Olympic Closing Ceremony: Not now John

I loved the Olympic opening ceremony — it was eccentric but it was entertaining and spectacular.

I was disappointed in the closing ceremony — it was eccentric ... Perhaps that's just me so I'll say no more about it (and I did think The Who were good).

But what really struck me as a choice in poor taste was the focus on John Lennon's song, "Imagine."

John Lennon - IMAGINE at the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony. from Yoko Ono on Vimeo.

Please do not get me wrong: I like John Lennon, I loved the way that they performed the song at the ceremony (and the 3D Lennon jigsaw was cool), and I appreciate the good heart behind the lyrics.

But ... what an inappropriate song!

Here it is:

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 some day 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 some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Lennon (quite rightly) dreams of a world at peace, without conflict. He invites us to join him in this dream because if we do then that dream will become a reality.

He identifies the things that create conflict — religious beliefs, religion, countries, and possessions — and sees the road to peace as the road to the disappearance of such things.

Of course, the dream of peace in a conflict-ridden world — especially when linked to such a moving tune — is very attractive. And I am sure that this was at the forefront of the selection of the song (plus the fact that it is a famous song by an iconic British songwriter) ...

But remember that religion in one form or another has been fundamental to the lives of almost all human societies for the entirety of human history; that religion remains central in the lives of the majority of the countries represented at the Olympics and for many of the athletes.

Remember too that the dream of peace is not simply the dream of nice secularists but has been the dream of religious visionaries from various traditions throughout history. (Recall, for instance, that the statue outside the UN building about beating swords into plowshares is inspired by the vision of Isaiah.)

Global peace was a religious vision long before it was ever a secular one.

So here we are at the Olympic Games celebrating the vast range of countries (and diversity of religions) united together in sport and we choose to focus on a song about how global peace will come about by the dissolution of religion. Apart from the fact that it is ridiculously naive (twentieth century history is ample testimony to the fact that a world "without religion" can be profoundly violent) it is also more than a tad insulting. It is a proselytizing message — come join us and dream with me of the world without religion or religious beliefs. No thanks John.

Only someone who simply does not "get" religious faith and the roles it plays in human life — i.e., a post-Christian Brit — would think such a song appropriate. Come and be secular like me and we'll all live in peace.

It is also a strange choice for the Olympics. Imagine no countries ... Really? At the Olympic Games which are all about countries competing with each other for gold? Imagine no Team GB? But that is what is so much fun about it.

Now nobody is denying that possessions, religion, and countries can lead to conflict. However, the solution is not their eradication. If the Olympics show us anything it is not that we get on better without countries (or whatever) but that we can get on fine with them if we abide by certain shared rules and values; if we are "sporting" about it.

So John, I share your dream of peace, but not the secular utopia you are recommending. That fills me with horror.