Atheist Poem by Richard Coughlan…and my response

Posted by adamlepp in Life, Religion

I came across this video on youtube the other day.  It’s a poem written and read by Richard Coughlan.  I’ve copy the text of the poem after the video for your reference.

(source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww7ZhBN6iIM)

Atheism offers nothing to me,
it never has and never will,
it doesn’t make me feel good or comfort me,
it’s not there for me when I’m sick or ill,
it won’t intervene in my times of need or protect me from hate,
it doesn’t care if I fail or succeed,
it won’t wipe the tears from my eyes,
it does nothing when I have no where to run,
it won’t give me wise words or advice,
it has no teachings for me to learn,
it can’t show me what’s bad or nice,
it’s never inspired or excited anyone,
it won’t help me fulfill all my goals,
it won’t tell me to stop when I’m having fun,
it’s never saved one single soul,
it doesn’t take credit for everything I achieve,
it won’t make me get down on bended knee,
it doesn’t demand that I have to believe,
it won’t torture me for eternity,
it won’t teach me to hate or despise others,
it won’t tell me what’s right or wrong,
it can’t tell nobody not to be lovers,
it’s told no one they don’t belong,
it won’t make you think life is worth living,
it has nothing to offer me, that’s true,
but the reason Atheism offers me nothing is because I’ve never asked it to,
Atheism offers nothing because it doesn’t need to,
Religion promises everything because you want it to,
You don’t need a Religion or to have faith,
You just want it because you need to feel safe,
I want to feel reality and nothing more,
Atheism offers me everything,
that Religion has stolen before.

And to be perfectly honest.  I 100% agree with the video.  I look around at my generation.  A generation walking away from God.  A generation that associates religion with God.  If all I heard was the things being said in this poem, I’d want nothing other than to be an atheist myself.  So why do we tell people that religion does things things?  It doesn’t.  That’s a face.  Religion won’t make you feel better or or help you fulfill your goals.  It won’t intervene for you or wipe the tears from your eye.  But it makes you get down on bended knee and demand that you believe!!?!  It teaches hate and to despise!!?!  It tells people they don’t belong!!?!  So atheists out there, I come along side you and say way to speak Truth.

But I’d like to share something else with you as well.  A third path (and one that is often mistaken as religion).  That path is the God of Abraham, of Jacob, of Adam Lepp, and many others.  You see, my God does none of those bad things religion does.  My God does not make me bow to Him.  He won’t tell me to stop when I’m having fun.  He won’t demand that I believe Him, He won’t torture me for eternity (quite the oposite in fact).  He won’t teach me to hate or despise others.  He won’t make you do anything at all actually.  However, my God does confort me, and is there for me when I’m sick or ill.  He intervenes for me and takes care of me.  He does care about me.  He wipes the tears from my eyes.  He holds me close when I have no where to go.  He shows me right and wrong.  He inspires me and gives meaning to life.  He saved my soul.  My God is so good to me that He sacrificed His own life so that I might be spared from that eternity of torture that you hear about.  If you don’t believe me, just ask Him.  I choose to, out of my free will.  Because He offered me something that no other religion (or lack there of) ever could.  He offered me life.  He offered me His love.  How could I not receive that.  It was the best decision of my life.

I mean seriously, there are two options right?  You say “Hey God, if you are out there, would you reveil yourself to me?”  If He is out there, He will.  If He isn’t., you might look like a fool for a few minutes but survive just fine.

Why did you get out of bed today?

Posted by adamlepp in Questions

So a question that seems to keep coming up in conversation lately:  why did you get out of bed today?

And so I want to pose that question to you.  How would you answer it?  Post your answer to this question in the comments.  I don’t care who you are, what your religious beliefs are, what you do, or anything like that.  I just want your honest answer.