Minutes before the ball dropped on 2011, singer Cee-Lo Green sang John Lennon’s classic song, Imagine. The problem is that Green changed the words in a very disrespectful way.
The line in Lennon’s classic song imagines, “And no religion too,” but Green sung, “And all religions true.” This is the exact opposite of what John Lennon meant in his song. Lennon believed that organized religion was dangerous and divisive so a better world would not have any religion.
Cee-Lo Green claims that he was merely attempting to be tolerant and inclusive, but his alteration is anything but tolerant and inclusive and it is also nonsensical (especially since he sung the part about no Hell below us and above us only sky). But what can we expect from someone who sings, “Imagine no possessions” while wearing a fur coat.
As a matter of fact, all religions believe that they are in possession of "the Truth" and yet none have presented any valid evidence for their claims. Most religions conflict with each other at the core and their value on faith rather than evidence leaves believers with no independent way of judging which religion(s) if any is actually true. The only way to settle the matter is often through violence and a quick history of religion supports this very problem. John Lennon understood that and that was one of the main themes of the song.
By altering the song, Cee-Lo has done what many religious believers do when faced with conflict; he deleted the conflict. On his blog Pharyngula, atheist PZ Myers points this out rather well when he wrote:
“It’s only a pop song, but it’s the same sentiment that led the Church to hammer the penises off of classical sculpture; that inspired Islam to blow up Buddhas; that has sects fighting over who owns which piece of rock in Jerusalem; that leads cults to burn books and records. They must pretend that dissent not only does not exist at all, but never existed anywhere at any time.”
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