Warum?
In the name of God
why do people kill
in the name of God?
Crusaders were admired
because they killed
in the name of God –
The Spanish Inquisition
made martyrs of thousands
who worshipped the same God,
Nazis killed Jews
in their millions.
Was it in the name of God?
Catholics killed proddies in Ireland
in the name of God .
Protestants killed Catholics for the same God.
Jews kill Arabs
in the name of God.
Muslims make Jihad
in the name of God
terrorise, make Fatwah
in the name of God.
What is it about religion
that makes men kill
in the name of their God?
Hatred and suspicion
in sectarian division.
For the love of God, why?
Do they not remember
what he said, that same God,
thou shalt not kill?
Warum, why?
I read Mark Wyndham’s powerful and moving poem http://awakenedwords.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/red/ this morning, in which angels weep. That and radio news from many countries aroused the old anger in me. My more simplistic poem was written a few years ago, in passionate revolt against sectarian violence throughout the world. Nothing has changed. If anything it is worse. Are there no answers?
Vivinfrance's Blog 
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Thank you for letting me kow.
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Sure. Your participation is appreciated, Viv. Happy weekend.
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Viv, this is a pasionate and profoundly moving piece that points to the crux of the problem: why is monotheism so facistic? It’s a puzzle when the core messages are about peace and compassion.
Thank you for joining with us on The Bardo Group blog for 100,000 Poets for Change. Your contribution is much valued.
Warmest regards,
Jamie Dedes
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Isn’t it so ironic. I think poor God gets the blame for a lot when it is people perverting religion who are using it so wrongly.
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Absolutely on the money, particularly appropriate for 100K Poets for Peace, Viv.
“What is it about religion
that makes men kill?”
I feel very strongly that it is not religion that makes men kill. Rather, it is probably a combination of hormones (e.g. Testosterone) and badly connected synapses that does it. Religion – and its Gods – is used as an excuse that man, somehow, thinks will displace their responsibility for the act.
It is a very worthy piece this, Viv. I like its structure, its brevity and strength of focus. And yes, ‘they’ are guilty of wilful ignorance that God did say: “Thou shalt not kill”.
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It is not God that makes men kill, it is the adherence to all the ‘religions’ that purport to be unique and true, and their self-imposed rules and regimes.
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Thank you for sharing this heart-felt and thoughtful poem with us. I have often asked the same question(s) and there are never any good answers. One of the harshest truths is that the “God” for whom most of these wars are fought is not a God of any religion except greed and/or power; The Almighty Dollar and the power that comes with it. Any religion that demands its followers kill those who do not believe the same thing does not represent any “God” in whom I would place my own faith.
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Woah, this is lovely. I love this. Thanks for sharing. http://ogungbesan20.wordpress.com/
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amazing wonders,
Thanks for sharing.
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“Warum ?” indeed. I saw your comment on Via Lucis and felt I had found a friend. Thank you for your comment to Dennis and for your poem here. I just subscribed. More often than not, i hear God weeping. It’s good not to be alone.
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That’s a very kind comment to receive. Thank you for subscribing – I hope you are not disappointed. So often I am flippant, but I do let go in a rant from time to time!
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Sounds like shared DNA. No worry about disappointment. Thanks.
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May God save us from religion !
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Why? indeed. Anger is an appropriate response to that violence.
Richard
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It is disturbing. There are so many midguided actions undertaken (words said, etc) in the name of God that have no basis in scripture (I cannot speak to the Koran with intelligence). Some with good intentions, many not.
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Your rage is powerful and shared. I’m glad you pulled this one out for us. Well written, Viv.
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This is inspired rage, Viv. Now I’ve got to read Mark’s piece.
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Well said Viv, and I share your anger. We still don’t have the answer – and we are not learning from our past mistakes that killing solves nothing. When will we learn?
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Your rage and despair shines through this, Viv.
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These are questions that no one has a real answer to, although some think they do. Why do we consider our species so superior to other animals?
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