The Beatles

John Lennon’s pleading, melodic delivery on the Beatles song “Help!” encapsulates what made the British band a pop phenomenon and, to many, a spiritual force: direct, soulful, even darkly honest lyrics over catchy songwriting. The Beatles reached their peak at the same time the evangelical movement was gaining significant momentum in the United States—Billy Graham once compared the “British Invasion” to the “Eternal Invasion.” Band members John Lennon and George Harrison dabbled in Christianity and brought Eastern mysticism to the forefront of public conversation. The band’s extensive musical catalog reflects this same exploratory spirituality, careening from joy to drugs to longing on a trajectory toward an uncertain future—a journey that, because of its cultural dominance, still demands interpretation from evangelicals today.

Featured Articles

John Lennon's Born-Again Phase
John Lennon's Born-Again Phase
"Can He love me?" the former Beatle asked Oral Roberts. "I want out of hell."
The Passion of George Harrison
The Passion of George Harrison
The 'quiet' Beatle was driven by spiritual pursuit while living in the material world.
Alistair Begg on The Beatles
Alistair Begg on The Beatles
The author and pastor talks about the Fab Four's cry for Help and why no one answered it.