Dogmatic Dichotomy

Thomas was a religious man; he went to church every day;
Matthew was an atheist, taking his journey another way.

Thomas prayed for the hungry;
Mathew took them food to eat;
Thomas lit candles for the crippled;
Mathew helped massage their feet;
Thomas put money in the offering;
Mathew helped the poor find work;
Thomas condemned the truly evil man;
Mathew tried to help reform the jerk.

Thomas memorized each bible verse;
Mathew gave books to the book mobiles;
Thomas read parables about multiplying fish;
Mathew helped fix the homeless meals;
Thomas conversed with his God each day;
Mathew talked to strangers on the street;
Thomas sang songs with the chorus group;
Mathew sang the praises of folks he’d meet.

Thomas was a religious man, living life as the church said he should;
Mathew was an atheist, driven to do for his fellow man all that he could.

Lesson to be learned:  Being religious does not necessarily mean we are doing all the good we can; and, being non-religious is not necessarily synonymous with being evil.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013



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Date: 2/21/2014 12:37:00 AM
Very nice Joe. Easy to read, flowing and precise--gets the message across perfectly. I am reminded of he difference between "I tell the truth" and "I am honest." The first is what one does. The other is what one is.
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Joe Flach
Date: 2/21/2014 12:02:00 PM
Mark, thanks for the input. You must have searched my list of poems to find a title that appealed to you - I am honored. You might have noticed that I have many - so, I have dabbled in a few different techniques and have tried easy and complex. I am, pretty much, a simple man, so most of my poems reflect that. Thanks again for taking the time to sample and comment.
Date: 7/28/2013 7:48:00 AM
I want to comment, but it is all so complicated. Live and let live. love, Kathy
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Date: 7/28/2013 2:44:00 AM
I second all you have written, its not what you say,as in prayers,its what you do day by day to help others.....Seren
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Date: 7/27/2013 2:54:00 PM
Bravissima, Joe. Religous does not necessarily spell good or equate to godliness, for that matter. I'm with you on this score. Good one, my friend. Licia :-)
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