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Busting bad dish!

Cee Lo Green Stirs Controversy Over “Religion” By Changing “Imagine” Lyrics

VIDEO

(YouTube)

Cee Lo Green caused a controversy just seconds before the end of 2011 while performing on “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly.”

The singer performed John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and injected a little religion into the song, angering fans of the late singer and atheists as well.

Rather than singing, “Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too,” Green belted out, “Nothing to kill or die for, And all religion’s true.”

Steven Olsen, a writer and professed “advocate of atheism,” tweeted at Green, “The whole point of that lyric is that religion causes harm. If ‘all relgion’s true’ it would be a pretty bleak place.”

Artist Skye Nicolas added on Twitter, “Look man, you’re nothing close to John’s intellect. You editing the song makes it a Pro Religion song and not a SECULAR song!”

Green angrily responded to his detractors by repeatedly quoting the main lyric of his hit song, “F**k you.” He later erased his expletive-filled messages.

Check out the video below of Green’s performance.

The lyric change is at the 5:04 mark. Tell us if you object to his rewording of the song.

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  • Kaitlyn

    I don’t object at all. If we all just believe what we want, and don’t give each other a hard time, people would have both peace and faith. I can obviously be only of 1 faith, but I respect other faiths as well, and feel that they all in some way have a good message to share. Almost all of them express kindness, charity, and ACCEPTANCE. :)

  • IM1LuckyWoman

    I definitely think he overstepped by changing the lyrics to someone else’s song. Did he have the “rights” to it or something? I doubt it. Isn’t it illegal to do that if you are preforming it professionally? It should be.

  • IM1LuckyWoman

    *performing

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    @Kaitlyn But that’s not what his “revised” lyrics said. They said “all religions are *true*. There’s a big difference between “having a good message” and being *true*. It’s literally impossible for all religions to be true, as they contradict each other on a great number of very fundamental points. I don’t like Cee Lo Green even thought about how nonsensical his lyrical change was, and how absolutely contrary to John Lennon’s point.

  • Kaitlyn

    Good point! I think that “all religions true” is better than “no religion” but he should have probably thought that whole think through. I guess what he is trying to say is that we can believe whatever we want is true, but he didn’t really say it that way.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    of course you like it, you’re a god-drone. And you’re NUTS if you think “almost all of them express kindness, charity and acceptance.” What fricking planet are you on, anyway?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    how typical. God-drones have to take over everything.

  • Jamie

    But that totally changes the meaning of the song. It’s about imagining a place where there’s peace, where all the things that divide people and cause death and conflict are gone (and like it or not, religion is one of the main things that causes that sort of trouble). If he wanted to sing a song about religion and believing what you want to believe then he should’ve written his own song with that message and not messed with a song that is pretty much legendary (and totally contradicting the meaning of the song in the process).

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WDWBOM3U3CUS6IDBRCUB3ITGAI theone6643

    Well it goes well with atheists feeling all high and mighty like they are better then everyone when the basis in believing in what they do is just as much faith based as anything else.

  • Alameda David

    I became an atheist when I realized that people actually like “Imagine”.

  • D. Martin

    I am a religious person but I do not agree with him changing the lyrics. No matter how you interpret Lennon’s lyrics they were HIS lyrics. And, its a classic song. Out of respect for the artist (and he’s an artist himself so I’m surprised) he should have at least contacted his family before changing the lyric. That is just respectful.

    Personally, and I’m only speaking for MYSELF, I felt Lennon’s lyric meant “no religion” because people are often in conflict based on religion. The song said nothing of personal faith or spirituality so I never had any problem with Lennon’s lyrics.

  • Regina1180

    I honestly don’t mind that he changed the lyrics. It’s freaking Cee-Lo green. Does it really matter what his views on religion are?

    I’m more offended by his total butchering of a classic.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    Absolutely untrue. How can it possibly require faith to *not* believe in something for which there is no evidence? Does it require faith for you to believe that unicorns are not real?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    does it require “faith” for you to lack belief in the tooth fairy?

