Lennon was always very blunt and honest, and though that was nice to hear to my ears, to others it got him in alot of trouble…

I don’t think you could have found many counterculture/new age types at that moment who weren’t fans of Jesus. It was a big part of that movement, to reclaim Jesus from organized religion.

This interview doesn’t change the fact that years later he encouraged us to IMAGINE “no religion” and “no Heaven.” (I’m a life-long Beatles fan, but, clearly, Lennon’s view changed in the mid to late 70s.)

According to Peter Brown’s book, The Love You Make, Lennon went through a born again Christian phase around 1972. But, he went through many other phases, like the unbelief expressed in Imagine. One could argue the Beatles were more of a Hindu band than a Christian band. John was extraordinarily open as a person, and I liked that element of his personality although it got him into trouble often.
Paul McCartney’s new album has a song that is spiritually oriented, talking wistfully of the afterlife. I think Cannoneo was on target, the sixties bands weren’t anti-religion.

The song imagine makes me nuts. I am just at the age where I really didn’t quite get the Beatles in general. I sort of fell more in with the prog rock bands of the 70s and 80s. I have to say I was happy to read this interview. So much better then the harikrishna stuff they promoted later in life. I always figured that explained Yoko. lol.

I always thought John Lennon was a bit of a ‘holy fool’ and the Beatles music, most of it, sounds as fresh and irresistible to me today as it did when I first heard it.
The fact that the music is also brilliant and innovative is an added plus. I will never tire of the Beatles music, and John Lennon certainly wrote some great songs during his solo career.
I love the song “Imagine” but now that it’s become sort of an “agnostic” anthem, I don’t like it as much. (And, I am an agnostic.)
I think John was a very honest seeker, but I think the interview he did in 1969 was probably just PR.

yes, yes We all are on a spiritual journey and the first thing we do is rebel against our parents. Becoming our own person is growing up. The Beatles helped most of us on our journey to find ourselves. I am of their generation and I appreciate how they helped me.
MY children sometimes give me heartache because they don/t do as I wish, but they are on their on their own journey.
Organized religion can be a downer, especially in the UK,but after visiting Scotland and Ireland it is not hard to understand that God created just a beautiful place and that their are so many poets and writers from there.
Thank God for the beatles and the UK.
Nancy

The Beatles were an interesting band. I don’t think they were Christian, though. In fact, all of the members, with the exception of John, were replaced with clones. Paul, was the first to be replaced in 1966. (I’m sure everyone remembers the “Paul is Dead” rumors.) So I don’t think anyone in the band would have considered themselves Christian. They never sang any Christian songs or lyrics. I also doubt the authenticity of the John Lennon quote above. It doesn’t sound like him at all. It’s very easy to get away with attributing a false quote to someone when they aren’t here to defend it.

When John Lennon said Imagine no religion and no heaven, his point was that we should not think of heaven as a place elsewhere, it is here now if we live right and believe (this is supported in scripture-thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven); and that we should get past dogma of classified religions and focus on spirit-uality-Christ’s actual message-it was only after his death that Christ-ianity became a religious institution. He himself said do not worship me, follow me & live like me & be like me & believe in me. In other words, walk the walk; I believe if you do that it does not matter what you call yourself.
A rose is a rose by any other name.
I have always known that John, George, Paul & Ringo were/are all Christian. Listen to the true message of their music- LOVE & enlightenment. I am quite sure that John & George are with Jesus, playing & enjoying great music together, & wondering how so many of us here on this planet in this physical dimension got the intent of The message wrong & got so far off track. Sure they (John & George) will be helping Christ from “the other side” help all of us turn this
world around in these critical times. Namaste, Peace, light, LOVE

Roger, the interview is supposedly being reaired on BBC Radio 4′s Sunday program, but I’m not familiar enough w/the BBC programming to search through the various sites and find it (although I’ve tried!). Maybe someone more familiar w/the show can share a link to the podcast, if in fact it’s been aired.
Joanne

After the statement that John said that “Hey were biger than Jesus” , he said something to the effect that “Chritianity will die out”. George sang the song Harikrishna, and later made a statement about it how he got people singing the song thinking that he was sing about Christ, but was actually sing about a false pagan religon, but once people got caught by the catchy tune they continued to sing it. George died by taking drugs, just like several of satan’s ministers do.

I’ve gotta say that I truly believe the Beatles were coming from a Christian ethic just because of all the love that they wrote in stories and experiences in songs. Their honesty and gifted poetry could only have come from God’s inspiration. Being that they were also born in the UK, that leads anyone to assume, especially at that time,
that they were also Christian. Even having latered turned to Buddhism, and continuing their compassionate works of art and humanitarian causes, one can only believe that all that, too, came from God.
The problem these days, and in history, is that each “religion” wishes to claim right to heavenly exclusivity that no real Christian or holy person would ever dare to claim. It would truly be so much more loving if we just admitted how much we really love the Beatles, and even still, many decades after their original, and inspiring music was first heard on the music scene.

