How many times have I heard this song since it was released in 1971 without really listening to it? John Lennon appears to have reached the same conclusions about religion and politics as I have a long time before I did. I think the followers of “the Way” in the first century C.E. might have also found most of these lyrics particularly meaningful (and might have been confused by other parts like “no heaven” and “no hell”).

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, you may say
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, you may say
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