Christians are creepy

Hey you, The message guaranteed to cause controversy...I can see your point of view but don't necessarily subscribe to your delivery of the message, but will defend your right to say it. Now...about redheads....I am one...I resemble that remark!...grrrrrrrrrrr Bad elf...you need a slap! Ells x

To comment or not is the question..... However, I will say Christians are only as good or as bad as they *got* the message... as are Muslims, Jews, Atheists, Pagans, Buddhists, Daoists, etc. IMO, Christ would never be a Christian. Nor would Buddha be a Buddhist. Their teachings have been bastardized and this is nothing against red-headed step-children, as it were. I stand with all red-headed stepchildren of a fictional God. ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles

its a shame we have to pigeon hole people who are diverse to us, because its not the individual, but the group that is the problem

and ignore all things religious, and childish. Regars Roscoe..

which is the problem I have, people need to be more autonomous and keep proactive spirits. I find red heads and some Middle Easterners very attractive, especially red heads. I can't speak the same for any of the other parties mentioned. I am not compatible with most religions and have felt some of what you've stated here, but I say to each their own. Religion can be positive and there are some that try to become better people with it. I think if God existed he'd be pretty pissed that some people would need to depend on his existence to make the efforts to live good lives. For some people religion is a crutch, when really they should have more faith in life and their innerselves to know that honesty and reciprocity is worth it, deity or no deity. I walk my own path, and as long as no one tries to convert me to their religious agenda I'm cool with whatever they choose to do as long as they don't involve me in it. BUT I know the feeling, I get very angry when I hear my family talk about the end times and other apocalyptic scenarios. I do not like that it tries to quantify, discredit, and almost completely ban the powers and pulls of sexuality. Sexuality is so deeply engrained into the psyche that trying to put down rules to completely dominate how appropriate or sinful sexuality is can be very unhealthy. god says I can't kiss girls. god said it was okay to cast stones at women that didn't keep their skin concealed by clothing or who didn't show signs of being a virgin on a wedding night. god decided to smite a man in the bible that decided to try and not impregnate his wife during intercourse, by casting his seed toward the ground, probably because it seemed to defeat the only probable Christian argument for sex: reproduction... That is creepy. That god said a lot of things, what a moody guy... There are times when I don't like religion period, but generally I don't care what others choose and extend respect as long as they are reasonable. Anyway, stepping away from content and entering into context this is both a sarcastic and serious piece. Trying my shot at critiquing since you checked that you want the raw truth, some of your lines are very prose like and I don't connect with the ending but I get the hint that may be intentional and your choice in style and voice. All religions suck very badly, is prose like to me and could be improved with more expressive words but if that is your choice in style keep it by all means. I am worried of encouraging someone to give up their style with a critique, not that I think that would happen with you, but its the biggest barrier I have to critiquing people online. (I critique fully with other writers that I have rapport with in person) The ending could be reworded or threaded in with more to me fucked up and stupid seems like a simple blanket phrase but could work well with a line or two after it to expand on it or possibly arranging the lines in a different order. "Leading perhaps to dance not in abandon, sexualise not" Loved that. I can tell their is a lot of thought and emotion behind that, very charged up piece, well done.

It is the religious fanatics that scare the sh!t out of me. Always, Cat

i like these lines jess The only truth is investigating all beliefs and making your own choices. but remember, we're all at our own stage of growth. love judy

well i understand your point of view, i do believe that women should be able to choose if they want a abortion or not, i mean come on its there own body, no one elses...now saying that all religious people r stupic, i disagree with..now religion does not define who u r, i am religious, i believe in god but i am not stupid, mother teresa was not stupid.so u might just want to refrase what exact religious people u find stupid. mandyboo

