Every year
we hear again the story
of the sceptical dismissal
of the resurrection reports by Thomas
Every year, at least on this day,
we get to celebrate restless enquirers
and affirm their questioning.
Let us hear it for those who trepidly wear
the label of ‘agnostic;’
those honest men and women
who are willing to admit
that they simply don’t know.
They remind us all
of the sad limitations of certainty.
Hurray for all those carefully considered
unbelievers; it was god
(however she is conceived)
who gave them their enquiring minds.
They help keep the good christians on their toes
and bless them with a boundary
to their smugness.
Be grateful for Richard Dawkins
and all the other evangelising atheists;
without them our own literalisers
and fundamentalists would run
rampant and unchecked.
Every year we are prompted to rejoice
in those with reservations;
questioners, doubters,
sceptics, cynics
and all who struggle to believe.
Give thanks to your god for the dear people
whose objections keep us honest,
and who lead us once again
back to the Galilean teacher
to listen to what he really said.
© 2012 Ken Rookes
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