Theory on Religion | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. Theory on Religion

Theory on Religion

September 13, 2013
By Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
More by this author
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile

Early this Monday morning
I prayed to God
but He didn’t respond:
I supposed He was busy
answering some other urgent prayer
while listening to a myriad
other prayers all at once.
So I headed downtown
to a nearby synagogue;
the rabbi, however,
told me to leave
for not being Jewish:
the Hebrew Lord
can’t waste His time
with a “filthy Gentile”.
I walked into a cathedral
and confessed to a bishop;
he said
I’d better repent
or I’d go straight to Hell;
yet I wasn’t searching
eternal damnation—
but temporary redemption.
The Buddhist temple
was closed today:
they don’t congregate
on weekdays.
The mosque was too full
for my taste.
And atheists never meet anywhere
with fellow non-believers.
I headed home,
believing prayers were futile
and left on the deities’ desks
like propaganda ads
or complaint letters.
But I found God,
brewing coffee—
a mug for Him
and one for me—
in my kitchen:
He’d been waiting for me
for an hour,
while I was out there,
seeking some other answer
rather than waiting for the one I asked for in the beginning.

© Jaci S., Duluth, GA

The author's comments:
First of, I didn't write this to evangelize or discriminate other religions. Let's get that out of the way. This is something that I've learned in my life. I was inspired by Gregory Corso's amazing poem "The Whole Mess...Almost" and Hebrews 10:36, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.."
Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
The Unraveling Scarf
By kiwi12 PLATINUM
Austin, Texas
kiwi12 PLATINUM, Austin, Texas
28 articles 10 photos 365 comments
View profile
Poetry
Breathing
By costarican93 GOLD
Washington, Louisiana
costarican93 GOLD, Washington, Louisiana
14 articles 0 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The city looks so pretty do you want to burn it with me?&quot;- Hollywood Undead

View profile
Poetry
Joys of Life
By Daniel Seeley Hicks-Neal BRONZE
Westville, New Jersey
Daniel Seeley Hicks-Neal BRONZE, Westville, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
Alice
By Keasbey GOLD
La Habra Heights, California
Keasbey GOLD, La Habra Heights, California
12 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I will no longer pray on my knees, to a god who&#039;s left me so many times. I will no longer pray on my knees, to a god who won&#039;t answer my call.&quot;

View profile
Poetry
One Piece... One Destiny
By Matt Groy GOLD
Park City, Utah
Matt Groy GOLD, Park City, Utah
11 articles 0 photos 0 comments
View profile
Poetry
A World of Problems
By Lost-In-Life GOLD
Whitby, Other
Lost-In-Life GOLD, Whitby, Other
11 articles 0 photos 299 comments

Favorite Quote:
It&#039;s never to late, if it weren&#039;t for the last minute many things would never get done!

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 15 comments.

BlondieArts GOLD said...
on Nov. 2 2016 at 9:05 pm
BlondieArts GOLD, Harrisonburg, Virginia
11 articles 1 photo 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;My world is a deck of cards, you deal with what you&#039;re dealt, and make the most of it.&quot;

View profile
I was reading this, and you know what? This is special. It's real. Good job.
Ray--yo PLATINUM said...
on Jan. 16 2015 at 5:22 am
Ray--yo PLATINUM, Kathmandu, Other
43 articles 2 photos 581 comments

Favorite Quote:
God Makes No Mistakes. (Gaga?)<br /> &quot;I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.&quot; -Liesel Meminger via Markus Zusac, &quot;The Book Thief&quot;

View profile
This is a view I share in a way. Brilliantly written, McKay.
Mckay ELITE said...
on Jul. 4 2014 at 4:43 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
thanks! ^j^
honest_iago BRONZE said...
on Jun. 8 2014 at 9:27 am
honest_iago BRONZE, Midway, Utah
2 articles 0 photos 41 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.&quot; --Tom Stoppard

