FEAR


Fear dogs our every conscious action,
lies behind our lightest decisions
and opens the way to armageddon.
We fear each other and so act to mollify.
We fear the future, so insure against disaster.
We fear each other further, so strike pre-emptively.
We fear derision, so hide our deepest feelings.
We fear dismissal, so work incessantly.
We fear, so take evasive action.

Even the most basic of religions exploits such fear.
The fear of religious exclusion in this life
and of eternal punishment after it is over.
These are the vehicles of clerical power;
that fill pews and the communion rail;
that fill ecclesiastical coffers;
repair broken buildings.

Christianity paints a picture of post-life punishment,
to ensure a life-time's obedience in thought and deed
to the precepts of a doctrine that few think through
and even fewer dare to challenge, openly.
They fear to do so!