I think we all have our own take on religion and it is quite healthy to question, have an opinion and say, without conflict from others. I read your words and it made me think of a case in Sydney that was never advertised, I cannot tell u how I know or what it was about, but through the defense of religion, a father tried to avoid jail. He did not. We could all write of things pertaining to religion, in beliefs or non, but we would be on your page all day. This topic should not be taboo, we all have our own thoughts and I give you credit for sharing yours. Lyz. XX

As you know I have my own beliefs .. never actually said what my beliefs are here because they are just that, mine ... but I do get freaked out by people trying to convert my way of thinking ... in my opinion thats saying my ideas of faith are wrong ... wonder what they would say if I did the same to them ?? I would be a blasphemer or sinner or the antichrist... the circle of debate has been going round for millienia I am happy to live and let live as long as they dont shove their dogma down my throat love and hugs Jayne

it's his fan club I don't like. Jess, I had a pastor once who would get up and preach every Sunday about how all the sinners were going to Hell. He would always come back to the example of the people who went out to the clubs and strip bars on Saturday nights and then went to church on Sunday like they hadn't just been out drinking and watching naked woman dance on poles. You see, he wouldn't have known anyone was out at the bar last night if he himself hadn't been there too! But of course, he was a preacher and he was exempt from damnation because of it. Hypocrisy and self-righteousness are some of the big things that drove me from organized religion. Kelsey PS: Creepy redheads are the best kind.

that is so sad. abortions are definitely are necessary at times and surely for rape. thats so sad. "all religions suck badly." Very simply hilarious. I applaud you.

Just had to share this quote: "Everyone is as God made him, and many times worse." (Cervantes)

I am a little offended Jess.

The absolute truth is we live our lives according to what we beLIEve or not.... It takes only a moment to step outside of one's personal dogma of beLIEf (trust me, it's all beLIEfs until we speak from experiences) to see the illusions delusions that we keep close to us to somehow *insulate and protect* to *project* into the future: heaven or hell. (But heaven, of course, is only for *true* beLIEvers.) Sad state of human affairs we have created with our projections of false images of God, as it were. I KNOW that life is mystery. And I KNOW that I'll never KNOW the HOWS and the WHYS. That's why it's a mystery. Love, however, is not so mysterious; love, however, conquers all separations--all beLIEfs... into the beauty that is life, unconquerable and without second. The world as it is in 2010 is the result of what man has co-created with *God*. Shall we ever *grow up* as a species? ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles

Of course, Jess, beyond words and their usage there is only poetry. That includes anything, everything and nothing. Or so it would seem. Love speaks all languages. ~A "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." ~ A Course In Miracles

Are we debating poetry or religion, and are we a debating forum. Or are we above such silly cults like religion, being as it is just a way of life like any other. Ours is a way of life, we believe in the written, spoken word put to us in a certain way. So lets stop now if it's religion we're going on about, and not the way Jess chose to write his words.Debate the poetry. Regards Roscoe...

Not just Christians, all religions, their dogma makes no sense, causes shameful harm, sometimes female circumcision, Male circumcision is much more commonplace in religion, than female circumcision. It all concerns the non-consentual, physical manipulation of children's bodies to permanent effect. Why make it a feminist issue? Why not just 'sometimes circumcision'?

When a member of the AEC sees something they feel is a violation of the community guidelines, they are tasked with reminding participants to adhere to the guidelines. Those who take such reminders as personal attacks are being silly. If you believe the AEC has missed a rules violation, report it. The AEC is charged with review and determination of instances and implementing any consequences. Individual members may not act as vigilantes. Such behaviour, when discovered, will be addressed. I would not have believed this was a difficult concept to understand. --Jonathan Annoying the world, one person at a time (Group discounts available)

(Angels and Demons) Great title Jess, pulled me on in. I think the average relegious Joe or Joanne means no harm, it is those oddities, those different or perverse (who as you and Whit.. say) ask to give up our power to something of their preference. The "church".. the so called middle men - duh... it was a film that openend my eyes (again) Mark Resilient Flexibility

