But did Lennon want to be forgiven? It’s easy to do what you want with someone’s reputation once they’re dead, but what if John Lennon didn’t want to be forgiven for saying that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ. It may have started as an off the cuff remark, but when Catholics and Christians condemned his and his music for the statement, burned albums, refusing to let their children by records, etc… it became something deeper.
In many ways, Lennon became more like Christ than most Christians, professing peace, harmony, and love at a time when Christians themselves were fighting against the idea of equality for all races based on… the Bible. He brought people together in a time when churches were tearing them apart under the “believe this or you don’t belong” doctrine. Lennon was closer to the second coming than most Christians will ever be, and to decry his music because of a statement is reprehensible at best. I’m glad the Vatican is moving on. I only hope Lennon can forgive THEM.
This made me laugh, I’m sure he really wanted to be forgiven by the organised evil of the Pope and his pals.
You have an interesting question here. Maybe they finally forgave Lennon because Lennon already forgave them. Of course, this assumes you accept the idea of celestial talks from the Big Guy.
Sorry, but I hate the Beatles and hate John Lennon’s solo stuff even more. Nothing against him as a person or his lyrics, I just hate pop music with a passion, and the Beatles to me sound like what I imagine Prozac would sound like.
I think that’s rather presumptous of the Vatican, and aren’t they supposed to do the Christian thing and forgive immediately anyway? What, they’ve been holding a grudge since the 60s?!
But I’m with Zombieslayer: Bleah.
I think LEnnon would have found it funny too.
I like you blog. You bring up interesting subjects and I enjoy your writing style. Keeps me thinking.