GOD? March 1996
I believe in God?
This God has no conscience
This we know
Witness it’s abnegation of responsibility
For what goes wrong
I believe in God?
This God has no feelings
This we know
Witness it’s impassivity to senseless pain
And unnecessary misery
I believe in God?
This God has no just intent
This we know
Witness it’s indifference
When the bullies win the day
I believe in God?
This God knows nothing of our being
This we know
This God that started life, supposedly,
Died long ago
I hear on the news that less than 50% of the Welsh and English population classify themselves as Christians; and over a third of the population state they are Atheists, or Agnostics. To be honest, I’m surprised that there are as many believers as there are. When I was young I made the naive assumption that the myth of a godhead would die a natural death; and would be a rarity by now.
I understood that primitive mankind used gods to explain their own very existence. As they experienced the changing seasons, climatic events and their dawning realization of the world about them, their imagination supplemented their lack of knowledge with fantastical creatures; gods with human frailties and strengths; who influenced human lives with godly decisions, that mirrored the emotions and assumptions of the humans below.
I have stood in a beautiful cathedral and felt the uplift of spirit produced from man made structures of soaring stone, embellished with glittering coloured glass windows, with statues and icons, and brilliant acoustics. Some religious music, especially carols and choirs, please me as much as any true believer. Religion has also been a prime mover in the inspiration of works of art and music. The first scholars and scribes were mainly developed from a religious base; producing jewel like scripts of religious works.
I am not aware that I ever had a ‘belief’. Somebody once asked me, in a caring and sorrowful voice, “when did you stop believing in God”? to which I replied, without hesitation, “When did you start”? Apart from not understanding how modern society can still adhere to Theism, despite all the evidence to the opposite view, I have never judged others who are not of my persuasion. Which is more than can be said for most believers of many religions.
Through the ages religions have instigated repression, torture, wars, and misery. The best that can be said of them is they provide a prop; a moral compass for how we choose to live our lives. But they are not a necessity to accomplish this. In fact, my belief is that, if you can live your life with independent beliefs and rules; no killing, no stealing, respecting all other life, even if it is different to yours, I think that you have a stronger base for fairer living and human values; with no need to fall back on a religion to excuse your sins.
And, finally, another reminder of the past; I read that Janusz Walus, the assassin who shot dead Chris Hani in 1993, has himself been stabbed in prison, while awaiting release on parole. Chris Hani was a leading opponent of South Africa’s Apartheid government. His death must have made an impression on me, as it instigated this poem, after viewing television footage of an interview with a member of the Apartheid movement.
THE PAUSE April 1993
He was asked
“Do you salute this man; he who has shot and murdered Chris Hani?”
The podgy blonde fundamentalist, strapped into his khaki uniform
Gazed impassively back
“Do you agree with what he has done? Do you support him?”
He paused; a long, considered pause
He cleared his throat “I do” he said
But, for those few, long seconds
Did he know that he was wrong?
agree with every word about religion. I too assumed it would all just fade away.
as to the interview – how significant pauses can be!
I agree with the ideas expressed in your poem about a god, but it should be added that an afterlife was also introduced to console the living, particularly children, after the death of a loved one. And if there is a hell then god is probably there too because his company, ‘Father, Son & Co.’ is guilty of huge mismanagement of their earth project. I align myself more with buddhism because I like the idea of a universal energy and the cycle of life, even if it’s only compost.
I think what you mean is, that an afterlife was hoped for and imagined! And, yes the obvious mismanagement of our earth is handily blamed on a non existent entity; Mr or Mrs Nobody maybe!
I think this is your most interesting post yet -.perhaps because it is is angry. But I think the belief in a supernatural being is very deeply ingrained in the human mind. I think it has always been a way to try to get luck on our side. To have the self confidence to face dangers – and they are always there, however safe and secure our modern , comfortable lives may seem – we have needed to feel there is a powerful god on our side. I think about how the utterly downtrodden and enslaved, have embraced a fervent Christianity – there is no doubt that their faith helped them.
Was I angry? I don’t think that is an accurate description; disheartened and disillusioned would be more accurate. But I don’t deride the comfort that any faith can provide; or the genuine good that sincerely good people of faith have done, and are still doing; just the need to base moral and humane values on an unnecessary godhead.