VIEWS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF FENCE
Nearly every day the site carries poetry in praise of religion but I can’t recall seeing anything written from a humanist perspective so I thought I’d reverse the trend if only for one day with these shorties which come to me in fits and starts. There is no offence intended any more than offence is intended by the religious poets who contribute here.
1)
Humanist views are rarely defended
so that believers can’t claim they’re offended.
(2)
The bible is true
Oh! But not the parables
Subtle cherry picking
(3)
For all the good things, praise be to god
but not the bad things, now isn’t that odd.
(4)
Why do they quote from
a book of assertions
when asked for the facts?
(5)
Christian, non-Christian
believer, non-believer
religious, non-religious
So derogatory
So negative.
Humanist, non-Humanist
agnostic, non-agnostic
atheist, non-atheist
that’s better
(And note the capital ‘H’ )
-
Author:
Michael Edwards (
Offline) - Published: March 29th, 2022 02:13
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 42
- Users favorite of this poem: L. B. Mek, Rocky Lagou, Laura🌻
Offline)
Comments7
Liking this, understanding what you mean. Number 3 - yes, there are 'fair-weather Christians' about - me included sometimes.
Miss Berles sitting on the fence? Is it painful for her? Will she get splinters?! lol.
She probably will - must give her a gentle nudge. But which direction?
Did she fall or was she pushed? as they say.
This chap Hugh has a lot going for him.
A touchy subject this religious stuff. As you well know i never get involved in discussing it!
Oh I've tried but a remarkable deafness seems to overtake the preacher types.
I do particularly like (3).
Yes a difficult subject - though it does seem okay for believers to berate humanists but never the other way round.
Of course i was only kidding to say i never get involved - i do have a go at the one's who are so much holier than the rest of us that they like to preach in mps. I am so disappointed in their general lack of knowledge of the history of the bible and what exactly it is having become mistranslated and altered so much over it's years of existence. Ho-hum so much I could say but..... hope you are having a pleasant spring day.
Yes indeed. And when it comes to morals so mant fail to recognise that they existed long before the modern religion of Christianity.
Oh my ME, you mean christians didn't invent love, charity, caring, and virtue? They do like to preach as though they own those and are revealing them as something new I have noticed.
You got my vote, Michael:
https://mypoeticside.com/show-poem-124909
However, I've never knocked the religious here, in fact I've had very respectful conversations with a couple - they have a right to their faith if that's what it takes to lead a full useful life - provided they don't attempt to control anyone else's freedom.
The knocking does seem to be in one doirection only - I suspect this won't be read by our religious friends here on MPS (except Orchi of course who is a real gent) but if it is it'll be interesting to see if they leave any comments.
let them be, my friend
in the word of Bukowski:
'and the best at murder are those who preach against it
and the best at hate are those who preach love
and the best at war finally are those who preach peace
those who preach god, need god
those who preach peace do not have peace
those who preach peace do not have love
beware the preachers
beware the knowers'
( https://mypoeticside.com/show-classic-poem-4332 )
(for its that very conflict
they strive for, remember
nothing kills, their intrusively
aggressive efforts
like apathy's, indifference
in the words of Plath:
'tea leaves thwart
those who court catastrophe, designing
futures where nothing will occur'
(from Ennui, by Sylvia Plath)
let them, be
for this merely, their zealotry's
death cries
for Voltaire, finished them off
a few centuries ago, already...
let them be
just watch-on, and pity their plight
while praying
there's enough mercy left, in our Universe
to forgive, their wilful InHumanity
(and yes, I meant my capital H
for I won't, ever surrender
our Beautiful language
merely, because they tainted it
by claiming it as theirs)
Amen!
Amen indeed.
This is honestly gold! Such a fun "challenge" to religion.
"The bible is true
Oh! But not the parables
Subtle cherry picking"
Literally had me crying of laughter! You're a genius. 🙌
You can't beat a bit of cynicism - thanks Rocky.
Very good words Michael, as d a has said I too like 3 and it applies very much to me.
Andy
Cheers Andy.
Michael,
This latin phrase comes to mind, “Suum cuique.” As a child, I believed what I was taught. As an adult, I believe in myself.
Thank you for sharing, my dear Poet.
Laura🌻
Suum cuique pulchrum est' We are all beautiful - thanks Laura.
Yes, indeed…we are.🤗
You’re most welcome, my friend.
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