In this six-part Forum series, Morgan Allen will lead us in a theological reflection on scripture and our American condition, in companion with the life and work of Bruce Springsteen. We’ll draw on several texts, including the Gospel of Luke, the Acts of the Apostles, and Springsteen’s musical catalogue, autobiography, and recent one-man show.

This week, in our on-going theological reflection on scripture and our American condition, through the lens of the life and work of Bruce Springsteen, we’ll continue in the three-week prophetic arc of “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” and we will consider Springsteen and war.  

We will begin with a reading of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem from the Gospel of Luke (19:29-44), and continue by watching the “official video” of Springsteen and the E Street Band’s remake of The Temptations’ protest song, “War.”  We will set that narrative and those images in conversation with Springsteen’s On Broadway “Born in the U.S.A.” introduction (the audio of which is available through Springsteen’s VEVO channel as Part I and Part II) and performance.  Following discussion, we will listen to Springsteen introduce the “The River” from the five-LP, Live 1975-85 box set, a narrative binding this week’s program and our February 2 Forum on “Sonship.”

Please note: While the language is authentic to the context, this Sunday’s Forum videos will include profanity.