First of all the quote was “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus Christ”. At the time it is possible they were. It doesn’t mean the were better than Christ. That was never said or believed. I grew up on the Beatles and their music helped me in many situations in my life. John Lennon had so much love inside him and thru his gift he shared it with the world. He was taken way to soon, but he certainly gave all he could while he was here. I wish more people could have the heart of John Lennon even just a piece of it would make a difference. And I think that is all he ever wanted to do, was make a difference.

I am a huge Beatles fan, and I absolutely love John Lennon’s work. I am not old enough to have experienced anything about him posthumously, but I do know a lot about them. I have done research papers on the Beatles and John Lennon.
John Lennon never meant that they were better or bigger than Jesus in the sense that it was taken. He simply meant that amoung the generation listening to their music at the time, they were more popular. Unfortunately, that was true, much like it is about certain pop stars and celebrities now.
He did very much believe in Christ. He was a “fan” of Christ. A fan in the sense of the word that I am a fan of him. I even believe at some point, he MAY have accepted Christ. I do not believe however, that his music was christian in anyway. Enlightening, maybe. Touching, meaningful, and deep, definately. Christian, I don’t think so. John sought out enlightenment through may different ways. I would love to believe that he did eventually find Christ in the way that Christians have. I am not going to say that he didn’t. He desired to find God, and I think he really did try.
I just don’t believe that The Beatles music was Christian, however. It was written from the imagination and experience of the singers. Unfortunately, it was sometimes, also written under the influence of drugs. It was good music and poetry. Much like the writing of Edgar Allen Poe. Just not Christian. As I said, however, this is not saying that John did not find Christ before he died.
I do think, however, that if believing that The Beatles were a Christian band, or that John Lennon, himself, was a Christian will urge people who think of him as a literary, musical, or even philosophical genius will bring others to Christ, then, we should all believe this theory.

One thing I will add to what I said earlier, is that I, am one of those people who believes that John Lennon was a literary, musical, and philosophical genius. I was a Christian long before I ever listen to The Beatles in 1997 when I was 15 years old. I even knew then, that the music was setcular(spelling?), but I also heard somethings that made me think, and it really applied to my Christian life. Even now, I can hear certain lyrics and think about how it applied to my creative and Christian life. It inspired me to be creative and imaginative, and it also helped me with my own writing. If even inspired my own version of Imagine. Just wanted to make it clear that even though I don’t believe their music was meant to be Christian, that doesn’t mean it can have a Christian meaning to some people

I remember when that happened, people wanted to burn records the Beatles made, anything having to do with the Beatles was taboo.

I remember when that happened. People wanted to burn Beatle records, and anything associated with the Beatles.

I confess I was only 2 at the time, but I found this really interesting BBC video news clip talking about the reaction here in the US to Lennon’s comments (I can’t embed it so you’ll have to shoot over to the BBC site to see it):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7499825.stm
Joanne

I, too, remember all the hullaballoo. I’m NOT a Christian but I, too, am a fan of Jesus, if not his church. I just wish more of his “followers” followed his teachings, but that’s a problem all faith groups have. As to whether or not they were a “Christian band”… My Sweet Lord’s harmony line was the Hare Krishna mantra… not a bad thing but hardly traditional Christian.

I have been a Beatles fan since “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” broke into the charts, when I was 12. I remember well the whole deal around John’s comments but even though I was a young teen, I knew what he meant. I always thought he was making a sardonic comment about today’s society (he did quite a bit of that, right) that a music group should have a greater hold on the imagination of young people than Christ did. I presumed he thought that was a rather sad state of affairs…which continues to the present, I’d say. John was raised as a Christian by a pretty strict aunt and uncle and John soaked up his early influences like a sponge. His later writings and interviews showed that. He had a lot of bitterness at being abandoned by his parents but he never expressed it by turning against God, that I ever saw.

“As to whether or not they were a “Christian band”… My Sweet Lord’s harmony line was the Hare Krishna mantra… not a bad thing but hardly traditional Christian.”
My Sweet Lord was SOLO George Harrison, not the Beatles.
Smarten up. I think the Beatles realized that: Christ, Krishna, Buddha, Mohammad, Zoroaster, Black Elk and etc. all lead to the same goal in the end.
Shanti All..
Rick NYC

John always spoke intuitavely and often without filtering his words, the way artists often create. Although he certainly went through many phases, his apparently sincere conversion experience in the early seventies(?) happened during his ‘house-husband’ period, when he was in a more private mode. Sure, he wrote his ‘I don’t believe in anything’ songs, but he later wrote ‘Number 9 Dream,’ with lyrics like, “I believe, yes I believe / more I cannot say / what more can I say?” My understanding is that John responded to phone councelors at the 700 Club and even went through ‘the sinners’ prayer’ with one of them. I don’t know how strong his commitment was, but I know that God’s is pretty strong.

