Dave Bradley

....to make us human

by Dave Bradley

Sunday 12th February 2012 6:14 pm

Twentieth

Century of labels

Twenty first

Century of removing them

from our clothes

from our minds

from our hearts.

A label?

No, a cap, a shirt, a coat.

A label?

No, a human, a person,

Unique, precious.

How live

without faith?

Atheists believe

How have faith

with no label

no wall

no army?

Lover of Romans, Greeks, Samaritans, prostitutes

Help us.

Kyrie eleison.

Seize scissors and to work.

Too much has been paid

in money

and blood.

I've been fiddling around with this and am not happy with it, but wanted to post it in response to Rachel's poem on faith

◄ Serendipity

The Choice (a true story) ►

Comments

Harry O'Neill

Tue 14th Feb 2012 21:38

Dave,
Sorry about my misunderstanding (I should have `got` the `scissors`) it comes of having my head filled with something else.

I agree with what you say, but I have a problem with the way the modern mind tends to regard the word `human` these days in the sense of a real `good guy` wishing the best to all and sundry - someone they can have a nice, warm feeling about and then forget.

Rachel seems to have had a torrid time reading the bible (which suggests that she did actually read it) and no doubt - in the new testament - the Christ who talked about hating our father and mother or bringing a sword and finally said he was God and was crucified for saying it, seemed rather an odd character. Particularly as the leaders he left to carry on his work were composed of one who denied him and eleven who deserted him. Its hard to think of anyone more different to the `good guy` who wishes only the greatest good to everyone.

I know that your own idea of the `human` is very far from the `good guy` thing, but I`m wary of using it in the modern sense as I believe that Christ is about transforming normal humanity into a Christian thing which is
rather different to the usual human-ist thing.

Rachel Bond

Tue 14th Feb 2012 02:37

this is a great poem to add to the debate.

sorry i missed your comments harry, they would have been very welcome.

i dont know about the banned prayer scenario so cant comment.

Christianity kids itself if it thinks that Britain is a Christian country.

i think that true. in times of crisis tho a country unites and i bet theres a lot of people if pushed to their limits would say christ help me or god please and really mean it.

Dave Bradley

Tue 14th Feb 2012 00:36

Thanks for commenting Harry. This one wasn't about prayer in councils, funnily enough. It's about my growing feeling that (as someone said) Jesus didn't come to make us Christian, he came to make us human. He always saw past labels and saw someone's humanity.

Given that that was his approach, it is both ironic and tragic that the label 'Christian' has led to so much strife.

Rachel's poem makes some valid points in her own inimitable style. I welcomed it and feel this is an inadequate response because it's poor poetically and I hadn't finished mucking about with it. But it was what was to hand to throw into the debate.

Harry O'Neill

Tue 14th Feb 2012 00:11

Dave,
I made some comments on Rachel`s poem but they seem to have whizzed!

About this: Assuming it`s `about` the banned prayer thing.

Christianity kids itself if it thinks that Britain is a Christian country. Christianity does not depend on tradition, tradition depends on Christianity...and unless christians stand up for it it will go by the board.

The hilarious bit is the speaker assuring the commons (that passed the law in question) that their own prayers will not be affected - and his wife twittering that she disagreed with him.

I think it`s good that the argument is out in the open...could be a waker-upper.

Rachel Bond

Sun 12th Feb 2012 22:11

i like this dave, interesting example of the clothes of our disguises.
athiests believe. ive argued this point many times to confirmed athiests. we can believe in nothing if we like but we still believe. god to me is omnipresent...real in nothing.

just dont point your scissors at me ;)

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