  • Brittneytierra91

    Who gives a fuck this is the country where u do have free speech everybody needs to shut up be a atheis if u want but everybody can have their own opinion if ur going to get mad get mad over something worthwhile not something that was yesterday news

  • JDN

    The original lyrics of “Imagine” are nonsensical. A world with no religion would not be a peaceful world. It would be a world of moral relativism where people think if it is right for them it is “right” no matter who else it hurts. A world where there is no higher moral authority than a person’s own beliefs regarding their own selfish pursuits. Want proof? Look at all the atheist and religion discouraging regimes of the 20th century alone. Even if you counted every person who died in every conflict throughout all of human history where religion was even barely associated with it (where the conflict was truly about politics or land but religion was used as a justification no matter how much of a stretch) it still would not come close to the number of people who died by the hands of regimes that looked at religion as competition to their power – communism, fascism with leaders like Hitler, Stalin and Mao. Nothing to kill or die for? Really? Tell that to the 94 million people who have died at the hands of communism alone. Yes, evil people throughout human history have tried to justify their behavior by pathetically trying to tie their actions to religions whose teachings were antithetical to everything they stood for, but far more people have been taught love, selflessness, charity, hope, kindness and the fact that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Maybe this is why study after study after study show that religious people give multiple times more money, time and even blood to help others in need than those that describe themselves as “secularists”. Whether you believe in God or not, to say that the world would be a happier and more peaceful place without it is, in a word, NUTS.

  • Brittneytierra91

    Shut up u must be one of those ppl that grew up in church and got disappointed or bored and decided to say everybody that believes in god are drones we know religions have there problems hate, jealousy, love, anger, malice, but doesn’t everybody even atheis. so I guess I’ll call u a drone of non-believing of god

  • guest

    Jamie, I was reading all the comments here aloud and my husband totally agree with you and so do I. Religion causes a lot of war/trouble/hate, etc.

  • Nicety

    God drones seriously! These people who don’t believe in God are the first ones calling on him when tragedy strikes.I am a christian and I am proud that someone still believes and is true enough in their faith to stand against haters.I don’t understand how people can really not believe but that is not my call to make.It is easier to believe in science,etc. than it is to believe in God.I think most of the people who don’t believe in God is because they would have to admit their short comings.People don’t want to believe in what they can’t see,but know that everytime you leave and return safely you didn’t do that yourself.Everyday you work and are able to provide for family you didn’t that all by yourself.Yes tragedy happens everyday but everyday you make it without losing family and friends is another day that he allowed not you or I ,but GOD.Yes the world is in a bad state but it could be and get so much worse and that is because people want to take religion out of the picture completely.Yes their has been tragedies,good innocent people have lost their lives but when you think about it they are the lucky ones.They are at peace not having to to deal with the troubles of this world any longer.People put their faith in science,government and man and all those have let us down.Athiest put their time and faith into not believing sooner or later you are going to have to believe in something or live a life of eternal regret.I applaud Cee Lo for what he did.You can respond with all the hate you won’t because you are a nonfactor their is only one opinion that has any affect on me and to be honest it is not yours or people like you.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    Hitler was not an atheist. “Gott mitt uns” on the nazi belt buckles, etc. His own words (not unsubstantiated ‘table talk’) all indicate that he was a believer. Stalin was a seminary student who understood how religion is used to commit people to a cause. The “atheism” of stalin and mao had nothing to do with their actions. Worship of the STATE replaced worship of gods and the acts committed were in the name of the STATE. So, yes. People are easily cowed. Why? because they are so credulous. They are easily convinced, easily led.

    Frankly, I’m glad people like you have religion if that’s the only thing standing between you and murder & mayhem. Amazing that I’m able to sit here and not kill anyone and not steal from anyone and freely give my time and money to my community … all without the hope of some “prize” at the end of my life nor any belief in deities. And, Bill Gates… agnostic at best. Warren Buffet… atheist. Robert Wilson… atheist. Atheists don’t give to churches. They give to PEOPLE. KIVA, doctors without borders…. all secular organizations with strong atheist and agnostic presence.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    “everyday you make it without losing family and friends is another day that he allowed not you or I ,but GOD”

    Provide some evidence for this, please. Otherwise it’s just an unsubstantiated claim that can be dismissed out of hand. I might just as well claim that every day is breathed into existence by the Day Fairy and whisked away by the Night Fairy, and you wouldn’t have any reason to take my claim seriously, would you?

