Rationalized

This is the truth

you must believe

heaven and hell exist.

'Cuz if you don't

you are deceived

Heaven you will miss.

You must live in fear

as God demands

for he loves you so.

To reject His word

for other plans

well, to hell you go.

You must be saved

for He did write

that is your only hope.

Obey His words

and find the light

Faith will be your rope.

Author's Note

Interested in people's reactions

Reviews

[Daniel Sala]

I'm not religious at all, but I get the to live with the fear of God stuff, and the intent of the poem is clear and fine, after all - all roads lead to Rome or wherever one needs to be, like the metaphor of "...will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven"... A nice poem, I just can't tell if you are expressing personal belief or quite the opposite with deadpan irony.

[Daniel Sala]

Just read the review below: Gotcha, understand.

[Mark]

Thanks for reading. I was making a feeble attempt to speak to each individual faith. It didn't work so well.lol

[Daniel Sala]

Maybe it does work well, maybe my interpretation is what didn't work so well (!) - and a poem's meaning is many things to many people, which make them such gems of writing, as you know. Thanks, Mark.

[Epipsychologist]

The terrifying thing about being an atheist isn't losing your faith in god, it's losing your faith in man when you realize that people accept this kind of philosophy. I can't believe in a god that punishes people even though he understands everything they do, and why they do it. But that's just me. This is a nicely written poem. The unsettljng picture accompanying it works well, too.

[Mark]

We all got faith in something. I'm with you on the old man in the sky thing. Thanks for reading.

[Mark]

The portrait is of the Spanish Court of Inquisition btw.

[Mary]

Well said, Mark! Well said. Your third stanza is amazing! Live in fear for God loves us so. and the last line, faith will be your rope (I'm thinking noose?) We humans do so create God in our own image, yes?

[Mark]

Yes Mary! A rope can be a noose or a tool to save. :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Interesting if provocative write Mark. It seems full of contradictions as is having to live in a world where religion still holds great sway. Religious followers are far from homogenous. Some fanatics are driven by overcompensation, others are so inadequate and lacking in self faith that they use religion as their crutch and still others are simply followers or afraid of death and the unknown. Darwin has my vote.

[Mark]

It' s interesting how faith shapes our lives. It's something of a hobby of mine. I think, to some extent, we create reality based on our beliefs. Some people are even able to shape the reality of others. You've hit right on what I was trying to do in this poem :) Thanks John.

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

This should be proclaimed in the rooftops! :)

[Mark]

Thanks for reading Blue. :)

[Cassie]

Amen......thank you for that reminder

[Mark]

You're welcome Cassie. :)

[Jack...]

Nice rhyme scheme and the message is extremely clear. Very good Mark.

[Mark]

Thank you Jack :)

[SHEEMA HUQ]

Quite a chilling piece and wilfully atmospheric, no doubt, very good.

[Mark]

Thanks for reading SHeema ;)

[Stanley Wilson]

Tinged with dogma from many faiths cleverly crafted Mark and beautifully written Mark the painting enhances the experience.