The Zealot
Posted By Randy on May 20, 2013
Too often, religious zealotry is the problem, exclusive of brand. As it turned out, the woman who inspired this poem happened to be a devout Catholic, but she could just as easily have worn any number of “official” mantles. Sad to say, this is based on personal experience.
The Zealot
By LFM
Loretta was a Catholic wife,
And doting mum of five.
A happy, buzzing, faith fueled bee,
She ruled her Christian hive.
Her children were her everything,
And no expense was spared.
She saw their every wish fulfilled
No sooner than declared.
And even though her brood was spoiled,
She strove to raise them well.
Immersed them in Catholicism
To spare their souls from Hell.
I came to know them for a time,
This family devout,
And, one day while I was visiting,
A nasty truth came out.
She handed me a cup of tea,
Then turned to slice the bread
For the plate of dainty sandwiches
That all her guests were fed.
The while she worked we spoke
Until the topic wound its way
To the news her neighbour’s teenage son
Had just come out as gay.
“Speaking for myself,” I said,
“I see no fault in this.
“The finding of True Love’s the point,
“And not whose lips you kiss.”
“I want my child to find True Love.
“With whom I’ll not forfend.
“True Love and happiness therefrom’s
“What matters in the end.”
T’was then Loretta whirled around,
The bread flew ‘cross the floor,
And in her place there stood a thing
I’d never seen before.
Lips frozen in a righteous sneer,
Eyes ablaze with hate.
Where once she gripped a simple knife,
T’was now a sword of fate!
Where once stood loving, doting mum,
Now wrathful scourge of God!
“Abomination!” shrieked she then,
“I’ll never spare the rod!”
“If any son of mine were such
“He’d not live out the night!
“I’d stab him dead the while he sleeps
“And send his soul to flight!”
T’was then I suddenly recalled
A place I had to be.
I seized my hat and, through the door,
I thanked her for the tea.
When hatred cleaves itself to “faith”,
And sad it is to tell it,
There’s no religion in the world
Exclusive to the zealot.
"When hatred cleaves itself to “faith”,
And sad it is to tell it,
There’s no religion in the world.
Exclusive to the zealot."
Truth.
Every religion has lunatic members.
Also true – religious zealotry has caused far more harm than loving someone of the same sex ever could.
[…] matter, then, is not that we are different from one another. It springs from zealotry, and that, dear reader, is born of the idea of chosenness – that you and yours hold […]