  • Phweston0269

    If Mr Green has a problem with the lyrics in Imagine, he should have chosen a different song. He is entitled to his own beliefs, as are we all,but its not up to him to change John Lennons lyrics because they clash with his own spiritual vision.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    What? How could you possibly know who anyone calls on “when tragedy strikes?” I’ve lost loved ones, had my own tragedies… and never once resorted to an imaginary friend to make myself feel better. I’m sorry you are so weak that you can’t manage without one.

    the rest of that cr@p was a wall of text and not worth reading.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    hahahaa… you’d be wrong. The only time I’ve ever been in church is for weddings, funerals, as a requirement for a world religions class and once at the behest of a family member because their son was giving a speech. I can honestly say that I’ve NEVER believed in any kind of god or god(s) or supernatural happy crappy. I’ve studied religion, I’ve studied philosophy and I’ve studied ethics. People like me are sick and tired of people like you injecting your fantasy cr@p into every aspect of society. Keep it in your group, keep it to yourself, keep it out of OUR schools and OUR government. People like you have no respect.

  • AJ

    I like how you all pretend atheism isn’t a religion.

  • CookiesnMilk09

    Who gives a flying fuck about the lyrics being changed. Geez! It seems like people just WANT something to complain about constantly. Boo who, a few words were changed. It’s a song. Who gives a rat’s ass if Cee-Lo changed the lyrics! The man wore a peacock suit to a performance one time. Obvious he doesn’t give two fucks about changing the lyrics and neither should you. I wish people would waste their breath on something more important in this world instead of a damn song. Get a fucking life.

  • Ginger

    I’m not into the religious debate of it. I just hate that a classic song was changed to fit someone else’s agenda, Either sing it as it’s meant to be sung OR pick a different song.

  • Inthefastlane

    I like how you all pretend Imagine isn’t a terrible song.

  • Guinevere

    You do NOT change John Lennon’s lyric!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s just WRONG!

  • Danny

    Oh god, I don’t even want to see what’s going on in these comments. Regardless of what the song is and what it represents, it’s TWO DIFFERENT WORDS. I can understand why it’d upset some people, but maybe he felt that way and didn’t want to say the original lyric because he wanted to express it differently. It can also mean imagne if all religion were true and what type of world we would live in with everyone’s different beliefs colliding. But seriously, he’s an artist, and he changed two words. Get over it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    yeah, since not believing in leprachauns is the same as believing in leprachauns.

  • Guest

    He meant the same thing; religion should not divide us. All religions are valid/invalid…

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    To paraphrase Inigo Montoya…

    That word “atheism”… I do not think it means what you think it means.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    If that’s what he meant, then he didn’t express it very well. He said to imagine that all religions are *true*. That’s utterly ludicrous. That would mean that there is only one God and it is the Judeo/Christian God Yahweh, but there are also thousands of Hindu gods, plus Thetans and Xenu the galactic ruler, plus Allah. Jesus is the son of God, except that he’s not. Etc.

    Never mind whether changing Lennon’s lyrics is an offense or not… it’s just a terrible, nonsensical lyric. And what a terrible world to imagine.

  • Brittneytierra91

    you can say the same about u not having respect for someone who does believe in god. and I’m not trying to shove mi belief down anybody’s throat i just don’t like the fact that u call us god-drones cause we believe in a higher power. instead of immediately judging someone cause of their religious belief get to know them first sometimes ur going to be right about some people using their faith to have a reason to hate, or harm somebody and that’s not right. but sometimes u will meet some people who still believe in god but gives everyone a chance to be who they won’t to be and have different ideas and faiths not everyone who believes in god are the same its like saying every person on earth has the same ideas and thoughts and we both know that is not true at all. and I agree religion doesn’t belong in the schools or politics to me everyone has a right to find their own faith or no faith at all. mi bad its so long just wanted to get mi point across

  • Brittneytierra91

    finally thank u

  • Anonymous

    Agreed, if he wants to sing it like that then who cares. Listen to the original song if you don’t like how he sang it. Americans are such fucking whiners and complainers ugh no wonder the rest of the world laughs at us sometimes.

  • DoonaB

    John Lennon was a hypocritical, pseudointellectual jerk. Example: Imagine all the people, sharing all the world…yet I cheat my eldest son and first wife out of my time, money, love and respect. What and icon!

  • Kristy

    Setting aside the religious argument for a moment… It’s John Lennon… If you can’t respect his memory by singing his songs correctly, don’t bother singing them at all.. Especially a nobody like this guy.. Never even heard of him before now and I’m willing to bet the few people who know of him now, won’t remember him in the decades to come the way people remember John Lennon.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_JTBMQYMFVZMKNCXIMISICQ3Z6E Anonymous

    I can’t even parse that.

    English… how does it work?

