How the Beatles Compare and Contrast Politics and Religion Essays

How the Beatles Compare and Contrast Politics and Religion Essays How the Beatles Compare and Contrast Politics and Religion Essay How the Beatles Compare and Contrast Politics and Religion Essay Apart from their musical success, The Battles were actively involved in Politics and Religion Thered never been anything like the Battles who were about music but also about something more far-reaching (McCarty, 2004 in Turner, 2006: 1). Notably, John Lennox was more involved with Politics than the other members of the group; likewise George Harrison was profusely more involved with religion. This essay seeks to explore the impact they had in the politics and religion of Britain in the sass. Although, their views on religion and politics changed time and time again, over the period of their career. Allison (2006) states in his book The Love There Thats Sleeplessness he talks about Lennox What he thought at one time is no indicator of what he thought at another. His political views, for example, were scarcely consistent (Allison 2006:53) The Battles began their musical career composing and singing songs about love which were more appealing to the youth at the time. The Battles had not started out with the thought of imparting messages to a generation. In the early days their lyric writing and grasp of social issues were the least developed of their capabilities (Turner 2006:3). However, 1966 onwards they made more lyrics with an Intellectual charge and a rebel stance questioning themselves, the world around them and the world to come. According to Turner (2006) If the Battles had a gospel, It presupposes that they believed that something was wrong with the world (Turner 2 006:8). The Battles right from an early stage opposed the system, for example they did not do very well at school, even though they had the opportunity to do so. As Turner (2006) notes, that The Battles took It upon themselves to explore the world The Battles, It seemed, went through things on behalf of their followers and then sent back their findings. They traveled the world , smoked pot ,took acid ,snorted cocaine ,lived to excess became addicted ,consulted psychics, spent millions, meditated, and then wrote their reports up in the form of songs (Turner 2006:7). They conveyed these messages very well Ana tenet Tans connecter Walt tenet Ideas most AT ten time. However, most of these social messages more often than not opposed the government and the church; this most certainly affected these institutions for example the support given by The Battles to different organizations or ideas the government were against include; the AIR, Vietnam war Millions of young people mocked pot, dropped acid, investigated Eastern religions, and marched for peace in Vietnam as a result of things the Battles did or said (Turner 2006:9). Another example given by Turner (2006) which proves this and further to discloses that the Battles also gave financial support to causes they believed in Interest in Transcendental Meditation, for example, received a tremendous boost from their corporate endorsement , and the proliferation of shaved-headed men and long-haired women singing the Hare Krishna mantra on the main streets of every major city as a direct result of the financial and moral backing their organization achieved from the Battles (Turner 2006:12). The Krishna mantra aspired to convert the West, thereby targeting John Lennox and George Harrison as disciples, again this goes to show how influential the Battles were. There are a lot of people who like us and they are influenced by us. So you know, in a small way I may be able to influence them in another direction (Harrison, 1996 in Turner, 2006:1), also in support of the former argument is AAA Urinations quote stating that The Battles had become role models for the youth of the entire Western world. Whatever the Battles did was right! Correct! Acceptable! (AAA Orientation in Turner 2006:9). In songs like the Lady Madonna and Penny Lane they questioned the society and religion. Being influential ,the government at times partnered with them to convey a message across to mainly the Youths for example in 1965,the Battles were appointed (Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) MOB, although John Lennox returned it four years after receiving it in protest against the British governments involvement in the Nigeria-Bavaria War (1967-1970) . The church on the other hand did not really want the Battles to side with them or did not show that they did anyway. The youth of today are really looking for some answers the established church cant give them, their parents cant give them material things cant give them (Lennox,1967 in Turner ,2006:134) In their quest for spirituality and to get rid of the void they felt All their material dreams had been achieved so dramatically, at such an early age, that they were starting to ask themselves what was left to look forward to. Since their early teen years theyd been motivated by the possibility of wealth, fame, sex, and acclaim, but now that they had these things a fresh purpose was required (Turner 2006:15). The Battles had acquired all the wealth and fame and