Religious belief.
Few topics are more hotly debated,
and yet most debates go nowhere
except in closed circles
always meant to be left open.
There are debates between circles of belief,
like Christianity and Islam, and
there are debates within circles of belief,
like what different brands of Protestants believe, and
there are debates within circles within circles of belief,
like what different brands of Christian fundamentalists believe.
Most all appeal to an authority,
which they claim is the highest, but
how can there be any truly final authority,
when there are so many?
There can’t be.
The good news is that most belief systems
point to something higher,
which, in one way or another,
helps us keep our insidious egos in check.
The bad news is that most religious debates
seek to emphasize differences
and ignore what all share in common,
which is that none have the answer for all.
Many have tired of the ranting and proselytizing
of organized religion, and have chosen
to label themselves spiritual.
But I find even the spiritual camp
to be overflowing with debates
about who really knows the real deal
when it comes to the Divine.
And then there is the ongoing raging debate
between science and religion,
which makes me laugh, as now we watch
both using consciousness as a fulcrum
to lift up their ideologies.
So what are we left to believe?
Believe what you will, but remember
that whatever you believe
can and will limit what you know.
As for me,
I am writing this poem,
instead of sitting in some hard church pew
on this Sunday morning.
Click here to hear me read this poem.
This poem was prompted by a recent exchange with one of favorite aunts about religion and spirituality. By the way, neither of us won the debate. 🙂
Poetic Alchemist 
Thanks Dan. It’s a variation on a hundred or more conversations we have had in recent years.
“Believe what you will, but remember
that whatever you believe
can and will limit what you know.”
Don Iannone
Wise man!
Thank you Dr. Ng, Quasar, and Kai for your comments. The discussion with my aunt was the impetus for this poem. She is Christian, and I am…well…eclectic in belief…probably influenced more by Buddhist philosophy than anything else.
Dr. Ng…No car business, just a silly joke. I remain an economic consultant and poet.
Q…Yes indeed, so many divisions and horror; all in the name of a god.
good to hear your voice & very interesting poem!
🙂
I think the biggest human failure
is that One always wants one’s belief or religion to be the true one, the right one par excellance.
And yet christians have killed more christians than members of other faiths, the same goes for Islam & Muslims
Showing that the biggest ill is ‘internal’ divisions and ‘internal’ demons. People always want to project their inner fears and doubts onto others – if we first can control our inner demons, do we need fear any external ones.
I thought that was what Friday the 13th films were meant to show. Freddy Krugger can only come out to play, if he can enter the actors Mind or Dreams (and gets a part in script)
Hi, I like the new blog. But you can actually go to multiply and put all your stuff in one site,why dont you go to my multiply site and check it out, and what you can do is to export all your poetry there, it is easily done! click here http://alwaysmorebeyond.multiply.com one thing though you have to register before you can post comments, comments in multiply is called reply….I wish you all the best in the car business, I am sure you will do well and prosper exceedingly!