  • Nicety

    No weak is a person who believes in only the visible.I am stronger than the likes of you on my weakest day.I feel for you because you are so cynical and from the sound of bitter.Thank you show me the kind of person I strive not to be.I’ve lost loved ones and had tragedies also but and that is why my faith is so strong.My faith is strong because I am not supposed to be here now but here I am and I know that it wasn’t doctors or machines that gave me my life back.I am not trying to change your or anyone elses mind because that is not my job or concern.We all have to decide for ourselves whether we believe or not.

  • Nicety

    You provide me evidence that God does not exist.I don’t mean something some scientist has come up with.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WDWBOM3U3CUS6IDBRCUB3ITGAI theone6643

    But there is evidence that those aren’t real. But there isn’t concrete evidence either way to prove or disprove God. Its just being all high and mighty about the people who believe in God that gets to me or misunderstanding some of the things that they say or do. Now if you want to get on organized religion and their faults (because they are made up of humans who aren’t perfect and range from honest people to greedy people who are using it for their own awful gain) but that would be another argument. And even then not everything done by a region or a religious person is something to be derided and if people learned to let things go atheists would have this stigma

  • Sara23

    While I believe in a higher being, I find it difficult to believe that God is the only reason we leave home and come back safe…or the reason we have jobs and such. The bible states that God, gave us control of our own lives, he let us have reign over livestock and vegetation. I find it hard to believe that God would totally forget places like Africa leaving so many people starving and dying of Aids while he gives other people “jobs” to feed their family. I find it hard to believe the same God that you talk of, would allow children to be murdered and hurt..while he allows some people to come home safe from a trip to the shops. I think you are totally disregarding the fact that we can not place blame and complete thanks in everything that happens and say it was the hand of God. It is a total cop out to say we have no control over our own destiny, we bring many things on ourselves both the good and the bad. Religion has its place and everyone has the right to believe what they want but Ce lo Green had no right to change someone else work and vision, in doing what he did he robbed someone of there own artistic expression of their own beliefs.

    If Ce Lo Green wants to express his religious beliefs in his art form then he should write his own music. It is also not very Christian of him to take to twitter spewing filthy language because someone disagreed with what he chose to do. So maybe he needs to make up his mind as to what he believes in and how he conducts himself, before he goes and changes the lyrics to someone else song when he intends to force religion on people, practicing what he preaches might do well for him.

  • http://www.facebook.com/funkgodfather Romeo Cologne

    Ceelo Green (aka Thomas Decarlo Calloway) began his career in church where both parents were ordained ministers. He has very strong religious beliefs and has the highest integrity of any musical artist I know.

  • Wendywatkins

    You sound like a very disturbed and angry hater. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs or lack thereof. Live and let live. No wonder our world is so screwed up.

  • Wendywatkins

    Well said!! This whole debate is so stupid in the bigger scheme of things. Who really gives A FUCK?

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    “But there is evidence that those aren’t real.”

    Really? Prove that the tooth fairy isn’t real. Give it a try.

    You can’t prove a negative. All you have to go on is the lack of evidence FOR something. There is precisely as much evidence for God as there is for the Tooth Fairy. ie. none.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    See above. You cannot prove a negative.

    The onus is on those making the extraordinary claim to prove that it is true. If I claim that I have a pet purple elephant, do you have to believe it’s true until you can prove that it isn’t?

    All we have to go on is the evidence, and in 2000 years nobody has been able to provide any substantive evidence for the existence of God.

  • AJ

    You are no more capable of thinking for yourself than any other religious person. I know perfectly well what atheism is. I also know that all religion means is a group of people who generally believe the same thing and adhere to the same behaviors. Therefore, atheism is a religion. You are just as militant in your non-belief as believers are. Both factions are ridiculous for closing your mind to any possibility. There is a reason why scientists will tell you there are no absolutes.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    “I also know that all religion means is a group of people who generally believe the same thing and adhere to the same behaviors”

    Okay then, you excluded atheism right there. Atheists do not “believe the same thing”. They have in common a lack of belief in something, but there is no particular *belief* they have in common. There is nothing you can (accurately) say that atheists “believe”, nor is there a set of behaviors that they adhere to as a group.

    Atheism is not, in any way, a religion. It is the very antithesis of that.

  • Annie

    Atheists are just as annoying as super religious people.

    Both groups can suck it. One lyrics causes these atheists to tweet Cee Lo Green? One lyric? I didn’t even notice it when I heard it. Both groups are insufferable, but I gotta say the atheists angry at Cee Lo Green take the cake this time. They need to chill. It’s just a song. And a rather boring on at that. John Lennon wasn’t everything.

