A Universal Question

Tags

Agnosticism, Atheism, Australian poet, Creation of the Universe, God, poem, poetry, Science and the universe, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

𝐀 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

We sit upon a whirling tilted sphere,
That hurtles through a vacuum at high speed.
And if you don’t think this is rather queer,
You are my friend, a strange fellow indeed.
The Sun (an atom bomb) it is agreed,
We circle once a year. A satellite,
The moon we call it — like a silver bead,
It shines upon us on a moonlit night.
The stars above on starry nights give light,
And shooting stars sometimes at night they fall,
And though they are to us a splendid sight,
They’re meteors — not really stars at all.
Who set in motion this great cosmic dance?
Or could it all have happened just by chance?

— D.N. O’Brien

Filling the Vacuum

Tags

Aristotle, Atheism, Australian poet, Baal, Formal poetry, Friedrich Nietzsche, God is Dead, Odin, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet, The Gay Science, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Zeus

Filling the Vacuum

“God is dead.” So Nietzsche’s often quoted.
The atheists will say that’s what he said.
And he did, but it should too be noted
That Nietzsche said it with a sense of dread —
That we had killed Him — it was on our head
He laid the blame. And what, he asked, what thing
Replaces murdered gods, gods cold and dead?
The bells in church towers will no longer ring,
And all those hymns? Why will the choirs still sing
Of Him, when He no longer is of use?
A fallen deity, a banished king,
Devoid of power, like Baal, Odin, or Zeus.
And Nature does an empty space abhor —
Rush in, the gods of mammon and of war.

— D.N. O’Brien

A Universal Problem

Tags

A Singularity, Atheism, Australian poet, Big Bang Theory, Creation of the Universe, Formal poetry, God and Science, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

A Universal Problem

The atheist, he counters faith with fact.
He says that all religions are a lie.
He claims the scientists have all but cracked
The complex code — the age old question: Why?
Why are we here? And where, when humans die,
Do their poor souls reside? There is no place,
No hell below, no heaven up on high
He claims. The awful truth we all must face:
No god bestows on any man his grace;
No soul remains and flesh goes back to ground —
The dust that coats a rock that spins in space.
But is belief based on but science sound?
“The Universe” — a grand scientific name;
But who designed the point from which it came?

— D.N. O’Brien

The Great Spirit Contemplates

Tags

Atheism, Australian poet, Big Bang Theory, Big Crunch, Collapsing Universe, Dark matter, Formal poetry, limerick, Limerick poem, Limerick poetry, Nihilism, poem, poetry

I Demand Reasonable Proof!

“My reasoning’s sound. I refuse
To have such beliefs. You sir, lose! –
My convictions are strong!”
“You’ve just proved yourself wrong –
The proof’s in the reason you use.”

The Great Spirit Contemplates

Fifteen billion years – really? Has it been that long? I’m getting a little tired of this particular universe and all of its petty galaxies, stars, planets and moons, not to mention asteroids, comets and dark matter – mustn’t forget the dark matter. This game is simply dragging on too long and I have all those other universes to supervise – all in various stages of expansion or contraction. I create these damned monstrous things – make just one planet out of all the billions capable of supporting life, I plant the seed, and then see how long it takes for intelligent life – human life as they call it, to evolve, and then the fun starts.

It’s simple really – just figure it out! That’s the point of the game. But these humans? Good god! They reach a point where I begin to have some hope, and then backwards they go! Their technology reaches a stage where they put a man on the moon – oh joy! Soon they will be seriously striking out for the stars! And I don’t mean just launching the odd piddling probe past Pluto, but really getting serious about exploring the universe – and beyond! Maybe soon they will be finally starting to figure it out! And then I may even give them a clue for being so damned smart. But then what happens? They stop – that’s what happens. They turn inward and embrace doubt. They become pessimistic and nihilistic – their cup is not half full, it is damned near empty. Or they go all Eastern Mysticism on me and contemplate their belly-buttons, or go full atheist and just get bloody-minded and angry.

It’s the same pattern over and over again – each universe I create finishes up in the same depressing state – that’s why I send them into reverse – into contraction. Liked the big bang? Then see how you like the BIG CRUNCH you stupid humans! Oh god – mustn’t be like that – must stay in control. After all I am the one in total control, aren’t I?

Well of course I am! So how much longer do I give this poor pathetic universe? This universe where live the Earth humans who have lost their way. Is it beyond saving? Will they snap out of their phone, tablet, computer, self-inflicted, godless lethargy? What! Godless? Self promotion you say? Moi? No, no, no – I don’t mean that they have to worship me as God! But for Christ’s sake at least acknowledge my presence! At least give me some credit – a bit of gratitude? Is that too much to ask? “Show yourself!” they say. Show myself! What do they wish to see? I don’t hide! Open your eyes and look around! I show myself everyday! (And every night for that matter.) Where do they think all these brazillions of tons of matter came from? Where do they think these precise mathematical rules came from? Where do they think the miracle that is life came from? – thin air? Oh sure, from the singularity and the Big Bang – well where did the singularity come from, and who triggered the Big Bang? I’ll give them singularity! I’ll give them a Big Bang!

No, no, I’ll give them a little more time – I’ll calm down. Got to get my ichor-pressure down. Maybe they’ll snap out of it. Maybe they will resume their positive path to the stars and enlightenment, instead of just making god-awful movies about it. Maybe finally after all my tries humans will win the game – maybe even these Earth humans; But realistically (and I’m obviously a realist) it doesn’t look good. If finally I do have to reach for that “Reverse” button then – well, all I can say is……..Heaven help them.

Atheist’s Christmas Party

Tags

Atheism, Atheist, Australian poet, limerick, Limerick poem, Limerick poetry, poem, poetry

They gathered to celebrate [blank]
They dined on fine food and they drank.
But when came the speeches
These enlightened creatures
Found that they had no one to thank.