Poetry competition CLOSED 21st November 2012 8:16pm
WINNER
cjflier
cjflier
Religion
I Still Believe in Prayers
After graduating from a Catholic High School where we used to say prayers before and after each classes, I decided to attend a non-sectarian university where I finished my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. I thought I got tired of reciting the same prayers over and over again.
During my college years, I had met friends from various religious denominations and went to their places of worship out of curiosity and courtesy especially if the one who was inviting me, happened to be my girlfriend. Let me say that I was soul searching in that period of my life, because I considered myself as a lost soul--trying to find answers and seek the truth about God!
Everyone who approached me claimed that their religion is the original and first one on Earth, and would recite verses from their own version of the Bible as if I didn’t know. Of course, none of them was able to convert me from my known faith - Roman Catholic, since birth. But is my faith to my own religion still intact? I had my doubts, and still searching… asking for questions, but am I asking the right ones?
After the Catholic Church was plagued with various sex scandals, I totally lost faith in its hierarchy and stayed away from its structured form of prayers except for the Lord’s Prayer. I also didn’t like the idea that they keep on changing the tunes when they sing it; and they have different tunes from one town to another. To me that only shows divisiveness among the congregation.
As written in an article on “Child Sex Abuse” in Wikipedia:
"The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of Roman Catholic orders against children as young as 3 years old with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14. Child sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults," and condemns any such action by an adult as "a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior." These cases included sodomy, and oral penetration, and there have been criminal prosecutions of the abusers and civil lawsuits against the church's dioceses and parishes. Many of the cases span several decades and are brought forward years after the abuse occurred.
In the Philippines where as of 2002 at least 85% of the population is Catholic, the revelations of sexual abuse by priests, including child sexual abuse, followed the United States' reporting in 2002. Of the Catholic sexual abuse cases in Latin America the most famous is arguably of the sexual scandal of Father Marcial Maciel, the leader of the Legion of Christ, a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. This occurred after the Legion spent more than a decade denying allegations and criticizing the victims who claimed abuse. In Tanzania, Father Kit Cunningham together with three other priests were exposed as paedophiles after Cunningham's death. The abuse took place in the 1960s but was only publicly revealed in 2011, largely through a BBC documentary. Church officials and academics knowledgeable about the Third World Roman Catholic Church, say that sexual abuse by clergy is generally not discussed, and thus is difficult to measure. This may be due in part to the more hierarchical structure of the Church in Third World countries, the "psychological health" of clergy in those regions, and because third word media, legal systems and public culture are not as apt to thoroughly discuss sexual abuse."
I felt I was betrayed after reading this and upon seeing the news on TV on almost a daily basis. If you were in my shoes, won’t you feel the same?
Although I lost my faith in my religion, I did not lost my faith in God. I still pray, but from the heart and with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18 Int'l. Standard Version (2008) “Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints.”
Somebody once told me that if Love reigns in my heart, chances are my prayers would be answered for God dwells among those who are in love. Somehow I could relate to this for after 43 long years, out of nowhere my childhood sweetheart and I found each other on Facebook. Back then, we loved each other without knowing what true love really was. We rekindled our old hearts and now we are about to get married. The people involved, the events that followed and the circumstances surrounding our relationship played an important role that led me to believe once more in the power of prayers.
But one may argue. How about those hungry and innocent children in some parts of Africa and in the Third World countries? Does your God simply ignore them even though they also have Love in their hearts? Does your God play favoritism just like your parents? These are questions I often ask myself as well. Honestly, I don’t really know the answer to those questions. Somebody might say, God works in many mysterious ways.
Most of the natural calamities such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires to name a few, were caused by mankind’s negligence, yet we blame God for every thing. Famine, wars and pestilence are never ending, and we thought somehow the government can do something to alleviate our pains and suffering if not totally put a stop to it.
Dream on my fellow deep thinkers and dreamers. As long as there is greed and corruption among us, we can never really live in peace and harmony. It’s all about the art of making Money and the art of War is just a synonym to it. We can only hope and pray that someday, somebody who we perceive as Allmighty and Omnipotent will intervene. Only then, will I hear the church bells ringing!
After graduating from a Catholic High School where we used to say prayers before and after each classes, I decided to attend a non-sectarian university where I finished my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. I thought I got tired of reciting the same prayers over and over again.