  • Henny

    John Lennon turned in his grave!

  • Nicety

    All this over a song and a few changed lyrics.That is what I find funny.People these days will find anything to get upset over.The song changed or unchanged benefits you.As for what you said about destiny.You are right to a certain point.Before all you athiest and so forth get ready to reply don’t.If you don’t like what I say that is your problem and not mine.Now as I said you are right to a certain point.Every action has a reaction.I believe God gave us all the sense to know right from wrong.So no I am not saying you have absolutely no control.I believe faith and that sense is what bring you to and from safely.Yes there are times when we bring things on ourselves.To that I believe he has a plan for our lives and and we can choose to have faith in him and his word or we can put our hands on it and try to do it ourselves(in “MY” experience when we try to fix things it only gets more complicated).As for why the terrible things happen I can’t answer that and I am ok with that because God didn’t promise understanding of all things nor did he promise a world without hurt and sorrow.I don’t believe that he has fotgotten about the people who are suffering from illness and hunger,etc.I belive that he is constantly and continuosly making a way for them.It may not be in a way that is to your liking but it is not up to you or I,the timing is not up to you or I.I believe that these same children you are talking about are at peace don’t have to deal with the hurt and hatefulness of this world any longer.Those things are tragic but the comfort is knowing that they can’t be hurt anymore.This is a pointless discussion.I have my beliefs and I am strong in them(not perfect) and you have yours.I have questions as to why things happen just like you but I know somethings are not meant for me to understand but to hold to my faith.You can believe whatever you like that is your perogative.I don’t think a person deserves to be called a drone because they believe in God.That was my whole reason for commenting anyway.I didn;t see anything wrong with Cee Lo’s action and that is my opinion.As for him cursing on twitter nobody is perfect and that is a fact of believers and non believers.As for forcing something on anyone he didn’t have gun he didn’t force anyone to listen to the song.He didn’t say you have to believe this the same way Lennon didn’t force people when he sang the song.

  • Vegasslvr

    Religious beliefs are not the problem IMO, it’s changing the lyrics of a song, and it’s meaning to the excact opposite of what was intended. The point of the line in the song is that religion causes problems, like how people have wars and hate because of religious beliefs. Whether or not you agree with what John Lennon was saying, that was the point of his lyrics. Maybe John Lennon was saying that if there was no religion, we would not have terrorists blowing up others because or extreme relgious beliefs, or wars that go on for centuries, or a person like Hitler who called himself a “Christian” and exterminating people who were not of his version of religion?

    Whatever John Lennon meant, it’s wrong IMO to change the lyrics, just as it would be wrong to change the lyrics to saying “no religion”, if the real lyrics were “all religons true”.

    Don’t artists pay to rights to sing songs? I thought you could not sing like that and change lyrics without the permission of the people who hold the copyright. I would think someone or someone holds the copyright on behalf of John Lennon.

    Beyond that, I think Cee Lo was just plain obnoxious and disrespectful for changing lyrics, that ended up changing the meaning of a song, regardless of how he was changing the lyrics, but especialy when it changes the meaning to the opposite intention of the song.

    I am sure Cee Lo would not appreciate somene doing that to his music, except for the fact his lyrics don’t mean much of anything anyway!
    Beyond that, IMO Ceelo sho

  • Lindsey

    People like you are pathetic. If you don’t have your own religious beliefs, that’s fine. But you don’t need to spew your idiotic opinion to others in an attempt to convince them that religion is false. What good does that do you? It doesn’t do you any good, so how about you shut your mouth unless you have something intelligent to say, thanks. :)

  • Nicety

    It is not my responsability to prove it to you.It is not my concern whether you believe.It wouldn’t matter if anyone could explain it with words or your seeable evidence.If you have your mind set you would just explain it away or twist it to your satisafction.All the evidence would be worthless to you because you have already concluded that he doesn’t exist.If you want to spend your time,attention and energy believing that he doesn’t exist I am not going to take on the responsabilty of trying to change your mind.God is there for people who want to know him and if that is not you so be it.If you want to know him seek him with your heart not you mind and you will be able to answer your own question but me I know and that is all the comfort I need.Now goodnight to you and your pet purple elephant.

  • Lindsey

    I don’t see what the big deal is. Are people that adverse to people having their own religions that they get this upset over a changed lyric?

    In-your-face atheists are worse than in-your-face religious people. They get more pissy about the little things than anyone.

