundreds of pictures like these taken with him and other women over the years. I've read lots of books and magazine articles about U2 and some recount past "parties" with models and other types. It seemed that they kind of toned all that down a bit after the 90s period, but ... maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part. Despite all this stuff, I surprisingly (and thankfully to this point) have not read any account where he has actually cheated on his wife and committed adultery. That's not to say he never has or won't in the future (although I sure pray and hope not), but it's just an amazing observation for someone in that "rock and roll lifestyle."

Sadly, what this picture shows me is that Bono lacks judgement in the area of trying to appear above reproach. Then again, most of us knew that already! From an objective standpoint, most of the news story is pure innuendo. All we know for sure is that Bono was hanging out on a beach and a couple of girls with bikinis had their picture taken with him. He stupidly let one of them do this while sitting on his lap. As for the rest of the story, it's all based on an uncorroborated account from some girl's facebook page! It's interesting that the news story site doesn't back their facts up (much less put their name to the article). However, I do acknowledge that sometimes tabloid stories get it right (e.g. John Edwards) and I'm really hoping that this one got it wrong.

Just to clarify ... Jared, I don't think you were accusing him of anything either. You were just letting the picture and story speak for themselves while displaying disappointment (as we all rightly should).

Either way ... for now, my "hetero-man-crush" on Bono is still intact ... U2 is still my favorite band ... and I'll still probably overpay to see them live again once they come back to Texas (hopefully 2009)!

Ok ... back to lurking ...

and David - I agree with Jared - the way that article reads, Bono cheated on his wife as we define it.....even if nothing progressed passed them sitting on his lap.

The news services are in the business of selling a story, not presenting the facts. And the way the article reads, they are long on narrative and short on facts. By their own admission, their source is a collection photos posted to a Facebook account. They can convey some information, but how many gaps did they fill in with their own interpretation?

Again, look at my poor choice of words in my first post and see how far people took their interpretations of what I meant.

allowing 2 teenage girl in bikinis to sit on my lap + inviting them to have drinks with me on a boat + my wife being noticeably absent = adultery

.......unless I'm reading the story wrong - if so, help me.

I'm on to you now, Jared! This is all just a big ploy to try to get the post with the most comments on it! ;)

If I came out of lurker status ... who knows who else will do so?

"There are dozens of us! Dozens!!" - Tobias

allowing 2 teenage girl in bikinis to sit on my lap + inviting them to have drinks with me on a boat + my wife being noticeably absent = adultery

If there weren't any carnal thoughts involved, then no. But there are very among the male sex of the human race who may be capable of such a feat, so that possibility in distinctly unlikely. So, yes, in the sense that it is committing adultery in one's heart, but no, in committing the physical act of adultery.

I disagree David - is it sex? no...but it also goes far beyond committing adultery in one's heart.

If I confess to my wife that I committed adultery in my heart by lusting after a picture I saw on the newsstand in the grocery store line, she'll be disappointed, but she'll thank me for my honesty.

If I let two 19 year old girls sit on my lap and invite them to have drinks on my boat and tell my wife THAT, she'll have (I believe) biblical grounds for leaving me.......in other words......adultery.

And, finally, I think Jared's gotten too much heat for this post.

Not completely related to the post, but:
Sha, you should overpay to come see them in the UK w/ your sister! (Plus there are a lot of single girls here I could introduce you to . . . just sayin' . . .)

As the wife of a man who . . . .
He is 48 and they are 19. To me it looked as if they were just posing for a picture. If the story is correct he crossed a line in being with them back at a yachet for a party. I’d wonder if he will hold on to the marriage doing things like that. I know I’d be lawyered up. Oh that’s right I am.

Essentially, my point was that he gets held to the same standard as the rest of us. If fans want a pic with him, there are loads of poses that would have been a whole lot less questionable. The classic "standing and shaking hands" wouldn't have made me bat an eye.
Frankly, due to his influence, he should be held to a higher standard than an average pastor.
Sorry if I'm harping, but this is one of those things that gets my goat; rock stars, or whatever, being allowed to be looser in moral. Anyone remember DC Talk's "What if I Stumble" song?

Stan, who's doing that? I don't see anyone treating him a like demigod.

I believe Bono is a born again Christian because he professes a clear understanding of the gospel (more clear even than some evangelical ministers) and because his good works are his attempt at following Jesus out of gratitude for the gospel.

Beyond that, I have no cause to determine he's not a Christian, and certainly I am not comfortable making a declaration that he's not based on his sins. I have plenty of my own that i hope do not disqualify me.

In fact, I posted this implied chastisement precisely because I believe Bono is a believer. If this were some other rock star or celebrity of indeterminate faith, I wouldn't have bothered.

I think the Church has the duty to challenge and convict its own of sin.
Those outside the Church don't know any better.

I believe Bono is a born again Christian because he professes a clear understanding of the gospel (more clear even than some evangelical ministers) and because his good works are his attempt at following Jesus out of gratitude for the gospel.

Amen.