My whole life, I've heard of people talk about the song "Imagine" by John Lennon as if it were some inspirational anthem. Listening to the words, I find it to be a rather depressing and even blasphemous.
What exactly do people find inspiring about a song where there's no God, everyone is poor and making no plans for the future and only "living for today"? That's not easy, no matter HOW hard I try. Why not a song where we imagine a loving God, a world where everyone has plenty, and a glorious Heaven awaits? This song says the opposite, and people find it inspirational. Huh?
For the record, here are the lyrics:
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 I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
2007-07-16 14:14:04 · 13 answers · asked by Viceroy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
(Someone asked where the song implied that Lennon wished we were all poor; I was referring to the lyric "Imagine no possessions"...that is the definition of poverty, eh?)
2007-07-16 14:34:46 · update #1
Madeline Bassett: But do YOU know how many people have been SAVED by religion, due to wars fought to save the oppressed by people who felt a religious duty to fight it, the countless religious missions to the poorest and most desperate people (Mother Teresa). Not to mention the millions NOT KILLED because of religion, for many, it's their religion that teaches them right from wrong, and that keeps them from killing people. Religion is the basis for all morality. If you don't believe in an ultimate punishment for your actions, why not just kill everyone who cuts you off in traffic? Not to mention the saving of billions of souls, but if you don't believe in religion than you wouldn't believe in a soul or its afterlife either. But on the whole, I think religion has been fantastically beneficial for mankind. In short, I'd rather live next to a family of devout Christians than Socio-patholigal atheists who see nothing wrong with stealing, lying and killing.
2007-07-19 16:50:44 · update #2
well in my past enjoyed listening to that song and was very much a John Lennon fan. but after starting my relationship with Jesus my taste changed . now here is the song I imagine to by Mercy Me.
"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine."
2007-07-16 14:29:38 · answer #1 · answered by rap1361 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
rap1361- that is the song that I love to imagine. Thanks for sharing- when you realize that this life is so short- and eternity is forever- wouldn't you want to imagine what it would be like when we see Jesus face to face- the joy of heaven lasts far longer then the suffering here. And maybe if people really followed Christ, instead of religions there would be less conflict. Not to say that Christians are perfect, we aren't. Even Jesus prayed for us to be united in His Love. And the lyrics to the Lennon- "Imagine" if there were no heaven or hell, what would that do here on earth- cause peace? NO, people are people and their still would be conflict. Let us listen to "I can only Imagine" and then praise God for the day when He will make all things right- GREAT QUESTION by the way.
2007-07-16 14:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This was his point..
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 I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
DREAM OF PEACE
And it is and was very beautiful.
2007-07-16 14:22:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is very inspirational to me...but then I am an atheist.
I strongly believe that religion & boundaries of countries are the sources of so many problems - it is essentailly a song about a world with no more war.
Where does it imply that people are poor?
Living for today means living in the moment, not worrying about the future or the past....this is somethign I strive for (though fail mostly) all the time......it would be pretty amazing to achieve that....to really enjoy each moment as it came along..
To me it really is a song about the world at peace and all the individuals in the world at peace with themselves.
Response to the no possesions bit: no possesions to me implies that there is enough of everything to go around but that we do not need to own anything.....again one less thing to fight over....
2007-07-16 14:20:31 · answer #4 · answered by SonoranDesertGirl 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
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...
Atheism= Peace? lolz okay then... Yay I'm happy I'm going to die no heaven in the afterlife yay! DEPRESSING!
2007-07-16 16:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is the song the atheists choose as their anthem...No God....No Hell....No religion....You do know that John Lennon was an admitted atheist? It has a beautiful melody but the lyrics are offensive to Christians who know what it is really saying and not just patting their feet to the tune. This is what Paul meant when he said sometimes they have just enough of the truth to make it seem alright... like a pretty little song, while it is full of lies.
2007-07-16 14:26:08 · answer #6 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
rap1361- I concure. Much better than John Lennon and very much inspirational.
Thinking about heaven is more wonderful than trying to imagine a world that men control- with no purpose and supposed "peace" instead of real peace.
2007-07-16 16:10:21 · answer #7 · answered by Lizzi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Imagine nothing to kill or die for....
Imagine all the people living life in peace....
Those are beautiful words.
2007-07-16 14:25:21 · answer #8 · answered by Cosmic I 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My parents and grandparents love that song, and for the record I think it's awesome too.
You know how many people have died and killed in the name of religion? More than I can conceive of.
2007-07-16 14:19:32 · answer #9 · answered by Julia Sugarbaker 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
i wouldn't call it inspirational, just thought provoking. he's saying that if there weren't things like: religions, wealth, and country borders to separate us, that we might actually get along instead of using these differences to alienate each other.
2007-07-16 14:25:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You're not living for today; you are living for tomorrow, and tomarrow we'll all be gone. It's about what could be; without the bonds of religion. Religion poisons everything.
2007-07-16 14:19:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