  • Jamie

    I disagree with everything you said, but I’m not going to argue with the religious stuff because you’re entitled to believe what you want and have faith in whatever you want to (for the record, I’m Agnostic, not Atheist), but I did want to comment on this part:

    “I applaud Cee Lo for what he did.”

    The meaning of the song seems to have gone right over your head (and his too apparently) – you “applaud” him for what he did? You don’t get it. What he did wasn’t about religion really…no one is saying he is wrong to have faith, that isn’t the issue. The issue is that it was incredibly disrespectful to change the lyrics Lennon wrote (and lets face it, Lennon is a complete legend).

    And the song itself? It’s not promoting Atheism, it’s promoting peace, it’s basically saying, “imagine a world where all the things that tear us apart and keep the human race divided are gone” – and it’s not saying people shouldn’t have faith, it’s just saying imagine a place where faith isn’t an issue. Religion does cause a lot of problems in the world – I won’t say it’s all bad, because it isn’t, but as good intentioned as religions may be, they have caused so much death and hate and fighting in the world too.

    Basically, what I’m trying to say is that Cee Lo was wrong to do what he did because he misinterpreted the meaning of the song and that one lyric contradicted the whole meaning of it. If he wanted to sing about faith, he should’ve chosen a different song and not figuratively spat on John Lennons grave with his arrogance and ignorance.

    How would you feel if someone did a cover of a classic Christian song or hymn and changed the lyrics to promote Atheism? (closest example I can think of)

  • Jamie

    It amuses me that you’re basically proving what Lennon wrote right. Here you are, arguing about God, claiming you’re stronger than people who don’t believe and look down on them as cynical and bitter (and you have an Atheist arguing with you, looking down on you as stupid for having faith in God). Now, “Imagine” a world where religion wasn’t an issue – you wouldn’t be having this argument right now.

    One other thing:

    “I am and I know that it wasn’t doctors or machines that gave me my life back.” – I wouldn’t discredit doctors and science like that because take a look at 100 years ago or 200 years ago and how the life expectancy has gone way up and that is largely down to science. If you believe in God then that’s cool, nothing wrong with having faith, but it doesn’t have to be a war between science and religion, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

  • Jamie

    [insert virtual high five here]

    The fact that you’re religious and said this makes it so much better because it proves that you really understand the song and the fact that it isn’t about religion or promoting Atheism.

    “I felt Lennon’s lyric meant “no religion” because people are often in conflict based on religion.” – Have you noticed that people in the comments have been proving his point? :P

  • Seriously?

    I’m not an Atheist, but you’re wrong to say it’s a religion. And you’re actually wrong about what religion means.

    “re·li·gion – noun

    1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.”

    So that’s the definition of religion. Atheism isn’t a set of beliefs, it’s just the lack of one believe. It doesn’t involve devotion or ritual observances and there is no moral code that goes along with Atheism, it is simply just, “I do not believe in God.”

    Even if your definition of religion was right, that still does not describe Atheists.

    “a group of people who generally believe the same thing” – Nope. Atheists don’t generally believe the same thing, again, they just have one common belief set in concrete and it’s not even a belief, it’s a lack of belief. Just like people don’t believe in Santa or unicorns or the tooth fairy.

    “and adhere to the same behaviors.” – Atheists don’t adhere to the same behaviours. Christians, Muslims, Jews – all those religions, they have a Bible and that Bible gives them a moral code to live by and they have places of worship where they go and practice their religion, they have religious holidays that unite them…all of that stuff? That is “adhering to the same behaviours” and there is no Atheist equivelent, they just don’t believe in God.

  • Jay

    It’s less about religion and more about the fact that he was arrogant and disrespectful enough to change John Lennons lyrics and that he clearly didn’t understand what the song meant.

  • Vegasslvr

    I dont care is someone is in church 24 hours a day, it doesnt affect me. I also dont care if Cee Lo wants to sing about religion being true all day,. But if he wants to do it. Write his own song and sing it! Dont change the meaning of someone else’s song who isnt even here to say no! It’s arstitically tacky and also not right. If he didn’t like the message of thr song, he should pick one he agrees with

  • Ee

    If he had a problem with the lyrics of this song and didn’t agree with the sentiments of it the answer is simple sing another song .You do not change the lyrics to make it pro religion

  • Sara23

    I never called you a drone, would be pretty stupid If did considering I do also believe in a greater being, maybe not to the extend that you or others do but everyone has a right to their own beliefs. However you did comment on this, so you have to expect some sort of comments back.

