What do you think about the passage in the song "imagine" ...and no religion too..?

Answer 1

Well, John Lennon overall was simply stating what if we dropped all the trappings, and just simply acted good to each other without all the divisions, then the world would be a better place. In the context of the song he was noting that religion is often a divisive factor in the world, and was categorizing it along with things like nationalism, and materialism as divisive factors, and simply asks for you to stop and imagine a world where the divisions don't exist, and what kind of world would it be.....I don't think he was saying that God is a bad thing, or that spirituality or having a relationship with God is a bad thing, but the ways that religion is used to divide people is..... The whole "my God is better than your God thing" is definitely divisive.....He also asks you to imagine what if there were no Heaven or Hell, how would you live your life, if there were no expectation of a cosmic reward or punishment, what would you do differently. There is a reason why the song is named "Imagine", he is only asking you to think about what would you do if such factors didn't exist? How would you live your life differently? Would you feed a homeless man for no other reason but that he was hungry, and you had extra, without worrying about whether you would get a reward for it, or whether he was a "believer"?
How many "believers" feed the homeless because of the expectation of a reward, and insist that they have to accept a sermon, or religious tracts, etc, before they can be fed,and not simply because they are hungry, and someone else can help? ( I am not saying that I think all believers are like that, only that some are, and only saying that Lennon asked you to think about how would things be different if things like that weren't a motivation...)

Answer 2

I think Beatlefan said it very well, but I will try to put it more simply, and concisely. Lennon was basically saying that things like religion and nationalism, encourage the belief in separation and exclusiveness and lack (or scarcity). If we are truly spiritual, instead of religious, then we can more easily accept that each person's path to God is just as valid as any other, and there would be no more "this one is better than that one, and it is us against them, and I have to get mine before someone else does" If everyone owned everything, and everyone shared everything, there would be no more reason to fight wars. It is a beautiful song, and it says everything about how this world should be. It is about the whole human race on this planet, evolving to a higher level.
There are many teachers on this planet, trying to teach us the exact same message, and if enough people begin to listen...i mean really listen, then real change can happen> *sm*

Answer 3

To place the passage in its full context.........

'Imagine there's no country,
it isn't hard to do,
nothing to kill or die for,
and no religion too.'

This song, in my opinion is a very beautiful song and a heart felt political/ social statement throughout!
This particular line is written, I believe because John Lennon believed that religions cause wars! I actually agree with this myself and the reason he wrote these words I think, was to let others know of his perspective on the world and human beings in general.
This world is a beautiful place and there are so many beautiful people who exist, yet there is no peace in the world and if you look closely at why this is, you can understand exactly where John Lennon is coming from in this passage/ song.

I think that 'Imagine' is a lyric mission statement and John Lennon was indeed a very inspiration Artist/human being.
I enjoyed this question, thank you! x

Answer 4

for you poor folks who never heard the words:
Imagine there's no Heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one

It's kind of a rational anarchist song but on a deeper level it hints at the Quantum Metaphysics idea of applying reality grids to the primordial chaos that's the true reality until we find the best one for all of us to live in.

Answer 5

Religious intolerance is responsible for a lot of war and bloodshed. John Lennon was saying that without that dividing us, this world would be a better place. But "religion" and a relationship with God are two different things. Religion is a set of manmade dictates, while a relationship with God is personal. A true follower of God does not have to insist they are right at the cost of human lives. God is the judge.

Answer 6

take the line before it "Nothing to kill or die for" which is in reference to there being no countries, and Lennon saying "and no religion too" means the world would be free of pain without borders and religion as both cause many of the world's problems, including war.

what an amazing idea, communist or otherwise, the sentiment is just fantastic and even religious people should be able to see and accept that.

Answer 7

Kinky.

How about "Watching the Wheels"? That's a great atheist song if I ever heard one...

I am sure the world would be a more peaceful place if John Lennon were alive today.

Answer 8

I love God, but I hate religion.

(So did Jesus - I think he had more to say about the Pharasee's than any other group).

I think the world could be an awesome place w/out all the religious intollerance. (Think about it - no terrorism, no hostility, no tele-evangilists sucking up useless time). This could be an awesome place to live!

Answer 9

I believe it. It's imagining a world where no outside influences are exerting a force over your perfect innocence.

Answer 10

can you be a little bit more specific about which song: "imagine" do you mean? If it was meant to be the Christian song: I can only Imagine, there is no line with that wording in that song.