Sárospataki Füzetek 1. (1997)
1997 / 2. szám - Dr. Frank Sawyer: How can we go forward? (Hogyan tovább?)
DR. FRANK SAWYER is also to some extent the recognition of the need for true prayer, even if a rather surrogate sounding attempt? Looking at Lennon’s songs we can see that he had a dream of a new wholeness for the world (IMAGINE); that he was prepared to sweep away past ideologies in order to find a better way (GOD); and that he knew the dilemma of modern people who stand at the crossroads asking which way is the correct one to choose (HOW?). We shall consider these three songs more closely. IMAGINE The music of IMAGINE has a religious hymnal quality. The vision here is strong and there is longing for a new wholeness for the world. John Lennon espoused a great new credo: world unity with more human qualities. The partner song which goes with this is HOW?, which questions how we can move forward to the great dream of a new world. The opening stanza about heaven and hell are significant. Lennon is struggling with the old debate in western philosophy of whether we must turn to God and to absolute ideals in order to understand things (Plato), or whether we should turn to the particulars of existence in order to live more effectively (Aristotle). This debate seems built on a false choice, but that does not prevent people from time and again falling into the same dilemma. The rest of the song moves on to other allegiances (ideologies) which prevent people from finding a new unity. Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try - no hell below us, above us only sky... Imagine all the people livin’ for today... Imagine there’s no country it isn’t hard to do, nothing to kill or die for, and no religion, too 64
