Nature is my staff
Atheist Atom Symbol (Photo credit: WikipediaThe universe my rod
The Universe my rod
I find religion’s notion
Of what God is
To be odd
The first Gods were creations
By people who could see
That there are things far greater
Than them, or you, or me
These Gods – they represented
The “spirits” all around
The thunder, lightning, rainfall
Trees, fish, the sacred ground
The Aboriginal people
Thought these – and more – “divine”
Respected all their power
And took them as a sign
And somewhere in antiquity
Someone with big ideas
Thought if these engendered awe
They’d then engender fears
And so it came to pass
That someone else built on that plan
And shifted awe of nature
To awe of some “sky man”
No longer were the spirits
Of mountains and of trees
Revered as sacred beings
That brought men to their knees
Instead the temple priests
Who figured out the game
Co-opted all that well-placed fear
And misplaced it in “His” name
To them it stood to reason
That man held all dominion
And nature was ours to be used
In their learned opinion
And people could be pushed and pulled
As long as they “believe”
And from that moment it was truly
Easy to deceive
And so they wrote a Bible
And in it they averred
That God created everything
And it was made “the word”
And people having little
Education in that day
Were told that this is how “it” is
And “it” was underway
And Judeo-Christians learned that God
Made all in six long days
A mere ten thousand years ago
Well, God does have his ways
And yea, He did all that about
Ten thousand years ago
(Science shows we’re thirteen
Billion years of age or so)
But science cannot be believed
In matters of creation
Reason holds no sway
Over fiery conflagration
(This alone should be the hint
That God is mere device
To keep the thoughtless scared to death
Scared not to sacrifice)
Anyway –
At the same time God created Adam
And – as the story goes
Woman came from Adam’s rib –
And that was that – case closed
And verily, and yea we say
Thou shall not question why
Or think, or challenge any word
Of Him up in the sky
And he who lies with another he
And she who lies with she
Must be then all put to death
Leviticus two-oh-one-three
And owning slaves is okay ‘cause
The Good Book finds no fault
And Jonah lived inside a whale
And Lot’s wife turned to salt
And Bible folk say these tales are
Apocryphal – truth hidden
So gay folks needn’t worry
Fundamentalists are just kiddin’
And war? And murder? And man’s
Inhumanity to man?
These things are none of God’s affair
Have faith – He has a plan
Anyway –
So nature was by then a thing
Disposable to shape
To take from and despoil
To pillage and to rape
And yet I’ve never heard that “word”
Mine eyes have never seen
That glory – but I have seen lightning,
Mountains, grasses green
I’ve heard the ocean’s mighty roar
Seen the stars we spin amidst
Seen photos of our tiny planet
By the sun been kissed
I’ve seen the majestic elephant
The shark, the whale, the bee
Seen waterfalls and tiny buds
Walked deserts, dove the sea
I know each snowflake will be different
Throughout eternity
And within each grain of sand
A googolplex of mystery
There’s proof that I am made from
The big bang long ago
Those atoms that have never left
This universe we know
And when I need to speak with
Or worship the divine
I stand on holy Mother Earth
And look up at my shrine
In this matter Barking in the Dark in no way wishes to diminish anyone else’s belief system. I am merely stating my own.
© tony powers and Barking in the Dark, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to tony powers and Barking in the Dark with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Barking In The Dark 
2 long …
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Posted by walid ataya | September 30, 2012, 11:43 pmI especially enjoyed this very beautiful well expressed poem. For those that are like minded, it is wonderfully eloquent. For those not, it is provocative in a perfect manner so as to perhaps open a mind, cause a question. Bravo.
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Posted by lindakraus | May 22, 2012, 4:46 pmI so love this, Tony. So much. I am actually rather amazed at the number of atheists there are now. I have no idea of an actual number, but I see so many people who blog admit their atheism plus there are so many sites of such. Our numbers are growing as people come to realize and ACCEPT the truth. The bible is nothing more than a book of fiction used to maintain control over the masses. And the churches still attempt to do so – even more so.
However there is one passage in the bible which I do believe, “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19). So, when we pass we are nothing more than ashes to ashes and dust to dust – unless we’re pumped full of embalming fluid… then we just slow down the process.
I often hear Christians ask or comment that without the promise of eternal heaven (or hell) then for what reason would an atheist be “good”? Christians assume that if we do not believe in heaven then we will be evil and do whatever we please since we have no fear of damnation.
My response is always very simple and often shaming to a Christian. I explain that atheists are good people because that is what we want and choose to be without the promise of heaven. It is much more fulfilling to do so because it is what is right, not because a book or person at a pulpit tells us to do so. So invigorating!
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | May 20, 2012, 10:35 am@ Michelle and others,
Actually, I’m moved by Michelle’s comment to be a little contentious here. I don’t mean to start a big argument, but rather to try to clarify a couple of points for the record. I believe the bible is much more than a book of fiction. It is a diverse compilation of myths, accumulated lore, and in some cases a written record of actual events that has been edited for religious purposes by committees. I submit that it is also a fundamental early part of literacy for Western civilization, it being the primary reading material before the printing press. History could not be taught and understood without an understanding of and familiarity with the “good book”.
