Imagine there is no heaven, it’s easy if you try.
A beautiful sounding song. A song whose main message is for world peace and unity. Ok.
However, it is also sending a message is that the world would be better off without any religion or God even. No heaven? Really John?
Why not? Who's to say that particular brand of afterlife actually exists? There's plenty of other theories on that.
Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too.
Another strong message that religion is the primary cause for most wars. Really? Maybe it was Christians and the Christian religion that saved this world from godless Naziism and Communism? Maybe it is Christianity trying to hold off the scourge of Islam which murders and subjugates wherever it chooses? Maybe using the word “religion” to disparage the one true God and a very sacrificial religion called Christianity is the work of one who knows not what they are talking about?
Hitler was Catholic and persecuted Jews, so that's two religions right there. Communism is an economic system, not something to be "saved" from. And the murdering and subjugating where it chooses (and you don't mention the Atlantic slave trade or the Native American genocide), clearly nobody has a monopoly on that --- yet "religion" (any religion) is trotted out repeatedly as justification for all that, because mass mob violence (and war) is easier to sell if you can point to a mythical superbeing and declare "He told us to do this", thereby letting the people actually doing the violence.... off the hook. That's what that means.
Above us only sky.
How grim. It’s not a heavenly song or prayer to be sure. Why would any impoverished third world peasant feel better with no hope for a heaven after his suffering life?
Again -- see #1. Just because we've been sold one particular model --- doesn't mean it's the only option.
I think when any religion does its sales pitch we (anyone) need to have the courage to say, "OK, we have your number, we'll call you if we need you ... next?" Seems to me "Imagine" is an invitation to do just that.
>>Why not? Who's to say that particular brand of afterlife actually exists? There's plenty of other theories on that.<<
Yes, and you apparently relish in theories. (since nothing can be known as you say) It then allows one to think you are justified in sitting on the fence until they pass on. So you can hedge your bet and tell God, hey you never made anything clear to me so I just did what I felt like.
Sorry. The evidence is legion. Empirical evidence, historical evidence, sound reason, and miracles… all pointing to Jesus Christ. We are all accountable, especially those of us to whom Jesus says “to whom more has been given, more will be required.” Americans have been given both the freedom to know, the freedom to flourish, and a clear message to think through what has been disseminated and demonstrated.
>>Hitler was Catholic and persecuted Jews, so that's two religions right there. Communism is an economic system, not something to be "saved" from. And the murdering and subjugating where it chooses (and you don't mention the Atlantic slave trade or the Native American genocide), clearly nobody has a monopoly on that --- yet "religion" (any religion) is trotted out repeatedly as justification for all that. That's what that means.<<
Please, do not insult me with your Hitler was a Catholic insanity. Ok? So was Stalin. I would suspect there are many who were baptized Catholics as a kid who turned out to be devils. Hitler would surely qualify. Did you know how many Tibetan occultists he employed? Judas was a Jew, too. You going to impugn Judaism now as well?
Where has the Church justified killing in its teachings? The past was not so tidy and civilized as you demand, either. As far as slavery is concerned, some ingrained ways of life take centuries or more to overcome and realize its inhumanity. This was not a Christian Church teaching. It was the civilized and advanced cultures of those times morals. Who was objecting? Only true Christians in this nation sought to outlaw it, as it were.
Not unlike the middle ages. The kings and nations and trials were even more harsh almost across the board than what they accused the Church of. Christians were not unlike their pagan neighbors. Live was brutal, less educated and survival was rule of the day. How one treated their neighbor was not how 20th century civilization operated. The genocide of New World natives is not nearly the way you would like to have it. The Church surely did not advocate it, the soldiers were hardly taking orders from clergy, disease was not understood, the clergy were there more to mitigate the situation than to foster it.
So if you insist on going back centuries and pointing out sins of those who may have identified themselves as Christians (most often in name only) and not putting it in perspective with the times and the world at large then you can make your case. If you also choose to ignore all that the Catholic Church did in civilizing barbaric Europe and the outer world in education, govt, hospitals, and care for the abandoned, then you can again look so wise. But I am not interested in such a tactic.
>>I think when any religion does its sales pitch we (anyone) need to have the courage to say, "OK, we have your number, we'll call you if we need you ... next?" Seems to me "Imagine" is an invitation to do just that.<<
Seems to me your were not my target audience. The destitute third world orphan was. John’s song was doing that child no favors.