During my college years, I had met friends from various religious denominations and went to their places of worship out of curiosity and courtesy especially if the one who was inviting me, happened to be my girlfriend. Let me say that I was soul searching in that period of my life, because I considered myself as a lost soul--trying to find answers and seek the truth about God!
Everyone who approached me claimed that their religion is the original and first one on Earth, and would recite verses from their own version of the Bible as if I didn’t know. Of course, none of them was able to convert me from my known faith - Roman Catholic, since birth. But is my faith to my own religion still intact? I had my doubts, and still searching… asking for questions, but am I asking the right ones?
After the Catholic Church was plagued with various sex scandals, I totally lost faith in its hierarchy and stayed away from its structured form of prayers except for the Lord’s Prayer. I also didn’t like the idea that they keep on changing the tunes when they sing it; and they have different tunes from one town to another. To me that only shows divisiveness among the congregation.
As written in an article on “Child Sex Abuse” in Wikipedia:
"The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of Roman Catholic orders against children as young as 3 years old with the majority between the ages of 11 and 14. Child sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. The American Psychiatric Association states that "children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults," and condemns any such action by an adult as "a criminal and immoral act which never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior." These cases included sodomy, and oral penetration, and there have been criminal prosecutions of the abusers and civil lawsuits against the church's dioceses and parishes. Many of the cases span several decades and are brought forward years after the abuse occurred.
In the Philippines where as of 2002 at least 85% of the population is Catholic, the revelations of sexual abuse by priests, including child sexual abuse, followed the United States' reporting in 2002. Of the Catholic sexual abuse cases in Latin America the most famous is arguably of the sexual scandal of Father Marcial Maciel, the leader of the Legion of Christ, a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. This occurred after the Legion spent more than a decade denying allegations and criticizing the victims who claimed abuse. In Tanzania, Father Kit Cunningham together with three other priests were exposed as paedophiles after Cunningham's death. The abuse took place in the 1960s but was only publicly revealed in 2011, largely through a BBC documentary. Church officials and academics knowledgeable about the Third World Roman Catholic Church, say that sexual abuse by clergy is generally not discussed, and thus is difficult to measure. This may be due in part to the more hierarchical structure of the Church in Third World countries, the "psychological health" of clergy in those regions, and because third word media, legal systems and public culture are not as apt to thoroughly discuss sexual abuse."
I felt I was betrayed after reading this and upon seeing the news on TV on almost a daily basis. If you were in my shoes, won’t you feel the same?
Although I lost my faith in my religion, I did not lost my faith in God. I still pray, but from the heart and with the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:18 Int'l. Standard Version (2008) “Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints.”
Somebody once told me that if Love reigns in my heart, chances are my prayers would be answered for God dwells among those who are in love. Somehow I could relate to this for after 43 long years, out of nowhere my childhood sweetheart and I found each other on Facebook. Back then, we loved each other without knowing what true love really was. We rekindled our old hearts and now we are about to get married. The people involved, the events that followed and the circumstances surrounding our relationship played an important role that led me to believe once more in the power of prayers.
But one may argue. How about those hungry and innocent children in some parts of Africa and in the Third World countries? Does your God simply ignore them even though they also have Love in their hearts? Does your God play favoritism just like your parents? These are questions I often ask myself as well. Honestly, I don’t really know the answer to those questions. Somebody might say, God works in many mysterious ways.
Most of the natural calamities such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires to name a few, were caused by mankind’s negligence, yet we blame God for every thing. Famine, wars and pestilence are never ending, and we thought somehow the government can do something to alleviate our pains and suffering if not totally put a stop to it.
Dream on my fellow deep thinkers and dreamers. As long as there is greed and corruption among us, we can never really live in peace and harmony. It’s all about the art of making Money and the art of War is just a synonym to it. We can only hope and pray that someday, somebody who we perceive as Allmighty and Omnipotent will intervene. Only then, will I hear the church bells ringing!
Anonymous
Is this a competition? Or simply a topic to discuss?
Religions Cane
Can you afford
to saunter
to the alter
and believe in everybodys lord
and look up to the witch hunter.
You see a young mother
take cover
innocent people
who adore their steeples ,aim in vain
to protect one another
the reality is there's always some nutter
who will kill your brother .
A mad planet and its mad countries
religious maniacs
who write coffin inscripted plaques
alongside their clockwork sentries .
