Rob/Your Poem

[Guest guest]

> Mon, 10 May 1999

> Rob Rinne <breadcasters

> Poetry and Religious Fundamentalism

>

>

> Hello everyone:

>

> My wife has always been a poet, but up until now I haven't

> been interested in trying my hand at it. On the weekend,

> however, I felt the urge to express, and this is the

> result.

 

Hi Rob,

 

Thank you. Your fine poem expresses the opposite of the 'toughness' which

characterizes our 'preparaton for life in the real world', courtesy of our

world-dream parents and other 'authorities'. More below...

> My Child, My Love

>

> I was your child, but you knew not

> How love to bestow on whom you begot.

> Hungry for you, my cries ignored,

> Beauty denied, my spirit gored.

>

> Stifling yearnings, becoming unreal,

> Until my self no longer to feel.

> Life a contest, I struggling in vain

> To surface from under vast oceans of pain.

>

> Then from the depths of heart's despair

> Divine love revealed - the soul's repair.

> With truth of Spirit's value shown,

> The precious seeds of Self were sown.

>

> Blossoming to the cosmic day,

> God/dess reborn, and I can play.

> Carried aloft upon wings of a dove,

> I am my child, I am my love.

>

> ----------

>

> As one who experienced physical and emotional abuse in the

> name of religion, I'm particularly concerned about the

> harm done by the growing tide of fundamentalism ("Spare

> the rod and spoil the child"). A book that puts this

> problem into perspective is called "The Child's Song - the

> Religious Abuse of Children", by Donald Capps, published

> by Westminster John Knox Press.

 

Thanks for the title. As you know, religions of all kinds can breed

fundamentalism, and that includes eastern religions as well.

 

The book 'The Guru Papers' [Masks of Authoritarian Power] (1993, Kramer and

Alstad) is another source of related material. I do not agree with

everything the authors say, but it is a good starting place, for some

people who are victims of that species of abuse.

> The other night, I dreamed that I was addressing a

> fundamentalist congregation, with the permission of the

> pastor. However, I was chagrined to discover that I was

> wearing my pj's (which, naturally, I really was!). But I

> pressed on, and the congregation seemed to be listening.

> Maybe I should try to infiltrate their ranks and preach

> from the pulpit!

>

> Any ideas/suggestions would be most welcome.

>

> Love,

>

> Rob

 

One local church, a 'Foursquare' Christian church, has a wonderful pastor

who regularly shocks the pants off of his audience; he does a great job of

de-fusing the authoritarian aspect of organized religion, and is in fact

leading many people to love, and away from abusive treatment of each-other

in the name of God. This church has tripled in size in tha past year (now

three branches) because of this good man. I have heard it said, however,

that he is not 'hard-line' enough for the authoritarians in the local

Christian community... that his advocacy of acceptance of the Love of God

as God's love for us, is undermining the scary power of religion. I am

awaiting further developments.

 

Thanks again Rob, for showing up vulnerable. Your approach is refreshing.

 

Peace and Love,

 

==Gene Poole==