Vatican forgives John Lennon

[GrahamB]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7744282.stm

Well, it was the Christian thing to do, after all

[Doc Stier]

Lennon no doubt really appreciates this totally unnecessary post-mortem gesture, and can finally rest in peace now.

Doc

[Michael]

Doc, you not a big fan of the "better late than never" codicil to the golden rule?

[Chris Fleming]

You know Graham, for an atheist, you sure post a lot about God, Christianity, etc. It's been what, like 3 or 4 topics you've started? It really gives me an appreciation of the verse in Romans 10:8 which says, "...The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart".

[TaoJoannes]

And the funny thing is... Doc's a believer.

Johnny just got released from purgatory or something, we should be happy. Heaven got a little bit higher.

[Methods]

Not to speak for Graham, but there is no such thing as an Atheist. Atheist is not just a person who does not believe in God, it is a person that fights the religious values of God or whatever you may believe in or raised with. I have found Atheists are usually bigger believers than most religious people with higher standards, compassion and morals than most Christians, its just that they have a shield up that wont let them be true to themselves, therefore they have to oppose something instead of grasp, this is the reality of being when not wanting to be.

[Felipe Bidó]

John Lennon's comment was misinterpreted, even after he explained it.

..I've even read some christians saying that he got killed just AFTER he made the comment (Like a punishment from God, or something like that), while there is actually a 13 year gap between the two events.

[GrahamB]

I ain't no athiest dude. I belong to the old religion

[DeusTrismegistus]

Rock and Roll will defenitely outlive all religions.

[Doc Stier]

Doc, you not a big fan of the "better late than never" codicil to the golden rule?

Michael:

"Better late than never" is all well and good, but in this case, Lennon's 1966 comment was merely an impromptu remark from a young who was very full of himself in the wake of rapidly acquired fame and fortune beyond his wildest expectation. I never thought that Lennon planned to insult anyone or intended any deliberate disrespect by his remark. At the time, he even expressed his surprise at the huge outcry of negative response he received from so many people.

Many of these same self-righteous people, however, consciously and intentionally did everything in their collective power to personally harm Lennon in every way possible by negatively smearing his name and reputation, by pushing to have his music banned from radio play, withdrawn from sale in record shops, and so forth. This was hardly an appropriate Christian response, IMO.

If anything, some people should be asking Lennon for his foregiveness.



"I believe Jesus was right, Buddha was right, and all of those people like that are right. They're all saying the same thing-- and I believe it. I believe what Jesus actually said-- the basic things he laid down about love and goodness-- and not what people say he said. I believe in goodness and all those things."
John Lennon Article ©1966 Look Magazine



Doc

[DeusTrismegistus]

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

[Darth Rock&Roll]

*sways* Testify!!

[Methods]

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Although a fantastic song that has put a tear in my eye more than once - Communism comes to mind every time I hear it.
Thank god for difference, thank god there is more than one flower and thank god more than one type of food, and yes it is worth fighting for or it would be worthless. Difference in opinion is nothing but absolute...Peace can only be gained by understanding and there will be peace between humans when the human race is gone but the earth will be as violent as it was the day it was made.
We are no better than earth people, so the righteousness of the human race is what decides the factor of our evil.
Once again - fantastic song!

[qiphlow]

"I believe Jesus was right, Buddha was right, and all of those people like that are right. They're all saying the same thing-- and I believe it. I believe what Jesus actually said-- the basic things he laid down about love and goodness-- and not what people say he said. I believe in goodness and all those things."

i think there would be a lot less trouble in the world if folks could come to terms with what lennon said in that quote, especially the part that i emphazised.

[GrahamB]

"I believe Jesus was right, Buddha was right, and all of those people like that are right. They're all saying the same thing-- and I believe it. I believe what Jesus actually said-- the basic things he laid down about love and goodness-- and not what people say he said. I believe in goodness and all those things."

i think there would be a lot less trouble in the world if folks could come to terms with what lennon said in that quote, especially the part that i emphazised.

Heresy! Burn him!