religious inclination

what is it in man to be religiously inclined?

what is it in a woman to hold dear
her passionate love for the one called jesus

or for a shaman to ward off a spirit

or for a wetnurse to
bestow love to the life arrivals

some pray to st francis

some push their forheads into the dirt

some express unreserved vocal praise

some merely sit in quiet for long hours
amazed at the terrible truth

it is an inclination in the human being
this cannot be denied

are we then to suppose that
the suggestion that it represents
inferior genetic development
and as the truth of the evolutionary model of the earth
attains to ever greater self awareness
the need for religious expression will die out?

epistemology must include all manner of knowledge
it cannot limit itself to that which derives from
deductive reasoning and proof alone
or to the evermore convoluted theorems
of the physicists alone
this is where epistemology and anthropology
must make a transcendental wedding
this is where art speaks
here lies the fascination with image
and the refinement of taste
here lies the souls' reckless flight
for the knowledge of beauty

here is where we tend to believe
virtue is indeed possible

it is the fundamental nature of knowing
to honor the intuition of curiosity

before answering to anything
in the modern intellectual world
face down the question
with an immense sigh
an "AH" which calls forth
the breadth of the solar system

and the wisdom of god

the buddhist is
in his refusal to strive
striving for something greater

the yogi pulls and contorts his body

the neurosurgeon sits in his office and prays

a nun i know is a fulltime nurse
and has the rosary going in her mind constantly

a rabbi yodels the torah

a muzzein beckons the dawn

the religious inclination is as fundametal to human behaviour
as the methods and tools we have learned to use
as the knowledge of the things we inhabit this world among

to not display this in some manner
would be to acknowledge one day
the "artificial intelligence" of a robot

for even the man who denies religion
displays in his daily ritual
his goings and comings
the very woof and warp of his thoughts
characterized by a daily predictability
punctuated by antiphons
and ritualized generally in some manner
having to do with mind altering pleasures

mircea eliade
was correct in conclusion to
his life long study of world religions
to observe the religiosity of the
"non religious"
they find means of contentment
and conviction of purpose
in their private work
their writing their painting their sculpting

man is that creature who manifests
a peculiarly religious predisposition