Thank God (For The Devil)

before starting
my church
i asked for advice

i wanted to avoid
sins of organized religion
so i asked an expert

someone
with
no conflict-of-interest

no vested interests
in any particular
belief system

an observer
who’s been around
for many years

a witness
to the good
the bad the ugly

a skilled consultant
was surprisingly
easy to find

climbed into
the elevator
pushed the button for ‘hell’

no appointment necessary
he was friendly charming
with loads of weird ideas

on his recommendations
the foundation
was built

in my church
if you’re human
you’re welcome

in my church
we don’t exclude people
who look think or act differently

in my church
there are no
slaves

in my church
there are no
crusades

in my church
there are no
jihads

in my church
there is no
genocide

in my church
there is no such thing as
a holy war

in my church
there are no sacrifices
(human or animal)

in my church
there are no
witch hunts

in my church
we believe in
informed consent

in my church
there are no circumcisions
(genital mutilations)

in my church
people can make choices
about their own bodies

in my church
there are no clergy
selling salvation

in my church
there are no
inquisitions

in my church
wealth is not hidden
in banks or real estate

in my church
donations are shared
with the needy

in my church
we don’t condone
pedophile priests

in my church
we don’t ‘kill the indian
to save the man’

in my church
there is no brainwashing
no shaming

in my church
there are no
exorcists

in my church
there are no
heretics

in my church
there are many questions
few mysteries

in my church
there is not
‘one true path’

in my church
scripture is accepted as allegorical
and emotional (not factual)

in my church
we value science
and logic

in my church
there are no sins
only lessons

in my church
authority rests
within the individual

before starting
my church
i asked for advice

which resulted in
a pretty strong
foundation

my church
doesn’t recognize
gods or demons

but to turn a phrase
you might say
‘the devil made me do it’

(C)2023 Raibeart Bruis