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John Lennon's Jesus Quote Explored in Film



"We're bigger than Jesus now." John Lennon's words -- spoken 43 years ago Wednesday, in an interview with the Evening Standard -- about the Beatles are among the most controversial in rock 'n' roll history.

"Christianity will go," he said. "It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first -- rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me."

When the quote was taken out of context by an American teen magazine five months later, Lennon was crucified in America. A documentary, 'Inside John Lennon,' takes a look at the furor, recapturing the time with both news footage and interviews. In his own words, a young Lennon can be seen apologizing, saying, "We meant more to kids than Jesus did, or religion at that time. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down ... I just said what I said and it was wrong or it was taken wrong and now it's all this."

The most revealing insight into the controversy comes from Lennon's own words, as he offers a chilling account of facing his critics in America. "I was terrified," he admits. "One night on a show in the South somewhere somebody let off a firecracker when we're onstage, and there'd been threats to shoot us, and every one of us look at each other cause each we thought it was the other that had been shot. It was that bad. I don't know how I did it. That was the last tour."

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veesky

Jesus and John Lennon are alright in my book, although millions of people haven't been persecuted or killed over john lennon or rock and roll for that matter. Who's to say that Lennon shouldn't be more popular than Jesus? I mean they both preached love and togetherness, anti-materialism, and peace. People too often twist scripture and the Bible into something unrecognizable and while it's filled with nice myths about magic talking snakes and bushes that help people to cope with reality but ITS STILL BS. Jesus was a great man, with a lot of great ideas, but he was neither miracle worker nor offspring to divine being. God is a concept by which we measure our pain.

October 29 2009 at 2:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
friend96

I believe John Lennon was a seeker who actually had a lot in common with Jesus Christ. Both were woefully misunderstood and woefully misrepresented. His comments were a conviction to those who claimed to be Christians at the time. I don't believe a true follower of Christ would ever be offended by the truth of what he said. I hope he found what he was looking for. Of all his fans, me included, no one loved john more than Jesus.

March 08 2009 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rich

what a bunch of assholes!! Believe in yourselves, youre life is what YOU make it-not Jesus or John Lennon or Brian Wilson or anyone else! YOU determine your own life! I realize some people need a leader that they walk around quoting ( Al Sharpton, John Lennon, Jimmy(the ASSHOLE) Carter,you people are weak and cant make youre own life. Jeses would laugh at all of you idiots!

March 05 2009 at 9:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

Lennon was ALWAYS a jerk.

March 05 2009 at 2:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jagqueenva

Molly1 - Get a hold of yourself before you have a coronary! We are here to discuss history, not convert the masses!

March 04 2009 at 11:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to jagqueenva's comment
Molly1

Guess what? The story of Jesus IS history. HIStory. It would be wonderful to 'convert the masses' as I'd love to see them in heaven when I die.

March 05 2009 at 12:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bo

Pray to John Lennon or pray to Jesus Christ and guess what? The results will be the same.

March 04 2009 at 11:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matt

John Lennon was not alone:

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma." [Lincoln]

"Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies." [Thomas Jefferson]

March 04 2009 at 10:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
carol

I don't see where it's hard to understand what John Lennon meant - the popularity of the Beatles then, and even now, speaks for itself. Of course teenagers were more interested and taken with them, as are modern teens with their music. He also was not what you would call a church going Christian. So his credibility as his comment being "innocent" was also quite questionable. I'm a Christian, question their beliefs and behaviors, but they are my favorite group.

March 04 2009 at 9:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cslhotline

By the way, I loved the Beatles, still do, and I wish I could have known John Lennon and introduced him to the real Jesus. My hope is that he is saved. Goodnight.

March 04 2009 at 9:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cslhotline

Disproving invisible goats isn't necessary when there is no evidence to suggest they are there in the first place. A public trial does not go to trial unless there is first evidence to support a claim. Once in a trial, the truth is what is being sought on all sides and the evidence is weighed. Rumors and heresay do not nearly hold the weight of eyewitness testimony. If you don't want to believe the truth, then don't. But who is to blame if you don't search the evidence truthfully.

March 04 2009 at 9:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply