I have never been religious,
although I have tried.
Religion is societies way of molding morals.
To me
it feels like being crammed into a warped mold.
No religion I have tried fit just right.

The history of religion shows that it is
based on ripped-off mythology
derived from long lost history,
manipulated and, twisted, again and again,
over the centuries,
to suit whatever warped ethics the religious leaders
desired.

Much can be learned about religion
from a comprehensive look
into our common human past.
Things become clear
when you learn the history of a planet,
not just one nation.
Moslems and Christians
use many of the same sources,
just altered to suit their regions.

Is belief in a god wrong then?
No, because the power of prayer is real,
it helps to mold the inner-self,
just be careful the mold shaped.

Should we burn the Bible and the Koran?
No!
A good story is passed on for a reason.
Even if changed to suit the manipulative sort,
hidden within all good stories are lessons learned.

Keep in mind though,
not all the rules in a Bible or Koran,
or any book,
are worth the trouble.
Religious books have in common
rules that are important.
The trick is to use common sense...
a difficult thing in a world of illusions,
careless lawmakers,
and false prophets.

I like to think
that we are all a part of a god far grander
than any religion claims.
A god far more rational and vastly omnipotent,
as well as omniscient.
A god smart enough to let us evolve on our own.

My god is not cruel,
my god does not cause wars
or think either side is right when they fight.
And there is no way God wants anyone to be killed.
God wants all things to live and learn
as best they can.

My god has a rule,
never interfere.
Neither God nor the Devil is responsible for our ills.
We do it to ourselves.
We should stop blaming others for our actions.

We are essentially on our own.
We make our future and our past.
It is up to all of us to make our own heavens.
Together as one,
we the people of this Earth can do great things.
We just need to get along
and stop fighting each other.

God gave us life on a beautiful planet
in a wondrous universe,
why are we wasting it on greed and strife?
It is time we changed things.
Take the power away from those who abuse it.
Vote out those who thirst for power and vengeance.
Vote for those who are well educated and still care...
if such persons can be found running for office.

 

By Michael A. Crane, Jr.
Original Version: November 29, 2002
Version 5: January 1, 2004
Some stanzas adjusted for consistency across devices: June 24, 2019
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