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. :-)

[Mary Fioratti]

What I can say? There are things that we do not see clearly why... but we have to believe that there is a reason. This is the way that life taught me to see...
Beautiful poem, Tate.
*Mary*

[Me]

WOW! such a beautiful poem

[Becky C Strukamp]

As a born and raised Catholic myself, I felt I was so mislead by my religion. Not only was it preached to me that our faith was the "faith" to follow, all others misguided, but I found as I matured in life, that those who the Priest valued the most, were the patrons who gave the most money during the collection. These so called people were adulters, and the like. Yet the church held them high due to their financial contributions. This, was the beginning of my questioning each denomination of faith. After years of study, I came to this belief, we are all sinners in some form and it is not our place to judge lest ye be judged. However, saying that, I also believe, it is not the talk, but the walk. Watch what people do, not what they say. Actions speak volume. Always have. I now question everything. I listen when someone's view is differernt from my own, sometimes they make logical sense. God did not put us here to be sheep, I believe we were put here to be Sheppards. If we love ourselves and those we hold dear, it is our duty to question and make the best decisions for ourselves and our loved ones. Nice write Tate.

[Sunflower/Sara Kendrick]

Tate, Reread your work..Sunflower

[Dahlia Phoenix]

Religion is a concept on what people want to put their beliefs in. I for one, appreciate the customs that religion bring with their own meaning but at the same time, aren't they the same? If its denial it turns into anger causing death in the end. That's why I don't seek to believe in something I don't want to. I don't appreciate though people forcing others to convert into such religions because its basically taking away their own mind. This poem is quite the unique stance on religious views and that's a good reason to go for it. Nice job man.

[iand63]

to me that is the other contradiction that god gave us free will, yet we are told to believe that we are his sheep to follow blindly? i am not religious and i do not denounce religion, but like you Tate i do question. we cannot remove ourselves from a religious world our laws both social and legal are based in religious devotion and teaching. but to me any doctrine religion dogma, whatever is only as valid as its ability to withstand questioning. keep asking Tate the search bears wondrous fruit.

[Muse]

It's sad that church and religion have gotten such a bad reputation. I agree It's about walking the walk, not talking the talk.

[Kenneth The Poet]

Again, this is a beautiful piece of work, Tate. I love this piece.

[sharonlee]

Good words to live by, well said

[emma]

Tate, this is very beautiful, and thought provoking.
My favourite part

Tolerance be the holy way
humility tempers us true
So why curtail what others say
as if this world were just for you

Emma x