Rather any of the Beatles were Christian or not, they were good people that gave to the people. I don’t know about anyone else’s God, but my God sees that for what it is. My God looks beyond humanistic ways and communicates through the soul without passing judgement on words. I don’t know John Lennon personally, but I grew up with him. His music and his ways of helping others helped me through some tough times when my christian friends and family turned their back on me because I was not one of them. In truth, I haven’t met a “true” Christian yet that didn’t judge me or others.

Direct quotes:
“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Krishna, Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It’s just that the translations have gone wrong.”
~John Lennon
This one’s pretty funny…
“Part of me suspects that I’m a loser, and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.”
~ John Lennon

The interview in question is owned by National Museums Liverpool. Extracts from it can currently be heard in The Beat Goes On exhibition at World Museum Liverpool. (However the extract currently available isn’t the part where Lennon refers to Christ). http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS——-IT IS WRITTEN——MANY ARE CALLED —-AND ONLY FEW ARE CHOSEN———-ARE YOU READY TO MEET YOUR MAKER—————ARE YOU SAVED———–THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU———–WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME———-SO WHAT IS YOUR CHOICE-HEAVEN OR HELL–DONT WAIT TO MAKE A CHOICE—-JESUS IS RETURNING—THE RAPTURE IS NEAR–DONT BE LEFT BEHIND—DONT PUT IT OFF–GET SAVED NOW–YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN TO ENTER HEAVEN———WHAT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE–TIME IS RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING

The Beatles were a band from Hell. They’re responsible for our drug culture who eventually became malcontents. They rebeled against our established system. Very immature fools who have long since sold out to conformity. By no means were they Christians.
Rick

…amen brother!!!

I’d never thought of The Beatles as a Christian or an anti-Christ band. To me they were just a pop/rock group. I’m a lifelong Christian who had enjoyed their music for many years with no problems from anyone. I’d understood John’s comments after I’d first heard them when I was a kid. He was right. At that time most kids had spent more time listening to their music (and/or other rock groups) than attending church, but certainly not out of hate for Jesus Christ.

I’m 13 right now and am both a Christian and a HUGE beatles fan. After I got into them, I started looking up stuff on Wikipedia about them. My respect for them sort of went down a bit after learning that they most of them were into Hinduism and all of that stuff. Some of their songs are references to drugs, some are not. Either way, I don’t think anyone should hate them necessarily. They are all gods children and I know for a fact that He doesn’t hate them, so why should we? That comes into context for most bands today. We don’t have to be avid fans or big supporters of their music or what it says, but maybe some of them are just confused and don’t know god yet or are being influenced by the wrong kind of people, so we should be praying for them instead of complaining about how much we hate them.

I agree with Kacie. Im writing a 10 page report on the Beatles, and their impact on society. Yes, they had great music. Yes, they negatively influenced use. Yes, they encouraged religion and even mocked Christ. But Christ says people will know Christians by their LOVE. Period. Our love is a huge example to non believers of the reality of Christ in us. I believe we need to be careful not to conform to their beliefs, nor accept them; but rather be critical in a loving manner. Is it wrong to listen to Beatles music? No. However, it is wrong to idolize the Beatles and accept the immoral gospel that they spat out as truth. God knew their hearts, beliefs, and intentions. Its time for us to focus on our own.

^referring to previous post
drug use*
pagan religion*
(school computer cut those out)

I always believed that Lennon was completely misunderstood. He didn’t always express himself in a manner that would suggest that he was trying to explain himself, like it didn’t matter if he had you stumped. I never thought he considered himself BIGGER than Christ! http://www.georgejacobsmusic.info/

If the Beetles were for Jesus Christ, then why did their music had satanic messages in them or why did they have Aleister Crowley on their Sergeant Pepper’s Album? Crowley is known as the biggest satanist ever and proclaims himself as “The Beast 666″. And just because you believe that Jesus lived, doesn’t mean you believe in what Jesus stands for.

l do not agree with the person who said John Lennon is now with Jesus.He is in hell right now.John Lennon mocked and made fun of the Lord during his life.he said that the christianity was going to disappear and Jesus Christ would be forgotten by everyone.Galatians 6:7 says “Make no mistake , God will not be mocked.What a person sows he will reap”.This man is in dead and Jesus Christ is still alive!!! Chritianity hasn’t disappear either.John Lennon was the member of the satanic music group.He covered his music by putting God’s word so that you think he is a christian, but behind his music it was a satanic.TODAY YOU HAVE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY.JESUS CHRIST IS STILL AVALABLE NOW AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHILE WE HAVE LIFE WE ALSO HAVE HOPE.TODAY YOU HAVE LIFE, DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY, IT CAN BE THE LAST ONE.May God bless you