How To be a Good Little Catholic (from a Not-So-Good Little Agnostic)

This first post is in response to Jamaica Kincaid's alternative poem 'Girl'. The stream-of-consciousness look into what it sounds like to live life as a young girl in this unique household is eye opening and engrossing. The many-lined poem is interrupted only by feeble protests from the young girl against her tyrannous mother's unceasing stream of commands and is joined together by both semi-colons and a common theme: oppression. The poem below is written in the same style as 'Girl' and reflects the oppression felt by a member of the Catholic Church. As a former devout Catholic, 'converted' to Agnosticism by the inflexibility and mindlessness of the Church, I can personally relate to the overbearing suffocation that a person trying to obey the many rules and restrictions that the Church sets forth.

Rules and Restrictions of a Religion



Do not put faith in any god but the one true God; do not make for yourself a carved image; do not take the name of the Lord in vain; do not violate the holy day; do not dishonor your father or mother; but what if my father or mother is not honorable?; do not dishonor your father or mother; do not commit murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; but what if it is to keep my family alive?; do not steal; do not doubt the one true God; do not bear false witness; do not covet your neighbor’s wife; do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet; do not want; but what if I need?; sometimes do not need, always do not want; do not disrespect the sanctity of the house of the one true God; do not neglect to worship in service; do not go a whole day without paying homage to the one true God; do not lie; but what if it is to spare someone’s feelings?; do not lie; but what if it is to save someone’s life?; do not lie; do not doubt the one true God; do not have unclean thoughts; do not enforce unclean thoughts; do not allow unclean thoughts; do not desire; do not lust; do not violate the sanctity of holy matrimony; do not have sexual relations until marriage; do not desire a member of your same sex; but what if I love a member of my same sex?; do not desire a member of your same sex; do not be desirous; do not take the life of an unborn child; but what if I cannot care for the child?; do not take the life of an unborn child; but what if the child will live an unhappy life?; do not take the life of an unborn child; but what if the child will be born in pain, live in pain, and die in pain?; do not take the life of an unborn child; do not doubt the one true God; do not be immodest; do not engage in unholy activities; do not question; do not doubt; do not doubt the one true God.


A reference to the "Evolution Controversy" would have been made in this poem if it weren't for this open-minded action taken by the late Pope John Paul II. For more information on religion in our country, check out this blog: Religion Clause.