  • Nicety

    I wasn’ t referring to you.I was talking about you the first poster I responded to.I don’t have a problem defending “My” faith.I express my views but never at anytime do I force them on anyone because no one is under any obligation to feel the way I do.

  • Giggilamour

    No need to attack her on her beliefs.That makes YOU the “Drone”!Faith in itself is not harmful it’s how people chose to practice it that is harmful.Big difference.I’m a liberal and I believe in God.I love helping people and fight against discriminations of all kind.Tea-Republicans also profess to believe in God while doing the opposite of what a christian should be! They spread hate,homophobia,racism,xenophobia…,they have strong objections to helping the poor and the sick,while professing their loves for the rich!That is all the difference.Faith before dogma and religion.

  • Nicety

    You need to reread my post.At what point did I say the exact words I am stronger than you because I believe.I never said that.My point in saying he was weak I was basically saying that aside from religion and science somethings are not as simple as see and touch.I will state my opinion and defend what I believe but I will never go to war with anyone about it.I have to be responsible for me,if a person chooses not to believe that is their choice.I commented that the poster souned cynical and bitter not because he doesn’t believe but because he feels the need to insult others because they do.Yes I said my faith is strong but that wasn’t a way of saying that it makes me better or superior to anyone.I didn’t attack the poster but I don’t feel like he he had a right to insult people who do believe and that has nothing to do with my religion that is from my being human.A human who doesn’t think you are a drone or anything else because you don’t share my beliefs.I never at anytime told any poster you have to believe because I do because they don’t.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    Okay, Nicety, don’t try to prove it to me. Cut and run when you don’t have the answer, if it makes it easier for you. This is what I find tends to happen, so I’m not surprised.

    But try to prove it to yourself. Ask yourself the hard question: why do you believe? Is it because it makes you feel better, because you’ve been taught to, or because you have solid reason to? There’s nothing else in your life that you believe in without evidence, so why is there a different standard for this? Just think about it. I was a Christian for a long time until I got over the fear and started really looking at these questions, and found that there weren’t good answers.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    For the record, if you’re referring to me, I never said Nicely was stupid. :) Indoctrination preys on even the very smart.

    ” it doesn’t have to be a war between science and religion, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

    Here we disagree. Science and religion are fundamentally opposed, IMHO. They cannot peacefully co-exist.

  • French Flies

    John Lennon did not dislike religion, he disliked the abuse of it to harm people. He also wasn’t the type of man to make his songs a sacred fricking cow.

  • French Flies

    I couldn’t agree more. He dumped his wife and kid to become rich and famous. His poor treatment of Julian and Cynthia was legendary. He didn’t set himself above others, he was simply a screwed up bloke who tried to get through life sharing what he learned. When people turn him into some kind of peaceful warrior, THAT’S when I think he turns in his grave.

  • French Flies

    And how do some of you twats feel about Beatles music being used to sell merchandise? Do you boycott Nike?

  • Nicety

    Look this is about lyrics to a song.If someone who didn’t belive changed a gospel song so what I don’t have to listen to it if I don’t like it.People are acting like this going to become the national anthem.It is a song.Lennon promoted peace his way and Green promoted it his way.He is not recording the song.This was a one time performance.Did Green’s changing the song make you like Lennon’s version less? You say I don’t get I don’t have to get it because neither version revolves my life.If this hadn’t of happened most people wouldn’t even be thinking about either man or either version of the song past New Years.If you feel it was wrong for you that is ok.I just really don’t care.I don’t know Cee Lo Green personally and I didn’t know John Lennon personally for it to become a priority in my life.It was two or three minutes(cee lo’s version)of what people feel was a mistake and if you feel it was a mistake stop giving it importance.Nobody but the posters are still talking about it.It is so important that Russell Brand/Katy Perry,Winona Judd is engaged,cruises movie have all taken precedence over this.So go ahead and slam me because I am over this.