I commend on the detailing to the poem and then the thereafter that follows scanning through in my hurry here so much in my life dishs to wash paper to read in a new chair upgraded (adventures with Charley and the Zen of Truck Restoration) ~Esker

You breach the imputious of Fundy, how content they are to take any chance to salvo other beliefs, or those without beliefs, only to cry " Respect, and tolerate our " right to religion". I read this as prose, but it works as such. Suggested reading Holysmoke.org/ tolerant My universe is sufficently awesome, without assigning a myth. In ink, David

inheirant directly to our species evoltution ( as religious moralist consistently do) is absurd. Humanity had tripped over religion in every century, only to be culled into indifference, to then be rudly reminded of the potential of fanatics, that florish, and thrive in their ranks.

Hey Jess, i like this one! I love God, but the baptist people really bother me.But its just the factor they think, i mean you they say drinking is sin: Jesus turned his blood into wine if im correct. They say no drinking, no lies, when yet the pastors brother cheated on his wife a few months back with the piano player at the church! But i dont go to church to deal with people + mines non demoninational so its just praise, not all out preaching. But good poem, i really like it. The abortion part is sad though. Go you Jess! Oh and i have to make a cmmnt to indi- Clime down from your mighty tower, cry a river, build a brigde, & get ovr it. Love and Spacemen, Adri [Bombing for peace is like Effing for virginity.]

Oh man, that is the meanest thing. On another note; hey I'll be a cave man ! On another note; 10,000 hehe just had to do it here LOOL Mark Resilient Flexibility

There is something to be said about summing things up in 100 words, I admire that. As poets sometimes as few words as possible is something to strive for. As irritated by the way "religious" people often practice I also appreciate the message of your poem. However, did you have to duke it out publicly with another member for pages, rather than in private messages? Still linked in ink Jhena

i think people should be free to believe whatever they want to believe, unless what they believe leads them to do harm to others. it's not what they believe it's how they go out into the world acting upon this belief. it's true that in the past religious leaders have used this as a form of slavery (maybe also in the present day). but that doesn't mean that belief is wrong. the factionalization of the beliefs can de dangerous as it creates barriers between people. people should be permmitted to say I believe and forget about how others go about doing it. if you don't well then that's your choice. it's not for us to tar the world with the same brush. it's the individual, the individual who commits crimes against humanity, the injdividual who brainwshes another into committing crimes ahgainst humanity. that doesn't make all christians wrong, or all muslims or budhists, or jews or whatever. belief in the spirit can be a very soul enriching practice. its where our love comes from. the man without a soul walks naked. I can't blame another christian for myown sins. I would never dream of forcing my beliefs onto another person. they are mine and they are precious to me, it would be as futile as forcing the lover to hate or vice versa. we must strive as human beings to be open minded to all lifestyles. sorry that's just what i think. as for that poor girl refused an abortion, it's her choice if she needed one she should have been alowed one, so long as the pregnancy was in its early stages. if that makes me an idiot than maybe thats what I am.

this is addressed to both Jess and Indi.ARE YOU BOTH CHILDREN ???name calling,bickering,character assassination.I've seen better behavior displayed by toddlers.I guess next it'll be"but he started it".BE ASHAMED.unbelieving....scribbler

Any blind adherence to any dogma whether religious or anti-religious is totally stupid. I have noticed that most who preach tolerance on both sides of the debate end up with none whatsoever. Religion has given us wars and virtual slavery that goes on even today. Anti religious fervor has given us wars and atrocities and virtual slavery that goes on even today. Zealotry, whether it is religious, scientific or just stupidly fanatic about an ideology is about as low as a person can sink. Now, about redheads. Would you please explain your reasoning to my wife behind locked doors. I promise you a decent funeral and will see that it is a closed casket. I wouldn't want anyone to see the mess that used to be you. *G* Respectfully, Rett: “Anyone who sacrifices liberty for security deserves neither.” Benjamin Franklin