SMOKE THIS

I was an atheist, once,

but I was really bad at it.

It is an easy path to follow,

it just didn’t go anywhere,

and if I ain’t moving, I’m dying.

Don’t get me wrong, I know

there is a wide sea of religion out there,

but it is much too shallow to swim in,

all those rules, all that guilt and shame…

and just what do those things have to do

with the God of the Universe?

Who? You ask, might that be?

Those quantum guys are giving us

something to think about…

The Universe as a consciousness,

I’ve reckoned that for a long time, now.

All matter, anti-matter, E=MC2,

the incomprehensible vastness of space

nothing more than manifested thoughts...

time a non-starter, non-linear saddle

we ride for a tiny quantum passage.

White beard, long robes, a throne

and a guy with a quill pen taking notes?

Yeah, I’m still that kind of non-believer.

But an omniscient consciousness knows

every quark and muon, every cause

and effect, every ponderous whirl of every

soaring galaxy, delights in the beauty of

that little super-nova over there and

plays pinball with black holes

in a joyous song of “Zarathustra,

How Great Thou art.”

And that’s just the part we think we see.

If God is Consciousness, then everything

is part of that sweet stew. Move along, folks,

there is nothing to see here, but plenty

to be. That bit of us that reaches out for

our Father/Mother home. Our spirit-soul

poured out from God’s being into the dust

we’re made of and which he loves

enough to make it all worthwhile,

if we would just listen.

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

I still have trouble with the G word, because it makes me think of the Abrahamic version, who committed (if you believe the KJV) what would now be called war crimes regularly. As for JC, his terrible blood sacrifice was made to offset original sin, the brainchild of St. Augustine, who also introduced us to the notion that sex was at best a necessary evil. I could go on, but I have found that what is best for me is to declare, with Mr. Jefferson, that I am a sect by myself.

[Vol]

John,
I don't trouble myself with much in the way of how I "feel" about God, or any particular doctrine, theology, cosmology, rites or rituals. There are only two real points of view. Either there IS a God or there isn't. I do Kierkegaard's "leap of faith,” and choose to believe God exists. Seems to be more meaningful to my life as a conscious being than the other choice.
If there is a God, what is the nature of its existence? There is too much to consider, the universe too vast, my mental capabilities too small, but I can’t help myself.
To give what I believe to be a spiritual being any physical attributes, I think is a mistake, we want to humanize The Creator of all things?” Ha, what a joke!
On the other hand, to carry within us the spirit of consciousness is to raise ourselves up rather than attempting to give our attributes to the creator diminishes the concepts of science as well as the Spirit. This is hard to articulate… The ESSENCE of existence is the Creator Spirit; the observed, physical universe is the CREATED evidence of that existence. It is our prime responsibility to “Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,” or do nothing and remain as unthinking Philistines, no matter our point of view.
Vol

[Ayvid N]

I'm a firm believer in God, a higher power who rules the universe and who has created our souls. I believe in a spiritual life and the existence of the hereafter. In the face of all scientific arguments, my inner voice just cannot be refuted.
For these reasons, this poem resonated a lot. We shouldn't outrightly reject what we can't, for now, understand.

[Poetic_Vixen]

Respected Vol, this poem reflects the right kind of believer, I must say I have believed in the energy of God that seems to be the force of this universe threading and tying us all in one together, I have believed in the forms of God that every human reflects with their role as parents, friends, lovers, caretakers, teaches, doctors and just so many on go about because each of their roles is full of meaning that infects the others with the same. It's divine to worship, and we seemed to have put certain rules on it that now are being mindlessly followed with no faith in heart, that is where religion is wrong. Without faith a perspective ceases to exist even if it is god, that is why I believe we have many who keep saying 'i don't believe in god' because they certainly didn't wave their magic wands to stop wars and famines. When all of the destruction caused is by human choice and their nature to how they regard others then I don't think you should shift the blame on something imaginary.

My theory of God is very superimposed with the Universe, the push and pull it teaches us, the spark and warm it infects us with and to keep our beliefs alive like it's very existence. This poem was a deep look into the atheist perspective and I don't know where I lie but am sure I'm not a non- believer.

[Vol]

PV,
This is weird, I've already responded to your comments once this morning, but it isn't here now... This site is rife with technical difficulties.
I am not sure about the nature of religion. It seems to be a way for people with similar insights to get together and agree about spiritual things and look for ways to tell everybody else how wrong they are.
I was born to a Pentecostal preacher at a Bible college... I am infected with a need for God, but not religion, every moment, action, thought, breath, penny, or emotion is done in the presence of His awareness, we are part of that awareness, each different, each adding what we have to give... some of us are mostly good, some of us are mostly evil, we are all part of the same "stew" and add what spice we are. It isn't for me, or anyone else to decide the nature of God's existence, but like the Bible says, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. That is what I've always done because I've always tried to listen… finally, there is no real difference between the Atheist and the Believer, BOTH hold their positions based on the exact same amount, same kind of faith. There are only two choices, either there IS a God, or there isn’t…
Vol

[Poetic_Vixen]

Your point of saying that we are all part of the same stew adding our own spice, yes I do praise this opinion that somehow makes validity for every kind of believer.

[Poetic Beauty]

I think most of us have our own thought on God and Jesus. I have a similar believe as you; I think.

I believe Gos is how most believe in the Universe. I believe He is an energy being. He vast and everywhere. I believe there is a Heaven but I believe God is more personal and is around all of us all the time; hence the energy part.

[Vol]

PB,
I think we are all meant to be "seekers." Why are we here? Am I getting it right? The search for those two answers makes tjhe difference, and it does not matter what we come up with, because it is the SEARCH itself that matters. If you've got a Soul, then you've got to search... carefully and with fear and trembling, lest you go the wrong way. It is the thing POETS do.
Vol

[Poetic Beauty]

I question a lot of things so that is how I came up with how I perceive God and Jesus. I’d most definitely be lost without God. I pray a lot. I have anxiety and sometimes over worry and overthink lol

[Vol]

I sent you a personal response to this...

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful and poignant. I would be lost without my faith.

[Vol]

Thomas,
Everyone is, whether they know it or not...
Vol