My Invisible Friend

I know my God is the right God, because [Holy Book] says so. I know that [Holy Book] is right because it's written by my God. This circular reasoning bugs me. So I wrote a bad poem about it.

My Invisible Friend

My Invisible Friend is better than yours,

the book I say He wrote says so.

And if the words I say He said are true,

What hope for the likes of you?

It's a circular dance, round and round we go.

Whose dogma will win? Nobody knows.

One thing that's tricky, and persistently so,

My Invisible Friend is anothers' Invisible Foe.

Author's Note

Content Note: This is a scribble - a quick bit of off-the-top of my head (bad) poetry. Not polished, and I think incomplete.

Context Note: it's not an indictment of religion, religious people, religious books, religious writing, religious buildings etc. It's a bit of pent up frustration over a particular circular self-righteous and self-referential argument that *some* religious people use to claim religious superiority. Just so the record is set straight! I'm not out to offend any innocent bystanders (just the guilty ones)! ;)

Reviews

[V.B.]

This is not bad poetry. I've seen a ton of religious satire attempted through poetry, and honestly, it all comes off sounding heavy-handed and trite. This, on the other hand, accomplishes through tongue-in-cheek what the vast majority seem to have failed at: it gets its point across.

Sure the words themselves are nothing amazingly original, but the way you lead people to the conclusion you want without forcing it on them definitely is. I really enjoyed this--well done!

[Ruth]

Oohhh, I like this a lot love! The duality is excellent! The invisible friend metaphor is clever and what is right or wrong, who do we believe, a circular intrusion, vicious sometimes, great work! xx

[Cara Rosalie]

Hi Greg,

I appreciated the comedic, poignant and inoffensive voice, in which you used to discuss a highly controversial topic. Very easily could you have spun this differently, blasting and barking aggressively. I tend to shut down when people come at me from a place of hostility, and consequently end up hearing nothing they are saying. This was articulated nicely.

There is a way to convey personal views without desecrating the beliefs of others. I am a christian. With that, comes a set of values, beliefs and a particular lifestyle reflecting that choice. What flummox's me, is where people get the notion they should/can slap people in the face with their personal decisions. That works about as well as arranged marriages. You can't force someone to have a relationship. I try to have grace for those imbecilic people who seem to not know any better. Who stubbornly raise their chin and shout "Turn or burn" or "The wrath of God will befall all who turn away!"
...Though, it becomes wearisome, because I personally don't think God feels that way at all. The sad and unfortunate fact is, the people doing it all wrong, are usually the ones screaming the loudest. I think God speaks in whispers, not shouts.

Thanks for sharing this and good luck with publishing your book. I look forward to reading more of your work :)

Cara

[An owl on the moon]

Very insightful, honest look into the lives and reasonings of so many. Your note is also deeply appreciated! Keep writing and helping us examine ourselves more...

Great poem. I particularly like that it remains playful in its rhyme scheme and rhythm; "It's a circular dance, round and round we go."

The use of "Invisible Friend" is dead-on!

[Ms. Gruye]

My invisible friend is more punk rock than yours...she is sooooo punk rock, I had to buy her a new mattress. :)

[ShaneBerry]

WOW, for scribble this is a work of art. at first it sounds like two children spatting over who's imaginary friend is cooler, and ends the same way. with a very powerful personal realization at the end. "One thing that's tricky, and persistently so,
My Invisible Friend is anothers' Invisible Foe." that line sent shivers up my spine, the rhyme was soo perfect it seems like it was not even real lol.
incredible write!

[jayfray]

its got a sort of childishness to it i really like it a lot

[qaralynn]

like it!

[Rick Puetter]

Hi Greg,

I like your notes. No, this is not against religious thought. It's not. It's really against the absence of thought. Let's put thought back into religion. Who ever put forward the idea that religion examined too closely is a bad idea? It must have been someone with something to hide. Now I'm not religious, and I would contest most things religious, but I can't say that there isn't intellect and value in religious writings. But let's not run from intellect, inspection of ideas, and analysis of thought. After all, if you believe in such, would an all-knowing God ask his followers to abandon reason and knowledge? I can't imagine so. If God and God's ways are the reality of the Universe, you can bet there is good reason for this and that it will stand up to any and all inspection and objections. So let's get reasonable about all of this. Yes, we may be unable to understand everything, but if so, God made us this way. I can hardly imagine that if he exists he intends to fool us and have our intellect cause us to stray. I think the fault lies with us not trying hard enough rather than we are incapable. So let's open up everything for discussion. Let's not fall prey to circular or non-logical ideas. Let's be intellectually honest with ourselves, and let us try and get to the bottom of things.

All the best, Greg. This was short and sweet, but comes from long consideration and observation.

Rick