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When God Died

Bold Nietzsche declared, “God is dead,” Humans have killed him, so he said. Enlightened men, all widely read, have purged his being from their head. God decomposed and left a stench, That human genius cannot quench. The promise of enlightenment Instead of light has brought man blight. God’s substitute, goddess reason The symbol of man’s high treason Has not engendered human good, As humanists believed she would. History and experience teach, That man cannot perfection reach By mere intellectual means For evil exists in his genes. The two world wars that men have fought, defy claims of rational thought. The truth is clear, mankind is flawed, And badly needs the help of God. The moral mess mankind is in, Is evidence of human sin. The death of God has brought a curse, And made the plight of humans worse. That God did die, is indeed true, But from a different point of view. God in man’s flesh came down to earth, To live and die for man’s rebirth. God is not dead, He is alive, From Him humans their lives derive. If you enlightenment desire, Embrace God and make Him your sire.

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Michelle Smith

Date: 9/26/2023 12:45:00 AM

When good Reason --from true Faith-- does spout/ then people understand what Divine Mercy's all about. :D

David Richmond
Date: 9/26/2023 2:09:00 PM

I love the lines you quoted. Are they from a poem you wrote? Thanks for your comment.

Michelle Smith

Date: 9/25/2023 11:55:00 PM

Amen! God's not dead! :D

David Richmond
Date: 9/26/2023 2:10:00 PM

Amen indeed. Those who wish He were dead don't know what they are wishing for.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 8/28/2023 8:45:00 PM

Especially verse 4! Man can not reach perfection…has evil in his genes. Congratulations on POTD!

David Richmond
Date: 8/31/2023 4:36:00 AM

Thanks Kim for your comment. I like the way stanza 4 came out also.

Sam Kauffman

Date: 8/27/2023 8:59:00 PM

Deep faith expressed in simple eloquence, David. Congratulations on your POTD. Blessings to you. Thank you for sharing - a courageous poem indeed!

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:13:00 AM

Thanks for your comments, Sam. The philosophies of Nietzsche and his modern counterparts have failed to produce positive benefits for humanity. My poem is my way of highlighting this fact and cause honest-hearted seekers to consider the evidence and make rational choices.

Akkina Downing

Date: 8/27/2023 8:29:00 PM

David, congratulations on POTD with this beautiful and inspiring piece.

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:15:00 AM

Thanks Akkina. I'm glad to hear that my poem inspired you. My purpose in writing is to bring glory to the name of God.

I Am Anaya

Date: 8/27/2023 3:07:00 PM

I've had my share of thoughts about God and that he must be male, Jesus His son, now Michael the Archangel. All religions fall short of one most important thing that is..Love..God is love, then why is there so much hate? I believe this is because man must reach "enlightment" and self-awareness before they can love, -->and there's where you and I disagree. I believe in enlightment. Such Beautiful Poetry David Richmond. Congratulations on your POTD! I Am Anaya

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:31:00 AM

Thanks Anaya for your comment. I fully agree with your assertion that God is love. The reason for the hate in the world is that man has turned away from God, who is the source of love. I believe in enlightenment too, but believe that God is the source of true enlightenment. If enlightenment could be achieved apart from Him, the human race would be much more morally advanced than it is now. The Enlightenment thinkers believed that if humans could get rid of God, they would be able to progressively improve on their own and become some kind of Superman. it should be obvious to all of us that the myth has not materialized. My contention is that man needs God and not the reverse.

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 8/27/2023 1:51:00 PM

Your heartfelt, beautiful poem has been a joy to read, David. Hearty congratulations on your POTD. :)

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:34:00 AM

Thanks Evelyn for the encouraging comment.

Tom Woody

Date: 8/27/2023 11:05:00 AM

Yes, Satan would like nothing better than to erase God and his beautiful name, Yahweh (Jehovah) from the human conscience. He has and will fail miserably. While I may not agree with all of your expressions, I certainly accept the gist of your poem, David

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:49:00 AM

Thank you Tom. My poem is a response to Nietzsche's statement that God is dead and his sarcastic assertion that gods decompose too. The stanza that mentions the decomposition of God should be understood in this context. It is my hope that those who believe in God will be affirmed in their faith and those who believe in the philosophy of Nietzsche will seriously evaluate the implications of his basic premise.

I Am Anaya
Date: 8/27/2023 4:36:00 PM

Sorry Tom.