A frown upon a nutter
who wants to put you down
in the dreaded red gutter
he grips a trigger
destruction drips
beneath an evil figure .
Do you really believe in a white beard
and that we'll be retrieved
reprieved , by it
and cleared
from this insane
domain
where upon which
we have been reared .
Do all these different beliefs
form definite relief .
Can they really bar your head .
and annul it
from osama and his madmen
with their guns
and their bullets
suicide bombers
preach their promise
behind a button then they push it
soldiers lie dead out on the province
as the public get all full of it .
A punctured body smashes through a river
a spirit kisses the shelled bed
friendly fire misses
on an aircraft carrier
we count the dead .
I just dont think we can all be saved
or get appraised
why multiple belief to be maimed
so much talk of promise lands
our daily bread
sporting the best brands
but
we all go dead .
I believe theres another plain
but does it have to be ruled
by a religious cane .
Religious Ways
Religious Ways
can't say I believe in them.
A bunch of
Ludicrous Minds
each trying to sway you to their side.
Each a fanatic to the
confines of their religion
Each seeking
Transcendence Eternal
If I were to say...
the closest I've come yet to being swayed
would be, to Christianity
BUT still;
not believing in a religion itself
is
Not to say that I do Not believe in God
because
I.
Do.
I feel like
Religion
is a consignment to humanity
Just another excuse for
prejudice against anyone
Not.
Like.
You.
Religious Ways
can't say I believe in them.
A bunch of
Ludicrous Minds
each trying to sway you to their side.
Each a fanatic to the
confines of their religion
Each seeking
Transcendence Eternal
If I were to say...
the closest I've come yet to being swayed
would be, to Christianity
BUT still;
not believing in a religion itself
is
Not to say that I do Not believe in God
because
I.
Do.
I feel like
Religion
is a consignment to humanity
Just another excuse for
prejudice against anyone
Not.
Like.
You.
Ehhh I don't know if I believe in anything, I just really enjoy fairytales.
Catholic Bitch
O Mary full of grace
Can you see my bloodied face
Hail Mary with no fear
Just trust her blade and watch it sear
I was dreaming of tyrants lives
I embraced they're ways and loved they're lies
I raped a child and closed my eyes
And awoke in need of my own demise
O Mary miss holy one
Why have I been beat and fucking shunned
O Mary I trusted you
He tested me but I failed through
I reside inside a book of sin
It accepted me and bound me in
I bleed more ink as I desend
Beyond the page satan begins
Do you hear me scream your name?
Look down on me with such fake shame
Well Mary fuck you to
I need no god like you do
Blasphemy has helped me see
The wretched lies that you believe
I do not care it's not for me
I'm so much more than herded sheep
Your holy mothers
Abomination
Her trusted lovers
Crucifiction
I'll never find my
Revelation
Cause who's to prove there's
Damnation
Prove me wrong
Catholic Bitch
O Mary full of grace
Can you see my bloodied face
Hail Mary with no fear
Just trust her blade and watch it sear
I was dreaming of tyrants lives
I embraced they're ways and loved they're lies
I raped a child and closed my eyes
And awoke in need of my own demise
O Mary miss holy one
Why have I been beat and fucking shunned
O Mary I trusted you
He tested me but I failed through
I reside inside a book of sin
It accepted me and bound me in
I bleed more ink as I desend
Beyond the page satan begins
Do you hear me scream your name?
Look down on me with such fake shame
Well Mary fuck you to
I need no god like you do
Blasphemy has helped me see
The wretched lies that you believe
I do not care it's not for me
I'm so much more than herded sheep
Your holy mothers
Abomination
Her trusted lovers
Crucifiction
I'll never find my
Revelation
Cause who's to prove there's
Damnation
Prove me wrong
Face it,
whether Christian,
Moslem or Jew,
INCEST
was OK
with
Big ol`
YOU KNOW WHO
Adam a Creation
Eve the first clone
you know...
hewn from her old man`s
flesh and bone
Abel and Cain
Well before
the former was slain
these dudes had kids, family lives
from whence came their wives?
Our Bible is Rated X
Between the lines
its absolutely filthy
it`s where Rabbis
love to flex
their minds
gives `em more delight
than sleepin with their
expensively wigged brides
Priests love
pourin over scripture
just as close and tight
Im too polite
to suggest
the various urges
they might overide
Ministers?
