Atheistic Sonnet XIV

Batter My Heart

Batter my heart, too-few-person'd Reason ; for you

As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;

That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend

Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.

I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,

Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.

Curiosity, your viceroy in me, me should embolden,

But is blackmailed, and proves sedated or afraid.

Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,

But was birthed captive unto your enemy ;

Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,

Take me to you, emancipate me, for my mind,

Except you enthrall it, never shall be free,

Nor I, ever chaste, except you ravish me.

- My thank you note to Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, for whipping the crutches of religion out from under me, slapping me on the forehead and proclaiming "Hallelujah, he can walk!". Their passion was what urged my scientific curiosity to finally address the issue of my 'crutches of religion' that I had for years ignored, and effectively assumed they were not necessary, but never quite had the courage to try walk without them. To drag a metaphor out (!), they helped me realise that there was no need to believe that I needed the crutch, or should prolong addressing the contemplation of their disposal 'just in case', when I knew from evidence that my legs worked fine without them.... and now I'm running marathons!

This is my "adaptation" of John Donne's sonnet "Batter My Heart", written in the 1600's.

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Why Blog?

A question I've been asking myself while trying to think of a good first post for this, my first blog. A few reasons really, is the short answer. The most recent catalyst that has spurred me on has been my renewed interest in biology, evolution and psychology. I've been mulling over a few thoughts I've had, exploring posibilities in my head and enjoying learning new things, but when I attempt to discuss my ideas with my friends and family I become acutely aware of how rapidly I'm boring them! If I was of the scientific persuasion (which I'm not, and have no academic or professional experience in the field) I suppose I would write essays or papers on my theories and thoughts, and maybe submit them to a journal, or discuss them with work colleagues. But, as I said, I'm not! Hence plan b: the personal blog.


So for now, what I hope to get out of this is a place to vent my thoughts, because I'm too kind to inflict that brain vomit on family and friends! In time, who knows, maybe my blog might attract others with similar interests, and it could become a place for discussion. But I won't get ahead of myself, for now I'll blog because it beats talking to a wall, and I prefer the slim possibility of someone reading my blog and taking interest in my musings, than the almost certainty of me boring the ear off someone in the real world!

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