Contemporary Orthodox Christian singer/songwriter, Jim Giatas, has written and recorded “If You Imagine” as an answer to former Beatle, John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”
“If You Imagine” has generated significant criticism. One writer called it blasphemy. On MySpace, Vangellis responded that it was: “A terrible denigration of Lennon's ode to reason." Another critic at YouTube wrote, "There is ZERO evidence for God or anything supernatural. Everything is chance, that's what science is showing us. You may not have meant for your song to be insulting but that's what it is."
And the fireworks are just beginning!
“John’s song has gone virtually unchallenged for all these years and I felt compelled to write an answer to it from my own Orthodox Christian perspective.”
“I ‘ve always been a Beatles and John fan. I mean no disrespect to John’s memory. His loss was a tragedy. I never knew him personally but I understand that he was a very sweet guy who was rediscovering his Christian roots. I’d like to think that John would have liked my song - especially since he has so many ardent and sycophant followers. Nevertheless, his music and his humanist - atheistic philosophy have become something of a sacred cow. As I say in my song, ‘If you imagine (no religion, no God, etc), you couldn’t be more wrong.”
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine voted "Imagine" the third greatest song of all time. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said, "In many countries around the world — my wife and I have visited about 125 countries — you hear John Lennon's song 'Imagine' used almost equally with national anthems." Jim points out that "It has become painfully obvious that almost all New Years Eve TV celebrations broadcast "Imagine" to bring in the new year.
In the book Lennon in America, written by Geoffrey Giuliano, Lennon commented that the song was "an anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic song, but because it's sugar-coated, it's accepted." Lennon also described it as "virtually the Communist Manifesto".
Jim continues,“We live in such unreasonable times that Christianity is being attacked as ‘hate speech’ throughout the world - imagine that! Even so, there is only one Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God except by Him.”
Jim’s music on 7 albums (and individual songs) is available for download on the internet at http://www.myspace.com/
You can find "If You Imagine" on Jim's 5th album ,"Love Never Fails", track number 3.
The lyrics to “If You Imagine”
IF YOU IMAGINE
IF YOU IMAGINE ONLY SKY ABOVE
NO HEAVEN OR HELL BELOW
IF YOU IMAGINE
NO RELIGION OR GOD
YOU COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG
CREATION COULD NOT BE BY CHANCE
GOD REALLY DOES EXIST
BECAUSE WE WERE MADE IN HIS IMAGE
LIFE IS SACRED
AND SO YOU COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG
NO MATTER WHAT YOU MIGHT IMAGINE
JUST LIKE ADAM AND EVE
YOU’VE BEEN DECEIVED
LOVE ISN’T ALL YOU NEED
IF YOU IMAGINE THE WORLD AS ONE
AS IF ONLY THEN PEACE WOULD COME
AND WITHOUT COUNTRIES
HUNGER AND GREED WOULD END
YOU COULDN’T BE MORE WRONG
MAN IS NOT THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS
MARX AND LENNON WERE GREATLY MISTAKEN
WITHOUT RIGHTS
LIKE PROPERTY IN OUR POSSESSION
YOUR “BROTHERHOOD OF MAN” IS REALLY SLAVERY
//: LOVE ISN’T ALL YOU NEED ://
Words and Music By Jim Giatas
All Rights Reserved
