An Epiphany

I have a friend who claims that she will return here reborn one day The essence of morality bereft of our mortal decay

Payton and I

I have a friend who says that she

will return here reborn one day

The essence of morality

bereft of our mortal decay

 

She claims only those who believe

will be allowed to live here then

This tapestry her god will weave

from all faithful women and men

 

I have a little misgiving

that I pose to a faithful few

What is it makes life worth living

if not the character we hew

 

Tolerance be the holy way

humility tempers us true

So why curtail what others say

as if this world were just for you

Our religions seem a bit grim

even somewhat selfish at best

Save ourselves by worshiping him

and to hell with all of the rest

 

No good man worships another

nor our father wish that from you

He'd rather you helped your brother

as any good father would do

If the Word be Truth let it shine

and echo out over the seas

May the Dreams be both yours and mine

as the winds that blow through the trees

 

Author's Note

Born and raised a Catholic I still find I often think on this conundrum. Why would a god want worship anymore than a father of his children? It would seem counter productive for a god to demand worship of you at the same time telling you as a father to be humble. God did not give me a brain to follow others like sheep. It would be wrong not to use it to question the concepts we hold dear. If this upsets someone I am sorry. Not for the idea but for the injury. I am forced by nature to question all we hold dear.

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking poem. For all of those who worship "God" for the sake of their own skins, forsaking all the rest, I wonder what that same "God" thinks of him being forsaken for all the rest. So many profess to believe; and yet, they try to mold God in the shape of man rather than the other way around.

Take any issue: abortion, same-sex marriage, couples living together before marriage, etc.; and one can clearly see how society as a whole has forsaken "God" in favor of themselves. Even those who act most fervently in the name of their "God," do so for their own selfish reasons that have nothing to do with God.

Beware the man - the beast - as lamb.

[Tate Morgan]

It is funny how god takes on our characteristics isnt it

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Predictable and true. :-)

[Mark]

Well, as a reviewer once wrote to me: "Though I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it" (See "This Son of God")
The issues you have broached here are too vast to deal with in a review of this sort, so I will comment on the poem as that alone. And as with all your poems, I was struck with the complexity so skillfully hidden within a deceivingly simplistic style. I would only caution your friend not to compare herself with other humans, which will inevitable disappoint, nor to this or that earthly religion, which are fraught with man-made traditions, but to Christ and the Bible only, which are the only infallible guides. A most thought-provoking write, Tate.

[Tasha]

This was really good Tate, I am a christian and I don't want to get into a touch subject. This was amazing though.

[Derek S.Keck]

"God has no religion."
— Mahatma Gandhi

Tate, I love this! This same concept is why I left the church around the age of 17 ( I was raised a catholic too). I couldn't accept that good people die and face fire and brimstone just because they were molded from a young age to believe a certain way. It seems cruel and to much like a lottery. I've never been against religion; I think at the core of everything Jesus said and what the Buddha taught, etc… carries a lot of beauty, but people have also perverted religion for political and personal gains. I've really been into Old Testament philosophy (not the histories, they’re pretty brutal)as well as Vedic tradition in India; I find that the older I get the harder I find it to see how these traditions conflict. There's some essence of wisdom everywhere.

You're very wise Tate!

[?]

Well this is a little different from you.
Very thought provoking. I am a Christian and do believe in the God above, and Im not gonna get into anything about this subject with anyone because it is a touchy subject with some.
But I do know that this is w wonderful thought provoking poem. Seems you have been in deep thought today.
Awesome

[emmajoy]

A beautiful and thoughtful poem, as always from you, Tate, ' Tolerance be the holy way ~ humility tempers us true '
God demands nothing, He only asks that we treat others as we would ask to be treated.
This is quite a question you raise here! Can only give you my immediate thoughts. I was reared an Anglican, went to convent school for seven years, have read of faiths across the spectrum. So what to say?
Firstly we have to recognise another person's opinion, returning to, 'do unto others .. ' Secondly, we should never forget that the Lord is a gentle and kind God. His commandments aren't thumb-screw rules and regulations, they're guideliness. And, as far as I know, there's nowhere in the good book that says only 100% believers will find salvation and return. (Reincarnation is something else .. too broad a topic) Having said that, we learn by listening, discussing and - at best, try to understand what others hold dear to them. In that way, we finish with true but strong personal convictions - to merely accept without question is to be avoided coz at birth we were given the gift of thought.
Belief is like the air around us, without it we die .. it's up to each man and woman to decide whether to find the air at a mountain top or on the seashore.

[bluessadmood]

Ohh God what lovely words..ohh yes so true..so much faith that lead to nothing
its a character that we build is what makes all the difference..religion fell short
Tolerance and humility should be the way to a much better living,a life so great
i see so many big hearts then,who knows this world is big enough for all
the less you stop think of only you and start thinking of all,others and more
their worries are yours ,true brothers ,ohh what beautiful land it will be..what life
lovely write..

[Ladysue]

I like the questions you put out in this piece. very thought provoking...

[Dillon Cotter]

Truly good. I liked this one.

Will

[Jvl narasimharao]

A great poem from a chaste christian. Really wonderful
yours JVL

[TamiViolet]

Aww, look at the poochy :-) I, too, was raised a Catholic, and this question you pose will trouble the mind until the end of time, if time ever ends... Or perhaps it's all happening right now...? While I consider myself quite spiritual, I no longer attend church for various reasons... Perhaps it's the manner in which religion is taught.... Must say it is wonderful how you powerfully stress helping our fellow man.... don't forget animals, too. None of us know though we cleave to what each of us thinks dear... Love the theme, Tate. Also interesting is how character in the piece believes in the reincarnation of self. Inspirational work. And just as the title forces the mind to wonder, the verse does as well... Thank you for sharing your art with me.