Religion & Politics

go on & have your talk with God

tell me all about it if you want

talk about them scriptures that you've read

tell me what you think should be in my head

CHORUS:    I stay away

                   from religion & politics

                   I stay away

                   from politics & religion

                   I stay away

                   from bullshit competitions

listen to your news

choose the channel that tells you what you want to hear

campaign for the other to lose

vote with your fear

CHORUS

I have listened to what you think

when will it be my turn to speak

do you want to hear what I have to say

or do you only want me to agree

CHORUS

Your God Is You

take a look in the mirror

and say hello to God

God is the voice in your head

that tells you what you want

tells you what to do

your God is you

CHORUS:  wake up wake up

                   from your ancient dreams

                   wake up wake up

                   and be free

                   wake up wake up

                   from your ancestors’ dreams

                   wake up wake up

                   and be free

you can try to make me believe

you can try to scare me to agree

but I refuse to get on my knees

I refuse to help you believe

your God can’t tell me what to do

cause I know your God is you

CHORUS

you’re caught in a delusion

you’re mind is full of confusion

Neighbors

paint your pretty pictures

& put on your church clothes

you can play the good guy

& polish your halo

I'll be the bad guy

I'll sleep in on Sundays

I'll get drunk & have fun every Saturday night

I'll do it my way

CHORUS:  I won't rain on your parade

                   if you don't rain on mine

                   I won't piss on your leg

                   if you don't piss on mine

                   you can have your faith in hell

                   & I can have my good time

                   I will be your friendly neighbor

                   if you will be mine

we don't have to agree to get along

we can be free

I can sing my ungodly songs

& you can preach what you believe

but if you're preachin' with the sword

My name is John Paul / Bruce. I just wanted to introduce myself real quick. I am 29 years old and have recently become an atheist... I chased sex, drugs and rock & roll from highschool to college. In college I searched for spirituality and was attracted to eastern thought & rastifarianism. Eventually I realized that truth exists and decided to search for that above spiritual experience. One thing led to another and I became a Christian. I was involved in various ministries. While I was in Mexico I realized that I wanted to committ my life to the poor. Soon after that realization I went to work with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's community). I was a full time live-in volunteer with them for 2 years. After 2 years with them I decided to join the Army when it was clear that we were about to engage in war with Iraq. I was a light infantry soldier and did a 13 month tour in Iraq. My unit was the Q.R.F. (Quick Response Force) which meant that we moved from place to place to plenty of unstable areas that needed our support (from Najaf to Mosul and plenty areas in between). We were constantly on the move and had a handful of combat experiences. I got out of the Army in APR 2006 with an Honorable Discharge and then entered the seminary to become a priest. I was in seminary for one year before leaving. During seminary and after seminary I engaged in deeper critical examination of scripture and theology. Recently I have let go of my belief in God. I have also returned to the Army (as a medic).