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. :-)

[abhas]

all the things beyond my control is God to me... and as i am growing older God .. i more i can control... the closer i get to God .... this is what it is... i'm not Catholic... well for that matter, im not Christian... but my religion has a lot of Gods... while in Islam there is only one God ... just ways... its not about the destination... but journey , the paths .. towards Him...

[Richard Williams]

Right on Tate, and your "An Epiphany" is a very well done and polite treatise of this. I shall not be so polite. Religion is a poison, and it is nothing but a hindrance to the progress of humanity. From day one there has been the need for a God, or Gods, and to this day the concept remains vague, tenuous, and undefined and multi-defined. Those who claim a special, divine knowledge act with exceedingly grating hubris, and are generally then compelled to think horrible thoughts of us who are not members of their club. If you even do a cursory study of history, it is exceedingly clear that human beings created the Gods, and in turn the often cruel attributes that accompany these Gods. God gets angry, feels regret, changes his mind, needs worship. This always amazed me, seems like he has an ego problem. Read the old testament, since here I shall focus on the Judeo-Christian God, even though I am an atheist concerning all the thousands of Gods. If your child is unruly, he is to be stoned. Homosexuals are to be killed. The mass murder of entire tribes was sanctioned, including cutting the babies out of the mothers wombs, and the keeping of the virgins for men's pleasure, it is good to dash babies upon the rocks, and so on and so on. If you doubt any of this just read the Bible, for the best road to atheism is simply to read that so-called holy book. The new testament is infinitely worse, because it is only with gentle Jesus do we come to the preposterous idea of hell, of eternal torment, an infinite eternal torture for finite crime. I have a cousin who actually gloats over this, with such intelligent comments like, "The Pope is going to hell" (not to mention comments like, "Gays should have no rights.") I have seen over and over what religion can do to people, the bias, the hate, the prejudice, the essential "blank out" of the mind. It would be the most absurd and inconceivable of realities if this life we have, this human existence of 70 or 80 or 90 years was some kind of friggin' joke, and the real life started with some unbearable start of heavenly eternity, groveling and praising in some heaven without rain, without challenge or without tears. To me, that would be the greatest of hell. No, we are human beings here and now, and the essence of our humanity is our mind, for we are evolved beings with the gifts of reason and compassion and love, and we can know and understand this universe and not be bullied or cajoled out of fear of some grotesque monster on high, a monster that is simply the creation of our own shortcoming and fears. We can reach each other through our own humanity, through understanding, through tolerance and through love. That is the best epiphany for anyone, and like you say, "Let the dreams be both yours and mine, as the wind that blows through the trees."

[Liz Alexander]

I get that. This is a very good story. You did a great job. Love it. Keep writing. 80/100

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

I think the main prob with religion is that it has become so standardized that it feels like people are in school. The leaders don't ask people to evaluate their own lives and relationships with their creator. They simply tell them stories of old and turn them into sheep. The absence of thinking for ourselves causes all kinds of untruths to be repeated as common knowledge.

[An Ordinary Woman]

It's a nice, well thought & caring poem. The final stanza is wonderful, a glorious ending for a beautiful poem.

[My Fair Lady]

I rarely write of religious or spiritual things as I too would prefer not to offend my peers. This however, is thoughtful.. and gentle. In my humble opinion, it is not for us to condemn our friends for their beliefs.. but rather find the places within our own souls that give us comfort and joy. Man is that he might have joy.. and I can think of no greater joy than when in the service of our fellow men. Therefore, my favorite line of this is:
"He'd rather you helped your brother while in life those wonders renew"

[Katannaism]

Very inspiring and well written. I don't really have a religion because I don't know what it is. But I always believed in God. (=
But this is just truly exquisite. A nice poem for the thought both emotionally and spiritually. Very well done! ;)

[Coyote Poetry]

My father was Catholic. Religion is a hard subject for me. But thank you for the Army. I saw many of the poorest countries. The Catholic church had nuns assisting with places for the poor and children. I was water and gas. I had to go with the Medical teams. The Army Medical teams would with the help of nuns try to help with shots and treatment. The problem with our world. So much pain. Hard to find peace when so many are suffering. I believe the best we can do. Is help people in our world. A very strong poem. You made me think. A outstanding poem.
Coyote

[MichelleClay]

Personally I’m not a religious person, I never believed in god and was the biggest sceptic around but I had an experience that changed me. I still don't go to church and I don't preach to other people about what they should and shouldn't do, instead I just see the beauty in the world and feel happy to be here.

You shouldn't be afraid to say what is in your heart.

[Rossen]

Maybe certainty is for the frightened, blissful,
and a good number of sixteen year old girls..
Me, I pay close attention to the cycle of life.
I hope I am a part of that grand scheme.
I see reproduction and death.
No do overs or escape doors.
I do not see my self without or godless...
and I resent those who get all righteous.
I have risen to continuousness~
I am man! I except this beautiful cycle,
with my eyes open and heart extended.
You have struck a cord in me, you play
a mean harp, in a good way of corse
Maybe we are creators of worlds?
Maybe people should look to each other
and stop chasing the golden carrot...

Wonderful mind you have Tate
Thank you for sharing,


Rossen