Separation of Church and State?
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It never fails to amaze me and enrage me how much religion rules the world and the very laws of our Nation.
I am not an Athiest, by the way. I just feel that I have a right to my own beliefs and should not have them dictated to me by a government...ANY government...yet even in our "democratic" society, God Rules.
I am not an Athiest, by the way. I just feel that I have a right to my own beliefs and should not have them dictated to me by a government...ANY government...yet even in our "democratic" society, God Rules.
Separation of Church and State?
We pledge allegiance to a Nation Under God And swear upon Bibles edged with gold We join in Holy Matrimony Unless we are gay, we're told Laws are passed based upon moral ground Nations take God into War Our currency trusts in the Sacred One But that's the least of the Irony, by far We vow in our court-rooms "So help me, God" While churches pay no taxes (I still think that quite odd) Religious holidays, by law, are vacations-paid On Sundays there is no mail Child-molestors get transferred to another Arch-Diocese Instaid of going to Jail... While the Pope's slumped shoulders Bear the weight of his gold, bejeweled crown Beggars line the streets And the pagans drown A woman can't be a Priest But the Priest wears a gown? When will this world turn around? |
Submitted on 2006-07-07 09:44:14 Terms of Service / Copyright Rules
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Well, I can't say much, except that your poem definitely hits the nail's head in exposing the hypocrisy of a supposedly completely nonsectarian government. The only thing I'd like to respond to is your puzzlement over tax laws concerning religion. It might seem a little obtruse now, but our nation was founded in order to promote religious freedom, and tax brackets, etc, would discriminate the big religions from the small ones, regardless of how hard we tried to equalize the duties, plus the state would be legally bound to the religions, and that's potentially a very bad thing. Besides, the promotion of religion can be a very good thing for a society, even from a completely objective standpoint. Mainstream religion is probably second only to public education in mass promotion of morality, good citizenship, and public welfare. Just like everything else, it's partly designed to further the interest of the state, even if it's technically separated from the state. I think I've rambled enough. Good work.| | Posted on 2006-07-08 00:00:00 | by Aaron Felix | [ Reply to This ] | you make some very valid points in this piece. | i went to bible college for a year back in 2004 and took a church history paper and there were some moments in that class where i wasnt so sure i wanted to be proud of my christian faith at all when i learnt of some of the corruption throughout the history of the church. i think the merging of church and state by constantine in 318AD was prolly where everything went wrong both for the church and state... not necessarily quick enough for it be noticed immediately but looking back now it was prolly the worst decision either party made... now im realising that this is a hit at the US and stack of ironies with which God and State are sposed to work together but dont... expressing the ideal and then the reality... you mention god and wars... i have had many conversations over the years about how all wars are faught over religion but well... i dont think thats gods fault necessarily. men have distorted and contorted god to where and what they want him to be soo they benefit from him most... wars in the name of god... crap! in god we trust is on the US dollar and i always thought that to be cool since we dont have anything like that on our money but... im starting to wonder whether the money is god and thats wehre the trust is... anyways... im blathering... this is a very sharp piece and you do make some very valid and pointed statements. maybe a great divorce is needed... who knows... | Posted on 2006-08-21 00:00:00 | by Someones Epiphany | [ Reply to This ] | This World has already turned around | God has blessed us all with a beautiful life and many beautiful gifts such as Nature and the beautiful gift of Life God never promissed us eternal bliss on Earth We as a nation Earth were given that at the time of inception but over time man made negativity has destroyed this beautiful gift If it wasnt for the Good Lords Love we as a nation would have been gone a long time ago I Pray you will open your Heart and let in a little of his love to enjoy life more Trust me I was once like you and now I have never been happier in my Life God Bless Ron | Posted on 2006-07-07 00:00:00 | by Ronswords | [ Reply to This ] | I dare say, we humans are terribly flawed, | Your poem suggests, Dear, that we need more God. For laws merely point out the sins we commit, and do not prevent us from sinning one bit. Where faith is concerned government plays no part. For grace, love, and mercy all flow from the heart. Religion was not God's idea, atthe tree? God wants us to love and obey, you see | Posted on 2006-07-07 00:00:00 | by The Gadfly | [ Reply to This ] | Wow! you nailed it right to the cross. And what about the bible. Supposed to have been inspired by god himself. It's got more errors and contraditions in it than any other book on the planet. If god wrote it, then god is a piss poor author who fuc-ked it up. But then, maybe the Devil threw it together. Maybe he intentionally made it so confusing that even two friends who read it together would argue over their own interpretation and fight about it. Multiply that by the millions upon millions who have read it down through the ages. Each interpretating it in their own way, what would that lead to? divisiveness. Among countries, against others religious beliefs, against neighbors, family, friends, and too many more to mention. What would that cause? Wars, inquisitions, genocide, gay bashing, and a host of other nasty things. I'm betting the devil did write it, and probably considers it his masterpiece. To give the devil his due, I'd say he's right. Awesome piece. | | Posted on 2006-07-17 00:00:00 | by junemarie | [ Reply to This ] | Ahh, I feel your emotions entirely with this piece of yours. I just commented on a prose-piece much like this, but yours goes a lot more in-depth, giving examples-- the last four lines before your last one is what I mean, and so biting and true. Almost funny that you say priests wear gowns... such irony. | It's so ingrained in our psyche, yet a lot of people don't go to church... but then we don't complain about the paid holidays given to us by the goverment-- a double standard? Totally, but that's the way it goes unfortunately. Not much else to say except I agree with you wholeheartedly. I appreciate thoughtful pieces like this. Peace,  Jase | Posted on 2006-07-07 00:00:00 | by alteredlife | [ Reply to This ] | |
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