still felt empty and so they rebelled against the church and the government We are not only blind in ourselves, but so is the larger social body (Addison 2006:34) I nee turned towards Eastern Religion l en soullessness Ana lack AT mystery Tanat ten young hated about modernity was replicated in the church. The alliance between industry , politics and clergy. This was partly why those disenchanted by materialism tended to be more attracted to the religions of the East that showed more respect for nature and were less interested in war and the pursuit for wealth (Turners:10) ND in this manner they viewed the church and government as similar, because they shared the same views about Wealth and how to get it. The lyrics of Girl (1965) construes the idea of materialism ( the idea of working and getting material possession) but according to them that is not where fulfillment lies because they had came from a phase where they were hyper-materialists to an anti-materialist phase ,they were conveying to their fans that all that money can buy is Just not enough and blame both the political and religious establishments encourage people to work towards attaining wealth Did she understand it when they said that a man just break his back to earn his day of leisure where They being the church and the government constantly reassure people that hard work is a means to an end, the end being fulfillment and in a Christian religious context the day of leisure refers to the Sunday (the Sabbath day) It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested (Exodus 31 :17) . The West was not very keen on the leader of the Transcendental meditation movement, Maharanis Mashes Yogi they believed he was an imposter and this is another example of how the Battles rebelled against the West. They also liked the Idea of the Eastern Religion because it differed from the Western ideology l dont believe that it ends with our Western logical thoughts (McCarty, 1967 in Turner ,2006:1) as well as it not being institutionalized or because they thought it was not, they like the do it yourself notion (no authority). Turner (2006) states however that Without the use of drugs its unlikely that they would have been as receptive to the teachings of Hinduism or would have devoted so much time to learning techniques of meditation (Turner 2006:12). The lyrics of Im Only Sleeping construes that many people do not see the real meaning of life, but run around doing things they should not be doing rather than experiencing the moment. The song is also anti- materialist and according to John Lennox the notion of sleeping is getting away from the everyday material world and entering into a world of dreams (Transcendentalism) ,fantasy, spirituality. He thinks it is superior to the everyday world. Many scholars claim that the Dream world Lennox speaks of is as a result of him being high on LSI ( Lysergic Acid Thalidomide). Drugs seemed to offer new possibilities (Turner 2006:1 5)because they had acquired all they wanted and all the institutions had preached were the pursuits for happiness but they still felt empty and so turned to drug taking , once again The Battles rebelled against the government and the church where drug taking is disapproved of. A Famous critic of the Battles, youth pastor, David A. Nobel wrote two books that relate to the Battles namely Communism, Hypnotism and the Battles and Rhythm, Riots Ana Revolution winner en stated Tanat l en Battles In particular nave a special significance to the disrupter of society for their promotion of drugs, avian-garden sex and atheism he also wrote that The revolution, though sometimes veiled, is fundamentally against Christianity and Christianity moral concepts. Karl Marx sought to dethrone God before he set out to destroy capitalism (Cited in Turner 2006:23) Religion also made them participate in politics for example Georges sympathy for TMs philosophy persisted throughout his life. As late as 1992, during the General U. K. Election, he Joined the benefit concert for the Natural Law Party , a political action of TM components (Allison 2006:45) Unlike the Government, whose policies the Battles mostly opposed such as signing petitions for legalization of soft drugs e. G. Cannabis, the supposed rumor of John Lennox funding the AIR (Irish Republican Army), opposing the Vietnam war etc. The Battles did not oppose religion but the Church (western ideology) and its leaders . However, when Lennox made the statement Were more popular than Jesus now; I dont know which will go first-rock n roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. Its them twisting it that ruins it for e (Lennox 1966, Maureen Cleave Interview for London Evening Standard) he was misunderstood and this caused uproar in the America amongst the Christians. Paul McCarty defended him stating that Of course, John never meant to say that the Battles were literally bigger than Christ. He was only referring to the lack of attendance in church. He was actually taking a sympathetic point of view (McCarty 2004 in Turner 2006:1 5). The other Battles shared Lemons belief on religion or at least they put up a brave front. The second part of his comment Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary.