Imagine

I was in an FB group called "Christian Apologetics". An admin or mod posted a 'meme' critical of John Lennon's "Imagine". The main problem he seemed to have was the idea of a united world, free of conflict and gross inequality. 

• 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, ooh
• You may say I'm a dreamer
• I'm not the only one
• I hope someday you'll join us
• And the world
• Will live as one

The reason for his problems he gave was the ravings of one John of Patmos, who wrote the last book of the Bible, Revelations. He said that John prophesied that the end of the world would be presaged by the coming of a united world.

I pointed out that this John (not John Lennon) had lived on a small Mediterranean island, where wormwood grows wild. Wormwood was the hallucinogenic ingredient of absinthe, and no wonder he wrote the strange fantasies that he did.

I also pointed out that the end of the world might not be such a good thing, but many fundies yearned for it, and that his attitude was inconsistent.

And that the book of Revelations very nearly failed to make it into the Biblical canon, because so many thought it was nuts. However, it was accepted in the end by Catholics, who many Protestant fanatics regard as non-Christian, but nevertheless go along with their decision.

I also pointed out that John Lennon's sentiments were more in line with the reported sentiments of Jesus, who undoubtedly would have sided with the world's desperate poor rather than the "prosperity gospel" select of the world's multi-billionaires and war-lords.

I pointed out that if the world's "defence" budget could be spent instead on health, education, and other positive advancement initiatives, it would be cents on the dollar more effective than prosecuting conflict.

Finally, I pointed out the danger of a swivel-eyed fanatic like Pence having his quivering fingers over the button to release weapons of mass destruction and create self-fulfilling prophecy.

I was promptly ejected from the group.

If you are in the group or care to join it, I would be grateful if you would convey my message by posting a link to this page.