View profile
Yes! This is perfect! I love the ending.
TheMaskedPoet SILVER said...
on Feb. 25 2014 at 8:04 pm
TheMaskedPoet SILVER, Temple, Georgia
9 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I wish I could be a little less dramatic, like a Kennedy when Camelot went down in Flames.&quot; -Miranda Lambert

View profile
You know, it's great that you reply to people's comments. I've seen few other people who take the time to do it.
Mckay ELITE said...
on Nov. 19 2013 at 3:08 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
I friggin love you and your jealousy. :P Thanks. Glad, you liked this enough to favorite. I'm honored. I had a feeling that out of anyone who would read this, you'd like it the best. Nice to know. XD 
Mckay ELITE said...
on Nov. 19 2013 at 3:05 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
Thank you for reading. 
Jade.I.Am ELITE said...
on Nov. 18 2013 at 1:23 pm
Jade.I.Am ELITE, Fishers, Indiana
214 articles 14 photos 1159 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If you&#039;re losing your soul and you know it, then you&#039;ve still got a soul left to lose&rdquo; <br /> ― Charles Bukowski

View profile
AHHH, I love this. I'm favoriting it NOW. The ending really caught me by surprise for some reason, you were kinda depressing me at the beginning. LOVE this. URGH, I hate you and your talent :P
BorderlineGenius777 SILVER said...
on Nov. 11 2013 at 1:10 am
BorderlineGenius777 SILVER, Lewiston, Idaho
7 articles 0 photos 80 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most would be content to take their own and depart.&quot;- Socrates

View profile
I love your take on religion. thank you for sharing this work of art.
Mckay ELITE said...
on Oct. 31 2013 at 1:33 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
Thank you so much for that comment. I really appreciate how you took the time to decipher every aspect of it, then grasp the meaning.
TheMaskedPoet SILVER said...
on Oct. 29 2013 at 10:36 pm
TheMaskedPoet SILVER, Temple, Georgia
9 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I wish I could be a little less dramatic, like a Kennedy when Camelot went down in Flames.&quot; -Miranda Lambert

View profile
I really love this poem because it's so unique, especially for a religious poem... I really love that you gave othr religions (and athiesm) a chance before falling back into God's arms and showing that you'll go in a circle if you leave where you belong. It's really descriptive and poetic at the same time. Great job!!!
Mckay ELITE said...
on Oct. 4 2013 at 6:35 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
Ramfthomas4, thank you so much. I appreciate that you think this poem is amusing. I didn't want it to be all serious, though it is kinda, or dreary, as some religious poems can be. Thank you! And Amen! 
ramfthomas4 PLATINUM said...
on Oct. 4 2013 at 5:01 pm
ramfthomas4 PLATINUM, South Bend, Indiana
26 articles 1 photo 98 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.&rdquo; <br /> ― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

View profile
Great job, McKay!  I love how you went through each religion in turn.  Your comments on them were funny, factual and insightful. Go God! 5/5
Mckay ELITE said...
on Oct. 1 2013 at 1:41 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

View profile
Hey, Krasota, thanks so much for taking the time to read this poem and then comment on it. I'm a fangirl of coffee too. (Or fanboy, either way.) Thank so much for relating to this piece. I wanted to create that feeling of being able to relate to the speaker of this poem. Glad it worked out. 
Carpe-Caffeam GOLD said...
on Sep. 30 2013 at 10:12 pm
Carpe-Caffeam GOLD, No Where, Florida
10 articles 0 photos 444 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;If it weren&rsquo;t for the coffee, I&rsquo;d have no identifiable personality whatsoever.&rdquo; &ndash;David Letterman

View profile
This was so unique and beautiful. I just loved the ending to it :D Maybe it's because I fangirl over coffee every time I see the word (COFFEEEEEEEEEEEE), but this was truly a witty piece. For me, I felt as if I could associate with the narrator's discouragement. Beautiful work :D Keep it up, bro. 5/5