The Stoic
God in Accordance with Nature
There is potential in piety, to a religion, a philosophy; the unwavering belief in something. When done well, and not against others, it can be admirable. The best of belief is when it creates markers of moral measure to line up and guide one with a system of ethics. It helps us make sense of the world around us.
To denounce belief in gods outright is to ignore the utility of the system. Outright blaming is cowardly and weak. It does nothing to aid peace and healing in the world. Often in the process of sussing the validity or organized religions one forgets to be a good person. Berating someone without cause for their beliefs only proves their talent for ass ventriloquism, because it really looks like the words are coming out of their mouth.
In terms of tragedy in this world, perpetrators have been secular too. To belabor a reductive truth, doing bad things is bad. Bad things are often done by bad people. It may not be a direct dichotomy, but it must be true in more occasions. For the most part we all do okay.
The point of this article is not to recount history, but to question whether religious systems are wholly to blame.
I think the coercive effects of organized religion can be dangerous. So is yelling fire in a theater and herd mentality that turns protests into riots. Dangerous too are Philadelphia sports fans. If there is anyone to blame, it is them.
Empires Crumble
The Greeks, the Romans, Persia, Egypt, dynasties in China. The Philadelphia Eagles have never had a dynasty. Why clap for a team that’s good enough to keep losing Super Bowls? Almost doesn't count.
The ancient world saw the undying power of god kings die out. So much of their ancient lives on and influences the modern world. To tie it back to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love (its literal meaning in Greek), the city was another borrowing the Revolutionary Americans took from the Greek. Take a look at most government buildings.
During Greek rule of Egypt, there was a Philadelphia there too. There was a tendency in the ancient world to reuse city names. That tendency continues today, just ask Paris (not the one in Ohio). Alexander the Great did much of the same as he did his conquering thing. Wherever he went up popped another city by the name of Alexandria.
One of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World was the lighthouse in the city of Alexandria in Ancient Egypt. At one point it was tallest in the world. It crumbled in a tsunami from an earthquake.
Everything is temporary.Time never loses. Cleopatra was believed to have been buried somewhere in the ancient parts of the city. She was the last of the rulers that embodied deities. Where are those cities and civilizations now? They’re crumbling back into the rocks they came from. Go ask Ozymandias.
Your Charge
Eternal salvation may come for all of us, or none of us. Regardless of final judgement, you are judged too, here and now. Your own estimation is the one that truly matters. Do you live up to it?
The Poetic
New Ideas
One of the easiest to add some sophistication to your poetry (or to fake it) is to make references to these older societies. All the words sound cool and it makes you look well read. I promise that it won’t ever come off pretentious. Nothing is new under the sun. A god by any other name would make a good Shakespeare reference.
Being original is overrated. Execution is where the artistry is. Your best writing is an amalgamation of everything you’ve read and felt. Your goal is to transform the influences, not become derivative of them.
Old Ideas
Lupe Fiasco asks “did you improve on the design? Did you do something new?” What do you answer in return? Consider your foray into writing as joining in the conversation at a dinner party. You want to have something interesting to say without making it sound like you’re trying too hard.
Responding to what has been said before shows that you’re paying attention. You say something that matters against the subject at hand. Walt Whitman heard singing, and Langston Hughes made sure they knew the whole song.
I hope someday for my words to round out the trilogy.