Tom Woody
Date: 8/27/2023 3:15:00 PM

Sorry Anaya, I don't know how to delete your reply, which I know was not meant for me. Cheers

I Am Anaya
Date: 8/27/2023 1:51:00 PM

Insulted no, degraded and shooken yes.

Bill Baker

Date: 8/27/2023 9:19:00 AM

Straight to my FAVs list, David. Excellent message in this well written poem. Congratulations on your POTD! Enjoy your special day of recognition. Bill

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:49:00 AM

Thank you Bill for your kind comment.

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 8/27/2023 7:45:00 AM

Congratulations on your POTD win. A wonderful/powerful write. God Is Alive. Have a blessed day/week writing away....................

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:52:00 AM

Thanks Paula. This poem was inspired by something I read as part of my daily devotional. I an glad you found it to be impactful.

Malabika Ray Choudhury

Date: 8/27/2023 5:36:00 AM

Congratulations on your POTD. Your poem is profound, and full of inspiration.

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:52:00 AM

Thank you Malabika.

R J. Elless

Date: 8/27/2023 4:47:00 AM

David, You are right. There is only one GOD. He is the true light. The Divine. Fine poem, well thought out and the rhymes are delightful. Praise be to GOD. Congratulations on Your POTD. Stay Creative.

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 10:56:00 AM

Thanks RJ for the encouragement to stay creative. As you know, this is a challenge that we struggle with as poets.

David Kavanagh

Date: 8/27/2023 4:22:00 AM

As human beings David we are right to question everything we see, even those we don’t, I’m agnostic myself and search out answers to the big questions, and I certainly don’t exclude god, but there are so many of them around these days, even different interpretations of the same god, you present a nice argument here, check out my poem (https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/man_who_would_be_god_1481915) and you’ll see the unconvincing conclusion I’ve reached myself, Congratulations on a very well written and presented POTD

David Richmond
Date: 8/28/2023 2:12:00 PM

Thanks David for your comment. We can only arrive at the truth if we ask the right questions and eliminate the answers that do not provide cohesive answers that are consistent with reality, to the questions of origin, purpose, meaning, and destiny. I trust that your quest leads to the truth.

Tania Kitchin

Date: 8/27/2023 4:03:00 AM

David, congratulations on POTD, a great faith poem!

David Richmond
Date: 8/31/2023 4:42:00 AM

Thanks Tania. It is my hope that those who believe in God will be affirmed in their faith after reading my poem and that those who are skeptical will be led to investigate the existence of God.

Regina Mcintosh

Date: 8/27/2023 3:54:00 AM

Yes. GOD is alive! He is surely ALIVE! God bless you and congrats on POTD. Love and prayers, Gina

David Richmond
Date: 9/4/2023 5:43:00 PM

Thanks Regina for the affirmation.

Sara Etgen-Baker

Date: 8/27/2023 3:51:00 AM

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful both in rhyme scheme and pattern. The unfolding of sin doesn't, in fact, mean God is dead. He's alive. We're the ones who have killed him in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Powerful poem. Truly a magnificent piece of work. Thanks for your creative spirit. Have a blessed day, Sara Etgen-Baker

David Richmond
Date: 9/4/2023 5:51:00 PM

I humbly receive your words of congratulations. The Holy Spirit, my writing partner and coach was the inspiration for this poem. From the comments, I conclude that we succeeded in expressing what He intended.

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 8/27/2023 3:07:00 AM

Well argued. Congrats on your POTD.

David Richmond
Date: 9/4/2023 5:51:00 PM

Thank you Victor.

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 8/27/2023 2:47:00 AM

- Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., David :) -

David Richmond
Date: 8/31/2023 4:39:00 AM

Thanks Anne-Lise.

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 8/27/2023 2:31:00 AM

Back again with warmest congratulations on POTD, David

David Richmond
Date: 8/31/2023 4:38:00 AM

Thank you for your words of congratulations.

Unseeking Seeker

Date: 8/25/2023 9:22:00 PM

Wise words, David, highlighting the human condition. In my view, to transcend limitations of mind, we evidently need to leave thoughts and concepts behind, abiding in awareness, self-aware, that in time, with universal mind we pair. We’re so accustomed to striving, we cannot let go and just begin to flow.

Kim Merryman

Date: 8/25/2023 6:10:00 PM

Wow! A powerful message filled with truth, David! I'm putting this in my fav's! Blessings, Kim M

David Richmond
Date: 8/31/2023 4:38:00 AM

Thanks Kim. I'm glad that the message of my poem resonated with you.