[colinbaker62]

Whenever as people we seek understanding
Of things in our lives of a practical kind,
We develop the means of cognising our world,
- or with science asleep - ways of changing the mind.

It's precisely this role of transforming the mind
That religion, for one, has emerged to fulfil.
And the myriad spirits and gods that spring up,
Are all products of language, for good or for ill.

For a language has power - as odd as it seems -
To permit the creation of all kinds of quirks.
And we naturally use this linguistic resource
To invent ideal types, so let's see how it works.

There's 'abstraction', 'negation' and 'generalisation',
Linguistic processes, related all three.
And such powers of language permit us as people,
To speak into being a Lord God Almighty.

Abstraction it is, that enables - Lord God -
As a concept to form and expand in the mind.
Next, negation steps in thus permitting denial
Of God, as a visible, tangible kind.

Last up comes the process of generalisation
Ascribing to God numerous powers unseen,
Such as claiming the Holy Ideal we invent
Is Himself, sole Creator of all that has been.

So this reasoning process is no mental flaw!
It reflects people's efforts to know and to cope.
In the absence of science they build an ideal
Out of words, as one means for to represent hope.

And until we begin to cognise social life
In a concrete and science-based way, day-to-day,
I believe the afore-mentioned language resource
Will continue, in part, to lead Mankind astray.






Colin Baker 2007

[LullabyHearts]

This was a nice, long poem with good line consistancy.

[RENA HANDS]

A most reasonable and simplistic reason to God’s existence. Is “simplistic” inappropriate? Perhaps understandable? I love the creation either way.

[colinbaker62]

Thank you Lullaby and Rena. Simple yet philosophically profound was indeed the intention. I am firmly of the belief that the power of language, often little known to people or else simply taken for granted, is the root source for how people anywhere in the world speak non-existent beings into existence. The lack of a scientific philosophy for its part able to deliver an understanding of the various social forces at work, is undoubtedly the motivating cause for why people seek such psychological comfort in the first place. Unable to change reality, one is obliged, temporarily at least, to change the mind.

Thank you both for reading.



Colin