During an interview with Evening Standard reporter Maureen Cleave, Lennon remarked, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink… We're more popular than Jesus now—I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity."Lennon's comment went virtually unnoticed in England but created a controversy when quoted by American teen magazine Datebook five months later. The uproar that followed—burning of Beatles records, Ku Klux Klan activity, and threats against Lennon—contributed to the band's decision to stop touring.
The Beatles Popular than Jesus:
John Lennon responds to questions about his "more popular than Jesus" remark at a L.A. press conference in August 1966:
BEATLES are DANGEROUS!
Jesus - John Lennon Controversy (1966):
Part I:
Part II:
Part III:
Part IV:
John Lennon Shot BBC NEWS 1980:
Related News:
Shirin Ebadi & Akbar Ganji: Walk out to protest free speech award to Mohammad cartoonist
John Lennon Would have been 70 today: Is he Still relevant? (bbc)
Related Blogs:
KNIGHTHOOD: Vatican Pardons Lennon's "Jesus" Remark ;0)
RESTORATION: The Beatles Royal Shakespearean Performance & BONNE ANNEE 2010 !
HISTORY OF IDEAS: Ian Davidson on Voltaire's "English Exile"
HISTORY FORUM: The Age of Enlightment in France and Europe.
GOOD READ: All You Need to Know About The Enlightment Philosophers
HISTORY FORUM: Nader Naderpour on Iran's Constitutional Revolution and European Rennaissance (1996)
Recently by Darius Kadivar | Comments | Date |
---|---|---|
TOMBSTONE: Bidding Goodbye to Iranian.com (ers) | 4 | Dec 05, 2012 |
ROYAL PREGNANCY: Prince William, Duchess of Cambridge Announce Pregnancy | 3 | Dec 04, 2012 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: Golshifteh Farahani & Sienna Miller in Road Movie ‘Just Like a Woman » | - | Dec 03, 2012 |
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
Darius I Have to Agree to disagree
by Escape on Sun Oct 10, 2010 07:37 AM PDTNot everyone understood what Lennon meant and your right it's probably what got him killed.But it wasn't just religious people,people on both sides misunderstood.That's why I thought you didn't,I mean on appearance of your post..Back then you didn't say 'I don't believe in God' and not have controversy.And controversy was Lennon's forte..I like your description of the song God,when you listen to the song and think about the lyrics you realize it's a intentional provocation to get you to think.
Lennon was on the Tommorow show in 1975 saying how he thought Beatlemania was over and how he was living a open life like a normal person in NYC.I have the movie of the re-broadcast of the show the night after he was shot and I think that played a big part.He also talks about the breakup of Beatles,gives you the answer.Oh and another big part in his Death was a Rolling Stone interview in support of his last album 'Double Fantasy'.It's very personal and revealing.I don't believe Lennon wanted to live in the cage of Celebrity,I think he would have rather been dead and that's why he decided to live as you and I would.
Escape Jaan What makes you think I misunderstood ?
by Darius Kadivar on Sun Oct 10, 2010 01:58 AM PDTI didn't say the contrary ...
I think everyone understood Lennon was being ironic in his song "God" about the relativity of all things including Faith or when worshipping Celebrities, religious, cultural or political icons as substitutes to one's spiritual void ...
Everyone ... Except ... Mark David Chapman I'm afraid ...
Lennon's killer Chapman 'wanted to become somebody' (bbc)
I think you are misunderstanding what Lennon meant
by Escape on Sat Oct 09, 2010 09:59 PM PDTIn his song 'God'..
The Lyrics I don't believe in Magic,I don't believe in Elvis,Kennedy,Jesus,God etc..
He is talking about the established world,what a mess it is.
In a similar relation it may be easier to say this - I don't believe,what you believe..What we are taught to believe.Our society being inbredded..
Anyway I never took the song as meaning John Lennon making personal attacks on Elvis or Kennedy or Jesus or God etc..I took it as meaning 'open your mind' to what people are trying to teach you,some of it is wrong.What better way to get your attention?
Lennon was one of Christ's biggest fans
by Escape on Sat Oct 09, 2010 09:17 PM PDTAnd the Beatles were always on the side of Christ.
Christians around the world had been dismayed by Lennon’s boast in an article in London’s Evening Standard about the popularity of the Beatles, but the singer says he was misunderstood.
“It’s just an expression meaning the Beatles seem to me to have more influence over youth than Christ,” he says. “Now I wasn’t saying that was a good idea, ‘cos I’m one of Christ’s biggest fans. And if I can turn the focus on the Beatles on to Christ’s message, then that’s what we’re here to do.”
He blames “the hypocrites” for being too “uptight” in reacting to his comments. “If the Beatles get on the side of Christ, which they always were, and let people know that, then maybe the churches won’t be full, but there’ll be a lot of Christians dancing in the dance halls. Whatever they celebrate, God and Christ, I don’t think it matters as long as they’re aware of Him and His message.”
//www.thinkchristian.net/index.php/2008/07/14/the-beatles-as-a-christian-band/
God is a Concept by Which We Measure Our Pain - John Lennon
by Darius Kadivar on Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:08 AM PDT"God is a Concept by Which We Measure Our Pain" - John Lennon
GOD - John Lennon