Changes

He remains a hero in [[Britain]], where he was ranked in the top 10 of the 2002 "100 Greatest Britons" poll sponsored by the BBC.

He remains a hero in [[Britain]], where he was ranked in the top 10 of the 2002 "100 Greatest Britons" poll sponsored by the BBC.

In June 2007, ''Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur'' was released. The album, whose proceeds went to liberal group [[Amnesty International]]'s campaign on behalf of Sudan's war-torn province of Darfur, featured artists of yesterday and today, such as [[U2]], [[REM]], [[Green Day]], and [[Corinne Bailey Raye]] covering Lennon's work.

In June 2007, ''Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur'' was released. The album, whose proceeds went to liberal group [[Amnesty International]]'s campaign on behalf of Sudan's war-torn province of Darfur, featured artists of yesterday and today, such as [[U2]], [[REM]], [[Green Day]], and Corinne Bailey Raye covering Lennon's work.

== Poor family life ==

== Poor family life ==

== Religious views ==

== Religious views ==

John Lennon in s 1965 interview said: "If you say you don't believe in God, everybody assumes you're antireligious, and you probably think that's what we mean by that. We're not quite sure 'what' we are, but I know that we're more [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] than [[Atheism|atheistic]]."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QHtMYEl4QxsC&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=If+you+say+you+don%27t+believe+in+God,+everybody+assumes+you%27re+antireligious,+and+you+probably+think+that%27s+what+we+mean+by+that.+We%27re+not+quite+sure+%27what%27+we+are,+but+I+know+that+we%27re+more+agnostic+than+atheistic.%22&source=bl&ots=TPKUp9eTgZ&sig=mmwEFPjVlYV86ONaCWa5eImwujk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj47Lzpke_MAhWqpYMKHXh4AnQQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=If%20you%20say%20you%20don%27t%20believe%20in%20God%2C%20everybody%20assumes%20you%27re%20antireligious%2C%20and%20you%20probably%20think%20that%27s%20what%20we%20mean%20by%20that.%20We%27re%20not%20quite%20sure%20%27what%27%20we%20are%2C%20but%20I%20know%20that%20we%27re%20more%20agnostic%20than%20atheistic.%22&f=false ''The Beatles Image and Music'' by Michael R. Frontani, page 99]</ref>

Lennon, in a 1965 interview, said: "If you say you don't believe in God, everybody assumes you're antireligious, and you probably think that's what we mean by that. We're not quite sure 'what' we are, but I know that we're more [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] than [[Atheism|atheistic]]."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=QHtMYEl4QxsC&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=If+you+say+you+don%27t+believe+in+God,+everybody+assumes+you%27re+antireligious,+and+you+probably+think+that%27s+what+we+mean+by+that.+We%27re+not+quite+sure+%27what%27+we+are,+but+I+know+that+we%27re+more+agnostic+than+atheistic.%22&source=bl&ots=TPKUp9eTgZ&sig=mmwEFPjVlYV86ONaCWa5eImwujk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj47Lzpke_MAhWqpYMKHXh4AnQQ6AEILDAD#v=onepage&q=If%20you%20say%20you%20don%27t%20believe%20in%20God%2C%20everybody%20assumes%20you%27re%20antireligious%2C%20and%20you%20probably%20think%20that%27s%20what%20we%20mean%20by%20that.%20We%27re%20not%20quite%20sure%20%27what%27%20we%20are%2C%20but%20I%20know%20that%20we%27re%20more%20agnostic%20than%20atheistic.%22&f=false ''The Beatles Image and Music'' by Michael R. Frontani, page 99]</ref>

Lennon's song ''Imagine'' has been dubbed the "atheist anthem".<ref>Eyre, Hermione (1 November 2006). "[http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/hermione-eyre-atheists-should-be-louder-and-prouder-422404.html Atheists should be louder and prouder]". The Independent. Retrieved 23 March 2014.</ref><ref>Doughty, Chris (28 July 2009). "[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1202754/Kumbaya-replaced-John-Lennons-Imagine-atheist-summer-camp-kids.html Kumbaya replaced by John Lennon's Imagine at atheist summer camp for kids]". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 30 October 2011.</ref>  

Lennon's song ''Imagine'' has been dubbed the "atheist anthem".<ref>Eyre, Hermione (1 November 2006). "[http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/hermione-eyre-atheists-should-be-louder-and-prouder-422404.html Atheists should be louder and prouder]". The Independent. Retrieved 23 March 2014.</ref><ref>Doughty, Chris (28 July 2009). "[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1202754/Kumbaya-replaced-John-Lennons-Imagine-atheist-summer-camp-kids.html Kumbaya replaced by John Lennon's Imagine at atheist summer camp for kids]". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved 30 October 2011.</ref> Lennon himself has also admitted that the song is "...virtually the [[Communist Manifesto]], even though I'm not particularly a Communist and I do not belong to any movement."

Lennon's most famous quote regarding [[Christianity]] was in 1966:

Lennon's most famous quote regarding [[Christianity]] was in 1966:

* Christianity will go. 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 and roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me.  

{{cquote|Christianity will go. 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 and roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me.}}

(Emphasis added)

(Emphasis added)

After Christians worldwide criticized his attitude, misquoting him as saying "We are greater than Jesus," Lennon held a press conference on August 11, 1966, in Chicago at which he elaborated:

After Christians worldwide criticized his attitude, misquoting him as saying "We are greater than Jesus," Lennon held a press conference on August 11, 1966, in Chicago at which he elaborated:

* I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I would have gotten away with it. I'm sorry I opened my mouth. I'm not anti-God, anti-Christ, or anti-religion. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down. I was just saying it as a fact and it's true more for England than here. I'm not saying that we're better or greater, or comparing us with Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing or whatever it is. I just said what I said and it was wrong. Or it was taken wrong. And now it's all this.

{{cquote|I suppose if I had said television was more popular than Jesus, I would have gotten away with it. I'm sorry I opened my mouth. I'm not anti-God, anti-Christ, or anti-religion. I wasn't knocking it or putting it down. I was just saying it as a fact and it's true more for England than here. I'm not saying that we're better or greater, or comparing us with Jesus Christ as a person or God as a thing or whatever it is. I just said what I said and it was wrong. Or it was taken wrong. And now it's all this.}}

In 1977, John had a brief "[[Born Again]]" phase. He wrote several Christian compositions which included, "Talking with [[Jesus]]", "Amen (The Lord's prayer set to music)" and "Help me to help myself".

In 1977, John had a brief "[[Born Again]]" phase. He wrote several Christian compositions which included, "Talking with [[Jesus]]", "Amen (The Lord's prayer set to music)" and "Help me to help myself".

Some people who had [[Near-death experience]]s say they have seen Lennon in [[hell]].

Some people who had [[Near-death experience]]s say they have seen Lennon in [[hell]].{{citation needed}}

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Musicians]]

[[Category:Musicians]]

[[Category:Beatles]]

[[Category:Beatles]]