There was a time

There was a time

When I did look for god

Some people said they had seen him

As he was everywhere

I wondered about that

It would have been easy to pretend

But all I saw was a profusion

Of evolution.

Nothing struck me as eternal

Things had a way of becoming

Before they reached the end

And that seemed as much a miracle

As anything else.

I thought it was odd he would be a he

Something so grand would be

Gender Neutral

Both paternal and maternal

But in a better,

More naturally occurring way.

Until people tried to stop me

If there was proof we would not need faith

Seemed a spurious argument

As much as saying, I can’t see

The dark side of the Moon,

But I have faith that it does exist,

When there are many other

Objective reasons

To believe.

Objectivity is more than a scientific method

It has kept me safe

From harm

In a strange world

Without burning the ends off my fingers.

Counselling me to test the waters

Instead of plunging straight in,

Seeking confirmation

Before drawing conclusions.

Is that a step too far

A theological faux-pas?

When for me

To be human is to question

What it means to be,

Which is better than believing

Someone else

Has set a course to follow

And to be human

Is to accept we are the subject

Of a carrot and stick,

Not Khama, fate or destiny

But operant conditioning.