Sermon (a rhyming rant at Catholics and Christians)

You show up on Sunday to cover your back
You drop to your knees, as you genuflect
I don't believe your heart is really in it
It's only insurance to you, you self-righteous hypocrite

You live as a Christian only one day in seven
You believe that's enough to get you to heaven
Yeah, you think that you've got it made
Because you dropped an extra dollar in the offering tray

I see you standing there with a tired look
Lip-syncing hymns, having never cracked the holy book
I don't mean to test your faith or cause you distress
You should send your prayers to the right address

Shouldn't you be praying directly to God
Instead of petitioning saints or His mom
I believe one should go straight to the top
I'm sure He will pass all your requests on

Because we live in an open society
It seems there is one God for you and another for me
Praying to angels, saints and other deities is false idolatry
There is only one light that any of us will ever see

I don't see visions in the bark of a tree
Mildew stains turning into Mother Mary
You say I don't see because I don't believe
I say you see because you are lost and need to see

Organized religion was created to control
Only a political business, not here to save your soul
I believe one should follow the goodness in the heart
God has a plan for all and we will all play our parts

Many men have murdered claiming it was God's will
But wasn't it God that gave the law, "Thou shalt not kill"
Those who do the slaughter sacrificed their honor for pride
This is the reason that, in His name, so many millions have died

Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and the Christ killing Jews
Are damned because they don't believe the same as you do
You say, on heaven's gate there is a sign
It reads "For Christians Only"; all others go to hell, so get in line

The first shall be last, the last shall be first
You can torture and murder every being on the face of the earth
On your death bed, with your last breath, you repent
Through the pearly gates you are immediately sent

While the person who lives his life just like he should
Does nobody any harm and all of his works are good
He will suffer and burn in hell for all eternity
All because he does not believe in Christianity

Nature is full of God and his complexities
The rain falls on the good, the evil, you and me
The golden rule is the only way to be
I will treat you the way I want you to treat me

Follow that one rule and no commandments would ever be broken
There would be peace on earth; no lies would ever be spoken
But this is a dream that will never ever be
For we are only humans and our hearts overflow with lust and greed

We all do what we must do each day to get us through
Every morning I say, today, I will try to follow that golden rule
Well, that is my philosophy and my point of view
And in the end, we will all be revealed the truth

©1998 by steve giacomini

More comments:

• On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, Wiccad (76) wrote:
  
  I have to agree, everyone is entitled to their opinions and I concur. We all need a wake up call when it comes to tolerance of beliefs. Good work.
  
  
• On Monday, November 23, 2009, emogirl13 (12) wrote:
  
  i am a practicing catholic and have been since i was born, but i must admit that this poem is absolutely incredible.everything was perfect.
  
  
• A former member wrote: I'm a Christian, and I do like this poem. I agree with many of the points made about organized religion, Christ never intended the church to be so legalized and full of crap... I think I will read this to my church at some point...
  
  
• On Sunday, March 8, 2009, Prophint (23) wrote:
  
  I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I agree with your points, but it's kind of...weak. Not bad just weak. I think your other works are way better.
  
  
• On Sunday, April 27, 2008, sixsixnine (578) wrote:
  
  too bad this isn't what they preach or discuss. i guess god left that part to us. thank you for sharing this.
  
  
• On Thursday, January 17, 2008, Winter Born (205) wrote:
  
  Before i read this i thought Kevin Smith told my beliefs perfectly..."Jesus always said that people took a good idea and ruined it by building a faith around it..."
  
  
• On Thursday, January 17, 2008, Winter Born (205) wrote:
  
  So Faved...
  
  
• On Sunday, January 13, 2008, Distorted_Reality (143) wrote:
  
  I of course agree strongly with this. You make so many valid points. I didn't really like the flow too much though...it seemed to trip up a lot...*shrugs* maybe I just read it wrong...but it was a fantastic write nonetheless :)
  
  
• A former member wrote: i'm Catholic but i never pray to saints and idols. i don't believe in that. i'd rather stare out into nothing and pray. great write.. opened my mind a bit..
  
  
• On Thursday, May 31, 2007, Spiral Downward (412) wrote:
  
  This Was Totally AMAZING! I Share Many Of The Views Here! Whats Most Puzzling About The Mystery There Is The Outline You Laid Out Is Based Entirely On Common Sense, Therefore Everyone Should Follow It, But NO! I Especially Love The Part: Many men have mur
  
  
• On Wednesday, July 12, 2006, ApathysKiss (426) wrote:
  
  before reading this i was bracing myself for another judgmental anti-christ blabber, but i'm glad the content was otherwise, the flaws of organised religion. thanks for this.
  
  
• A former member wrote: WOW dang you took the words right out of my mouth. But im christian but im an adventist and i believe that were not perfect and He doesnt expect us to be but we can at least try i mean who really wants to go hell anyway.
  
  
• A former member wrote: How can we get that on television? The controversy alone would benefit us all in the end, I think.
  
  
• A former member wrote: 'ditto to he dude below me. thank you-silver
  
  
• On Tuesday, March 21, 2006, Moodswing (70) wrote:
  
  speaking as a christian, i am ashamed of the way most self proclaimed believers portray our kind, and in truth there great honesty and reality in your words, if only more people would practice this philosophy true Christ like love would exist
  
  
• A former member wrote: all christians should read this before they try to push their religion on other people. great poem
  
  
• On Monday, November 14, 2005, Nail Bunny (187) wrote:
  
  interesting... some very good points, but i take slight offence to some of the over-generalizations... but that's the point, isn't it? I suppose we can argue the point more in the line for the afterlife...
  
  
• A former member wrote: wow i am a christian and i lov this poem its so honest and real
  
  
• On Monday, June 13, 2005, Mahakala (235) wrote:
  
  I totally agree with you...great write.