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Sep 13, 2021 · “Imagine” was not the first time Lennon sang his secular humanism. A year before, in 1970, he released “I Found Out,” declaring his lack of belief in either Jesus or Krishna.
Sep 15, 2021 · Beginning with a classic psychological explanation of theism – that humans construct the concept of God as a way to cope with and measure their pain – “God” goes on to list all the things that Lennon most decidedly does not believe in: the Bible, Jesus, Gita, Buddha, I-Ching, magic and so on.
It is here that Lennons humanism the belief that humans, without reliance upon anything supernatural, have the capacity to create a better, more humane world comes to the fore. Nihilism is not the path, nor is despondency, debauchery or destruction. Rather, Lennons Imagineentails a humanistic desire to see an end to suffering.
Sep 13, 2021 · Beginning with a classic psychological explanation of theism – that humans construct the concept of God as a way to cope with and measure their pain – “God” goes on to list all the things that Lennon most decidedly does not believe in: the Bible, Jesus, Gita, Buddha, I-Ching, magic and so on.
While most pop songs are secular by default – in that they are about the things of this world, making no mention of the divine or spiritual – “Imagine” is explicitly secularist. In Lennon’s telling, religion is an impediment to human flourishing – something to be overcome, transcended.
Fundamentally, Lennon stood for a secular approach to daily life and world affairs. God was not a personalized being to be worshiped but a nebulous, neutral energy pervading the universe. Lennon could only call himself religious in a humanistic way that would satisfy very few believers.
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This research investigates the iconic and timeless masterpiece song "Imagine" by John Lennon, seeking to unravel the profound messages and ideologies that lie beneath its evocative lyrics for...