I would also argue with the statement that atheists are good people. Why should anyone doubt that some bad people are atheists too? Altruism, or the lack of it, can be explained biologically. My head just happens to be full of a book on the human condition I recently finished, “The Social Conquest of Earth” by Edward O. Wilson, an evolutionary biologist. It is his contention that the evolution of human beings is a matter of both genetics and social patterns, a matter of co-evolution. Thus, he says, it is understandable that humanity’s individual selfish nature is always in conflict with his tribal nature wherein cooperation is a survival trait. Incidentally, Wilson also says that religion will never resolve that dual nature.
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Posted by Jim Wheeler | May 20, 2012, 1:43 pmHi, Jim. You’re not starting an argument at all. You’ve presented your views in a respectable manner. No hate and no name-calling. Sadly, that is becoming rare these days – even in our Congress which is supposed to be filled with adults – but that’s another discussion and post….
Your description of the bible is a more detailed, accurate description of my “book of fiction.” I believe the same thing, “myths, lore, and some actual events (although with this I believe anything actual is not much more than name and location).
In regards to me “atheists are good people”…. There are no absolutes in life. Of course there are horrid people who are atheists, and the whole run of the spectrum on how we judge people. My point of emphasis here is merely that many Christians preach that atheism is evil and those of us who do not believe in god must be evil as well.
But I will note that every atheist I have personally known has a much higher set of morals and integrity than many of those I know who “live by the word of the bible.” Naturally I have not met every atheist, but I know quite a few. I actually find the number I personally know to be somewhat heartening in the fact that there are more who have “seen the light” (sorry, couldn’t resist) than I used to think.
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | May 20, 2012, 3:32 pmThat’s well put, Michelle. A reason occurs to me as to why you haven’t met amoral atheists. It just might be that people of that persuasion who are “bad” also have no desire to talk about it with others. It’s a hypothesis. 🙂
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Posted by Jim Wheeler | May 20, 2012, 4:26 pmI don’t inquire about people’s past. We all have our own skeletons. When I meet and get to know someone, their morals show. That is my basis for learning who someone is and what they’re about. One can tell by the little things they do… Do they hold the door open for the person behind them? When someone is signaling to come into their lane, do they allow them? Or do the speed up and block them? These are only a few examples of how people’s traits show through. For the most part, it works. People who are putting on a “show” focus on the big or major actions and neglect the minor ones. it’s amazing what you can learn about a person by watching the little things they do. Do they take the grocery cart to the “cart gathering area”? (I don’t know what it’s called) Or do they leave the cart just out of reach from their vehicle. These are all small actions but reflect upon respect for our fellow man. All of my atheist friends do simple things like this, while a few people I know who swear by the bible do not. And I mean a consistent basis. We all have our moments and react in a way we normally wouldn’t. Watching and studying people and the little things they do has always fascinated me and I’ve been doing it since I was a teen – about 30 years now. I love “people-watching.” Amazing creatures, we are.
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | May 20, 2012, 4:36 pmthank you Michelle, and i am heartened by the civil exchange between you and Jim, and, like you, i believe that for the most part, people who make a big show of their righteousness are not as righteous as they would have you believe. And – all the Atheists i know are quite ethical in their behavior, as well as more conscious of their puny place in the universe, and they are aware, unlike the super religious, that they are NOT the most important, or greatest, thing since sliced bread. i had to respond to this one tho’ am still working. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 21, 2012, 1:23 amHopefully your working is going well. Missing you.
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Posted by Michelle at Motley News | May 21, 2012, 2:59 amhey tony! thought you might think this is funny (davo showed your blog…) xx zoe
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It’s funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination … End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God’s Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there ‘degrees’ of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I’m confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia
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Posted by zoe | May 20, 2012, 1:37 amI love this. I’m sure she’ll try to answer him, but there’s no way an intelligent answer to it can be composed — unless she just says she’s sorry. I won’t my hold my breath waiting for her to see why she should be.
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Posted by Sparks In Shadow | May 20, 2012, 1:53 amSadly, her listeners will only see it as another liberal elitist attempt to undermine her and god.
Hope it gets a ton of coverage though…
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Posted by El Guapo | May 20, 2012, 1:55 amoh Zoe, this is SO wonderful, Prof. Kaufman truly knows how to put ignorance in its place…i’m sure “Dr.” Laura did not respond. thanks girl…and my thanks to your dad for showing this to you – which, in turn, engendered this GREAT comment from you. i really appreciate it. xoxo continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 20, 2012, 3:44 amGreat poem. I’ve been thinking, for several years now, along the lines that a bunch of scholars got to talking way back when and decided that there was no afterlife, but that if people really realized that, they’d all go nuts and just sit around rocking and moaning, or kill and rape and rob each other at will, with no rules whatsoever. So they invented Jesus and the Bible to give people false expectations, and follow some rules that they should have followed anyway. But no, it’s probably more like you say: the fear and control thing (though they achieve the same thing, don’t they?).
