Get up to speed at the end of this post.
If you don’t want to watch the entire thing, here are the highlights:
Liberty U Falkirk Center director Ryan Helfenbein begins the day by using John 15:13 to define "patriotism." Then says, "if you think that's unChristian (using John 15:13 to define patriotism) you might not be Christian." And we're off to a "good start."
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 10, 2020
Bruce begins Boston College convo address: "If you completed your assignment and read my book, you will know I got into rock 'n roll for the sex, the drugs, AND the sex. Oh, wait a minute, that's the wrong speech. Let's start again…." #brucespringsteen #springsteenatBC
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
watching Christian Right programming earlier today There was one session on Christian thinking that was cut to 15 minutes. #BruceSpringsteen addresses the links between intellectual life and Christian spirituality in the first 2 minutes. @falkirkcenter #springsteenatbc 2/
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Springsteen urges @BostonCollege students to "absorb every minute of what you are experiencing and come out on the other end an individual of expanded vision, of intellectual vigor, or spiritual character and grace…" #springsteen #springsteenatbc #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
I want to show this speech to my Created and Called Community courses @messiah_univ next Spring. This a great speech about Christian vocation. #springsteenatbc #brucespringsteen #vocation
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Context: (For more on Created and Called for Community at Messiah University click here).
Springsteen: "Love your country, but never fail to be critical when it comes to your country's living-up to your and its ideals. Listen to the voices calling you from our founding documents and keep faith with them." #springsteen #spingsteenatbc #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Springsteen to @bostoncollege freshmen: "You stand sentry at the door of a free nation. We need your judgement, we need your vigilance. We need your commitment to a greater America, the America that we carry in our hearts." #springsteenatbc #springsteen #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Springsteen: "The American experiment…is an unfulfilled promise. The distance between the American Dream and our American reality remains greater than ever." #springsteen #springsteenatbc #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
BC student asks #Springsteen how he gained confidence in his musical style. Answer: "I'm a rambling mess of towering insecurities, even to this day." Adds that he gained confidence by performing in tiny seaside clubs. When the big time hit he knew who he was #springsteenatbc
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
BC student asks #Springsteen how faith informs his music. Answer: "I have an ambivalent relationship with my faith…I am a lapsed Catholic." Adds, "my faith was something I thought I could walk away from after Catholic school, but I was wrong." #springsteenatbc #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Springsteen: "I often wrote incorporating biblical language. I consider myself primarily a spiritual songwriter. I make music that ultimately wants to address the soul." #springsteen #springsteenatbc #brucespringsteen
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020
Springsteen on "American Skin (41 Shots)": "I'm sad it remains relevant, but I am not completely surprised. Because we as a country haven't done the work necessary to address the systemic racism that pervades every dimension of our society." #springsteen #springsteenatbc #race
— John Fea (@JohnFea1) September 11, 2020