September 18, 2009 2:44

John Lennon signed 'Jesus' magazine auctioned off

Magazine sells for £7,711 ($12,713)

A magazine signed by The Beatles' John Lennon has been sold at auction for £7,711 ($12,713).

Signed 'John C Lennon' - even though his middle initial was 'W' for Winston - the September 1966 issue of Datebook magazine was won by a New York surgeon, The Associated Press reports.

In the magazine, Lennon famously said: "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue about 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 N roll or Christianity."

His comment provoked a strong Beatles backlash in the United States at the time.