Why John Lennon Doesn’t Believe In Human Evolution
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John Lennon, one of the Fab Four, was famous for his music and his strong opinions about many things like politics, religion, and how humans came to be. Even though he was a great musician, he didn’t agree with what most scientists think about human evolution.
Challenging Human Evolution
In a revealing interview featured in the book All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono from 1980, Lennon expressed his skepticism regarding the idea of humans evolving from apes.
With his characteristic bluntness, he dismissed the notion, stating,
“‘That’s another piece of garbage,’ he opined. ‘What the hell’s it based on? We couldn’t’ve come from anything — fish, maybe, but not monkeys. I don’t believe in the evolution of fish to monkeys to men. Why aren’t monkeys changing into men now?'”
This rejection of human evolution echoed his disdain for fundamentalist beliefs, as he remarked,
“‘It’s absolutely irrational garbage, as mad as the ones who believe the world was made only four thousand years ago, the fundamentalists. That and the monkey thing are both as insane as the other.'”
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Questioning Darwinian Evolution
Lennon candidly admitted that his stance was not grounded in evidence but rather a gut feeling, stating,
“‘I’ve nothing to base it on; it’s only a gut feeling. They always draw that progression — these apes standing up suddenly. The early men are always drawn like apes, right? Because that fits in the theory we have been living with since Darwin.'”
Despite lacking empirical support for his views, Lennon remained steadfast in his rejection of Darwinian evolution, asserting,
“‘I’ve got no basis for it and no theory to offer, I just don’t buy it. Something other than that. Something simpler. I don’t buy anything other than ‘It always was and ever shall be.”
For Lennon, the theory of evolution represented yet another false ideology that needed to be challenged. He questioned the pervasive teaching of Darwinism in universities, attributing it to a need for academics to justify their tenure rather than its scientific validity. While unsure if belief in evolution was inherently harmful, he criticized its imposition on society, feeling it was forced “down everybody’s throat.”
Understanding Resistance to Evolution
Renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins shed light on why some individuals, like Lennon, resist accepting evolution. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dawkins suggested that people’s aversion to evolution stems from discomfort with the idea of humans being related to “lesser” creatures like monkeys. He noted the historical perception of monkeys as comical, possibly influencing Lennon’s skeptical attitude towards evolutionary theory.
In his rejection of scientific consensus, Lennon exemplified his contrarian nature, a trait evident throughout his life and music. Despite his lack of formal scientific training, his bold critiques of established beliefs challenged conventional wisdom and encouraged critical thinking.
John Lennon questioning human evolution shows that even famous people can have different ideas. It makes us think about what we believe and why.
