Asshole Gods

if your church
is an open-minded welcoming community
That understands the US Constitution
is not a religious decree
if you welcome LBGTQ members
don't cherry pick the bible
practice compassion and kindness
-even to those different from you-
you likely worship a benevolent god
and that's awesome

however

if you don't care how many school children die
to uphold your 2nd amendment rights
if you spout absurdly ill-considered cliches
like 'guns don't kill people'
when the 20 million assault rifles in america
are clearly doing just that
to countless school children and teachers
to concert crowds
to Subway employees who apply mayonnaise incorrectly
if you delude yourself into believing
other countries have as many school shootings
{FACT: they don't- it's called sensible gun control laws...}
-and if sending thoughts and prayers (aww)
suffices to purify your soul
congratulations
you worship an asshole god

if you are a fetus hugger
all pro-birth but throw em to the wolves once born
if you care nothing for endangering women
or raped 13 year old girls
(different when it's your daughter, isn't it?)
-and don't even consider-
that men have a role in preganancy
you pledge blind indoctrinated allegiance
to an asshole god
shame on you

if your god demands
the waging of holy war
committing unfathomably savage acts of inhumanity
killing the mothers and fathers of young children
killing the children themselves
in the name of religion
if holy war is not the ultimate oxymoron to you
your religion sucks balls
and your god is an asshole

if you believe a preacher
should be exonerated  
for the crime of raping a young girl
because he's a man of god (????)
your god is a dangerous amoral idiot
and so are you

if you dwell on your rights
not responsibilities
if your morality
dictates drinking and driving
as not a problem
unless you are caught
you may not even be religious
but still
you worship an asshole god
and that asshole god
worships you

if you follow a god
through indoctrination alone
fancying yourself a land baron
of real estate in the sky
if you don't understand
that being told what to believe
is a paradox
your god is a narcissist
who values your worship
over your right to reason
so your god is kind of an asshole too


some of us are outside of the mainstream
we are atheists
agnostics
members of organized religions
or not
but we have one belief in common
we believe
belief
is belief
not fact
our morality
is not another's roadmap
but an internal compass
We hold beliefs loosely
and ethics tightly
and are happy to accept that the unknowable
is just that

 all we can do
In this crazy world
Is worship practical goals -not gods-
that empower and protect
ourselves and each other
becoming our best selves
practicing compassion toward all

even those who worship
asshole gods