“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.”
- October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980
- British
- Musician, Songwriter, Peace Activist, Founding Member of The Beatles
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Quote
“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.”
Explanation
John Lennon’s statement, made during a 1966 interview, reflects his perception of a cultural and generational shift rather than an attack on faith itself. He predicted that Christianity, as an institution, would decline in influence, particularly among youth in increasingly secular societies. His phrasing—”vanish and shrink”—was deliberately provocative, expressing confidence that traditional religion was losing relevance in the face of modern social change.
The most infamous part, “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” was not intended as blasphemy but as a sobering commentary on the Beatles’ fame and the changing priorities of younger generations. In Lennon’s view, pop culture was becoming a more powerful force in shaping minds and values than religious institutions. The backlash, especially in the U.S. Bible Belt, was fierce—records were burned, concerts were boycotted, and Lennon later issued a clarification to say he meant no disrespect to Jesus as a figure.
Today, the quote continues to provoke discussion about the tension between religion and popular culture, and about how influence is measured in modern societies. While Christianity remains a major global faith, Lennon’s prediction touches on the reality that organized religion has seen declining participation in many parts of the world. His words underscore the enduring question of what holds cultural power, and how societal values evolve in response to changing times.
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