I apologize to the throngs
but I gotta be honest
to me
they always seem like
they are makin stuff up
as they're goin along
Thats right
hidden in plain sight
implied
by THE MOST HIGH
through Moses' write
Incest
is the slippery
genetic slope
We all ride
and slide
alike
We are All
the Descendants of ADAM
well hot Damn
Madame
that means
You and I
are related
on BOTH sides
what?
that gets you excited?
ewwwwwwwww
anyways
look at this
Unholy Hole
of a mess
generation pon generation
of inbreds
scratching our hairy meatheads
tryin to make sense
of Creation immense
and every kid
that pops out next
equipt even less
to navigate
Commandments
on ancient Parchments
cause our precious
childrens genes
are watered down
-----more than
a destitute family's
rice and beans
----more than the
buyers portion
cut by a Junkie
-----more than
Holy interpretations
shared on Saturday and Sunday
Do You believe this?
I dont either
thats why I look
way beyond "The Book"
I listen
way beyond it`s readers
No, it aint so easy
aint so clear
but lets proceed
with no fear
and maybe we`ll
Discover
embedded
within US
the true Intent
of HIM
of HER
whether Christian,
Moslem or Jew,
INCEST
was OK
with
Big ol`
YOU KNOW WHO
Adam a Creation
Eve the first clone
you know...
hewn from her old man`s
flesh and bone
Abel and Cain
Well before
the former was slain
these dudes had kids, family lives
from whence came their wives?
Our Bible is Rated X
Between the lines
its absolutely filthy
it`s where Rabbis
love to flex
their minds
gives `em more delight
than sleepin with their
expensively wigged brides
Priests love
pourin over scripture
just as close and tight
Im too polite
to suggest
the various urges
they might overide
Ministers?
I apologize to the throngs
but I gotta be honest
to me
they always seem like
they are makin stuff up
as they're goin along
Thats right
hidden in plain sight
implied
by THE MOST HIGH
through Moses' write
Incest
is the slippery
genetic slope
We all ride
and slide
alike
We are All
the Descendants of ADAM
well hot Damn
Madame
that means
You and I
are related
on BOTH sides
what?
that gets you excited?
ewwwwwwwww
anyways
look at this
Unholy Hole
of a mess
generation pon generation
of inbreds
scratching our hairy meatheads
tryin to make sense
of Creation immense
and every kid
that pops out next
equipt even less
to navigate
Commandments
on ancient Parchments
cause our precious
childrens genes
are watered down
-----more than
a destitute family's
rice and beans
----more than the
buyers portion
cut by a Junkie
-----more than
Holy interpretations
shared on Saturday and Sunday
Do You believe this?
I dont either
thats why I look
way beyond "The Book"
I listen
way beyond it`s readers
No, it aint so easy
aint so clear
but lets proceed
with no fear
and maybe we`ll
Discover
embedded
within US
the true Intent
of HIM
of HER
Jesus was a Jew
so ya hate yerself too
dont you?
dont you?
HE was circumsized
take a look between yo thighs
gonna call
a surgeon soon?
John the Baptist's Brew
When he dipped `em in the Stew
was his mommas Chicken soup
with a Matzah ball or two
Jesus never wed
has a woman shared your bed?
you accept
her gifts of head?
I surely do
but yo,
I`m OLD school
Old Testament
Shul
It makes good sense that Matt
wore a teeny beanie hat
cause he collected tax
most can wrap their minds `round THAT
Bartholemew a Jew
all the rest Apostles too
Phil, Tim, Jim and Luke
Last Seder was no fluke
reclined as they recalled
dipped parsley in the salt
winced when ate moror
who asked the Questions Four?
of all these Holy Men
who washed first as Kohen?
who found the afikomen
hid by Mary Magdaline?
Yeah Jesus was a Jew
never hate yourself too
shame and guilt the poisoned fruit
give em both the boot
as we clear our heads
theres those easier to dread
they got plenty of street cred
hate the Children of Mohammed
so ya hate yerself too
dont you?
dont you?
HE was circumsized
take a look between yo thighs
gonna call
a surgeon soon?
John the Baptist's Brew
When he dipped `em in the Stew
was his mommas Chicken soup
with a Matzah ball or two
Jesus never wed
has a woman shared your bed?
you accept
her gifts of head?