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Posted by trailertrashdeluxe | May 20, 2012, 12:54 amwell…there may not be an “afterlife” for each of us as a whole, but people will be born after we die see: https://barkinginthedark.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/matter-of-life-and-death/ my take on the “afterlife.” anyway, thanks so much for the comment Trailertrash. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 20, 2012, 3:49 amAs an agnostic, I don’t have problems with the ideas of religion – do no harm, love your fellow man, look out for each other.
It’s that religion has been corrupted in service of everything else that gets me.
Eloquent as always, Tony. And I’ll take Mother Earth over the rest any day of the week.
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Posted by El Guapo | May 19, 2012, 11:34 pmThanks EG, corrupted it is. as has been governance…and not by animals either. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 20, 2012, 3:51 amThis resonates like a bell in clear mountain air …
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Posted by PiedType | May 18, 2012, 7:18 pmthanks PT, i appreciate it – and the poetic comment. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:01 pmFantastic. Though I don’t think you need the final disclaimer. To hell with it!
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Posted by Sam Flowers | May 18, 2012, 5:10 pmhahahaha…i figured why not? but glad you say this Sam. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:02 pmI submit that you should have no fear of diminishing anyone’s belief system by this posting – believers will avoid it as heresy and blasphemy. But as poetry it is very good indeed and pleasing to those receptive to the precepts. Nicely done.
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Posted by Jim Wheeler | May 18, 2012, 3:18 pmthank you Jim, i appreciate the way you put it. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:03 pmNicely done indeed!
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Posted by chancedagger | May 18, 2012, 2:33 pmthanks man. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:04 pmWouldn’t it be a lark if there was some “Sky Dude” – a Big Lebowski – laughing his head off at all these ants running around killing each other and craving shining things ? That would be one universal irony (geddit ?) .
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Posted by Single Malt Monkey | May 18, 2012, 1:34 pmants is right Al…if only people got the relativity of it all…actually these “smart” selfish cocksuckers do, but they just don’t give a shit because they think life stops when they’re dead (which i wish was now). thanks, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:11 pmSo much said here, so much that needed to be said ! No matter what a person’s beliefs, I think its so important for the masses to wake up & see that “religion” is a man made concept & really is used as a control mechanism ! I get so fustrated with people who believe in a “spiritual god” but follow the bidding of child molesting popes – wake up!
When I was growing up (as a lutheran) I often thought if all this god /heaven/ hell stuff is correct, then based on the amount of starving children and cruelty in the world, we must be in hell.
You hit it out of the ballpark- the secret to the truth lies in nature…..
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Posted by MJ, Nonstepmom | May 18, 2012, 1:01 pmthanks Janet, we must be…i love the person whose entire family – except 1 child – is wiped out in a hurricane who thanks god that the one child was unharmed! continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:14 pmI know, and people say “oh, their faith is so strong” – faith or brainwashing ???? I could write a weeks worth of posts on that subject …..maybe I should get started !
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Posted by MJ, Nonstepmom | May 19, 2012, 9:13 pmapplause, standing ovation in fact.
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Posted by Valentine Logar | May 18, 2012, 11:40 amthanks Val, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:14 pmI love, love that last verse.
And great use of googolplex! That took me back to the good old days of Carl Sagan on PBS.
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Posted by Sparks In Shadow | May 18, 2012, 10:25 amthanks Re, i appreciate it. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:15 pmWhile I plod prosaically to present such thoughts, you lilt poetically. Great post. Valid thoughts!
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Posted by Archon's Den | May 18, 2012, 7:53 amthanks Archon, i appreciate it…and i am sure you don’t plod. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:16 pmAnd so it came to pass
That someone else built on that plan
And shifted awe of nature
To awe of some “sky man”
Omg Tony what a brilliant poetry…Loved it
so true and i just hate these so called self proclaimed god men who in their airconditioned offices in temples take desicions on behalf of God…i wonder they get mails or sms’s from HIm
those who love and believe in God would embrace every thing he created and not find fault….marvelous write up
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Posted by Soma Mukherjee | May 18, 2012, 6:30 am“those who love and believe in God would embrace every thing he created and not find fault” this sentence defines “true believers” hypocrisy, and inability to think critically…to connect the dots…and how illogical they are. marvelous. thanks Soma, continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:19 pmReblogged this on I Want Ice Water and commented:
This is… beautiful!
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Posted by IzaakMak | May 18, 2012, 6:27 amthanks Izaakmak. i appreciate the re-blog a lot. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:20 pmYou’re so very welcome. I also posted the link on Facebook and you wouldn’t believe the psych-religious diatribe I got for doing it. But it was still oh so worth it!
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Posted by IzaakMak | May 19, 2012, 6:24 pmoh – from the “smart set” i guess. it’s fun to call them on their abject stupidity tho’ – ain’t it?continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:27 pmThat was… beautiful!
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Posted by IzaakMak | May 18, 2012, 6:24 amThat is beautiful Tony, and it does seem to be true that things once held sacred we now treat as disposable. I like the she and one three rhyme.
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Posted by davo | May 18, 2012, 6:24 amDavo, thank you so much. i am ESPECIALLY chuffed when an actual real-life friend says nice things about one of my posts. continue…
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Posted by barkinginthedark | May 19, 2012, 6:22 pm