George Harrison as theological rock star

As the lead guitarist of the world's preeminent rock band and a
prolific song writer, the Beatles' George Harrison has secured his place
in pop culture history. But his greatest legacy may be the way his
decades-long spiritual quest shaped the ways the West looks at God,
gurus and life.

Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001 at age 58,
was an intensely private global superstar. He's now in the spotlight
again, thanks to a coffee-table book by his widow, Olivia, and a new
Martin Scorsese documentary on HBO.

Both projects are subtitled Living in the Material World,
a Hindu-inspired phrase Harrison chose for a 1973 song that illuminates
his theology and sense of artistic vocation: "Got a lot of work to do /
Try to get a message through / And get back out of this material
world."