  • dab

    I have no problem with Mr. Green changing the song a little. With his version wasn’t he celebrating diversity a little bit more. I have no personal problem with atheist if you choose not to believe in anything that is fine with me and if you want to celebrate an atheism holiday go for it. Just keep one thing in mind your show of lack of faith is just as offensive to most people as our shows of faith are to you so maybe we should all stop attacking one another because it makes us all look like hippocrates and if you do follow just about any faith you know that’s not the way you should carry yourself

  • dab

    I hear that people act like its a huge deal people put their own spin on covers all the time and nobody cares but now because its Lennon its the end of the world and disrespectful. All respect and props to him and the beetles but honestly have you ever tried to listen to anything other than the white album it makes me want to bang my head on the wall

  • Jareth

    altering somebody else’s copyright and/ or art is not allowed,
    but to have the brilliance and integrity of Lennons work marred by the the author of that low-rent “F-You” song…horrid!!!!!
    Its like a pig trying to pick an apple, never reach that height.
    Can’t wait to hear what Mrs.Lennon has to say

  • dab

    Altering and selling it without permission is not allowed just performing it is. I hardly feel like the song was marred by changing a couple words. He performed a cover and it is usually understood that when an artist performs a cover the song is subject for them to put their own spin on it. I am not particularly a fan of Mr. Green however he was asked to come and perform the song if the original is what was wanted they could have played that.

  • dab

    We walk by faith not by sight.

  • Me

    I’m an atheist and I don’t mind a lyric change. I think if people can get upset over a song about peace there really isnt much hope for us.

    Atheists are not as annoying as super religious people unless they are super athiests who act just like super religious people, but go on about no god instead of a god. Most atheists you won’t even know are atheists so it’s pretty impossible for them to be annoying. Any group anywhere who is super into what they are doing will be annoying.

  • Me

    All religion’s true and no religion too mean basically the exact same thing. The entire point of the song was for people to get along. If people can believe what they want .. or have no relgion at all … the result is the same which is peace.

  • just saying

    actually is most likely wasn’t the religion but the people themselves!

  • seems like

    seems like you like to argue however if you want truth read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

  • guest

    ce lo reaction was wrong however it should have never been a big deal that he changed the words to fit him – isn’t that what individuality is? so if i believe in God i shouldn’t be able to express that because what? you don’t? doesn’t the bill of rights protect my rights too! am i hurting anyone NO – if you don’t believe in God then he doesn’t existing so what is that hurting – to you he doesn’t exist? so if something doesn’t exist how can it hurt? so only people who don’t believe in God have rights? NOT! people change lyrics every day to fit a situation – strange how God has blessed America, gave us a nation with freedom and yes I said God since the USA was founded on Godly principle and that is a fact. Read the bill of rights, preamble, pledge to our flag and our president’s speeches – can’t re-write history – can attempt to change it – but it doesn’t make it so! did our country have a blind side for slavery for sure – they took what they learned from their homeland and brought it with them. however, they realized their error and changed! we should be considered to all people!

  • really

    you realize most youth don’t even know who john lennon is? they could care less!

  • Blink182

    john who? just kidding!

  • Blink182

    most youth don’t know john either!

  • JaJa

    Something that has been around for thousand of years and for a few ignorant people to come and say there is no God? Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone thought like those few ignorant people? YIKES! GOD forbid that from ever happening. Just about EVERY religion has the same similar message..love, respect, forgiveness etc. So I see no harm in it what so ever! Whether Cee Lo said that or kept it the same it’s cool with me.

  • http://twitter.com/DougSinc Doug Sinclair

    I’ve read “Mere Cristianity”. Giant logical fail. Lewis’s arguments are only really compelling when you go into them already agreeing with him. His logic goes off the rails almost immediately and never gets back on.

  • Jay

    I’m not even sure what you were going on about with most of your comment, but this part:

    “isn’t that what individuality is? so if i believe in God i shouldn’t be able to express that because what? you don’t?”

    1. It’s funny to claim changing the lyrics to someone elses song is individuality. Individuality would have been writing and performing his own song (and then he could write it however he liked and there wouldn’t have been all this fuss).

    2. No one has said that you or Cee Lo Green or anyone else shouldn’t be able to express their belief in God – but if he wanted to do that, again, he should have chosen a different song that already expressed it or wrote a song. What he did was disrespectful (and for the record, the song as it originally was written wasn’t promoting Atheism or saying it’s wrong to have faith, he just latched onto one lyric and misinterpreted it instead of looking at the song as a whole and getting the point).

    (And for the record, the girl you were replying to said that she does believe in God so your comment is severely lacking in the sense department.)

  • Bahnstormer21

    The problem with religion is when it is used to justify acts of evil.

  • Gypsy

    There is no evidence to the contrary either. Prove that God does not exist? Oh, that is right, you really cannnot do that can you? So, at the end of the day, you have about as much of a good leg to stand on as those that do have faith that God does exist.

  • Purpunicornmel

    Why is this a big deal. Do have nothing bigger to worry about? Did Ceelo’s change of lyrics really sway anyone’s personal beliefs?

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