I surely do
but yo,
I`m OLD school
Old Testament
Shul
It makes good sense that Matt
wore a teeny beanie hat
cause he collected tax
most can wrap their minds `round THAT
Bartholemew a Jew
all the rest Apostles too
Phil, Tim, Jim and Luke
Last Seder was no fluke
reclined as they recalled
dipped parsley in the salt
winced when ate moror
who asked the Questions Four?
of all these Holy Men
who washed first as Kohen?
who found the afikomen
hid by Mary Magdaline?
Yeah Jesus was a Jew
never hate yourself too
shame and guilt the poisoned fruit
give em both the boot
as we clear our heads
theres those easier to dread
they got plenty of street cred
hate the Children of Mohammed
insignificant
monuments
damning
documents
temporary
occupants
propped
by syncophants
caught with
pants down
parched media
drowns
as men in gowns
flex frowns
in decisions
soon bound
tome-entombed
libraries
well guarded
arteries
flow blood
of country
decieving
gentry
century
twenty one
peer pressured
guns
set on kill
not stun
shrivel free-will
through man-ipulated Son
monuments
damning
documents
temporary
occupants
propped
by syncophants
caught with
pants down
parched media
drowns
as men in gowns
flex frowns
in decisions
soon bound
tome-entombed
libraries
well guarded
arteries
flow blood
of country
decieving
gentry
century
twenty one
peer pressured
guns
set on kill
not stun
shrivel free-will
through man-ipulated Son
The Great Cosmic Jokester
Are we just a joke
created by a Bloke
to satisfy some need
by planting the seed
of greed
of hate
of suffering
of a fate
not for us to make
but just to participate?
Does He sit on His throne
in a kingdom grown
using ignorance and fear
through those who give ear
and points
and stomps
and laughs
and romps through
time immemorial
causing chaos deplorable?
And while slapping His knee
we all pray to He
calling for help
like a beaten whelp
we sing
we cry
we beg
we just... d..i..e -
(sigh)
When the laughter is done
and He's had all his fun,
will He clean up His mess
or go off and play chess
'til His funnybone needs to be sprung?
Are we just a joke
created by a Bloke
to satisfy some need
by planting the seed
of greed
of hate
of suffering
of a fate
not for us to make
but just to participate?
Does He sit on His throne
in a kingdom grown
using ignorance and fear
through those who give ear
and points
and stomps
and laughs
and romps through
time immemorial
causing chaos deplorable?
And while slapping His knee
we all pray to He
calling for help
like a beaten whelp
we sing
we cry
we beg
we just... d..i..e -
(sigh)
When the laughter is done
and He's had all his fun,
will He clean up His mess
or go off and play chess
'til His funnybone needs to be sprung?
I Would Rather be a Heathen
I would rather be a Heathen
and live life in the present,
than be religious and live in
fear of the past.
I would rather be a Heathen
and gaze at a bird - wings
outstretched and soaring free,
than gawk at a lifeless man,
arms splayed and impaled to
a dead tree.
I would rather be a Heathen
and listen to the soothing voices
of brooks and breezes,
than pay heed to a self-proclaimed,
self-righteous, arrogant orator
of superstitious rhetoric.
I would rather be a Heathen
with an open mind towards
diverse ideas and customs,
than be locked in the pages
of stale stories and traditions.
I would rather be a Heathen -
a tiger strolling through
life's jungle, accepting the path
the Universe presents to me,
than a sheep eating from a trough,
long ago built by the Shephard
to manipulate His flocks' destiny.
Heathen, pagan, barbarian, heretic;
call me what you will. I am
alive and free; free from fear of what could be, and living
for all that is.
I would rather be a Heathen
and live life in the present,
than be religious and live in
fear of the past.
I would rather be a Heathen
and gaze at a bird - wings
outstretched and soaring free,
than gawk at a lifeless man,
arms splayed and impaled to
a dead tree.
I would rather be a Heathen
and listen to the soothing voices
of brooks and breezes,
than pay heed to a self-proclaimed,
self-righteous, arrogant orator
of superstitious rhetoric.
I would rather be a Heathen
with an open mind towards
diverse ideas and customs,
than be locked in the pages
of stale stories and traditions.
I would rather be a Heathen -
a tiger strolling through
life's jungle, accepting the path
the Universe presents to me,
than a sheep eating from a trough,
long ago built by the Shephard
to manipulate His flocks' destiny.
Heathen, pagan, barbarian, heretic;
call me what you will. I am
alive and free; free from fear of what could be, and living
for all that is.
