In the Next Life, Canto IV, stanzas 1-4

CANTO IV: THE REVELATION

In which we evaluate the boy’s theory and consider whether we should show more compassion, and perhaps even some respect, toward the gods, without whom, after all, we would never have been born.

And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
—Genesis 1:26

Now ’97’s followers are lost.
Their savior died again. This just won’t do.
They gave up all and let themselves be bossed.
If she keeps dying they won’t know what’s true.

If she’s legitimate, she’s lost her touch.
She’s left them ere she told them what to be,
and rising twice from death would be too much,
unless it’s just some parlor trickery.

Oh, never mind the poor thing never claimed
she was a god or anything like that.
They feel embarrassed; therefore, she’ll get blamed.
They have the human character down pat.

It’s quite a shame it had to end so soon.
Old One could use a little help right now.
A miracle like that would be a boon
to Tincandom, though they would not know how.

Let us make man: The reason for using this quote becomes apparent shortly. Merrimac avoids holding this up next to the belief in the One True God as some have. “Suppose you believed that people should stop washing away their natural body oils. Would you analyze Ivory Soap to learn whether it’s really 99 and 44/100 percent pure? I doubt that finding more than .56% of non-soapy stuff would persuade anyone to stop bathing. Besides, my purpose is not to dissuade anyone from religion, nor even to make fun of it. I’m just throwing some ideas out for discussion.”
Parlor trickery: So why don’t they simply pretend they saw a miracle and agree on a story to spread? I suspect it’s due to a lack of encouragement from the would-be savior herself. I think he could have developed this contrast with Christianity a little more.
Human character: I believe this is the only place where the author directly compares the carriers to our own species.
Would not know how: Here is the central message of this whole undertaking. Religion is good for humanity, but not in any of the ways it has been made out to be so, and there are important reasons for us not to understand the nature of the relationship. Religion benefits humanity only if we consider humanity as something essentially separate from the individuals comprising it. Merrimac believes he is the first thinker to make this distinction wide enough to see between the two. I think Dawkins and some others have made it that far, but they perhaps weren’t looking through the gap at quite the same angle.

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 381-390

“Here’s what we’ll do: We’ll stop and make our camp
and find some fresh disciples in the morn.
The ones we have won’t do to make our stamp.
Their humans know that few are in this borne.

We’ll watch for signals in the newer set.
When one displays its red light we’ll do ours.
They’ll have to give us half, so half we’ll get,
and some will be like you—some pretty flowers.

“I’ll pollinate their pistillated parts.
They’ll be unable to resist this bod.
And you’ll be first among the fallen hearts.
Youl’ll get your due before I spend my wad.

“From that I’ll get my raw materiel,
along with pre-existing empty slates.
I’ll write thereon that the most lasting Hell
is that which blind obedience creates.”

Her bubble burst, poor Esther stood and stared.
It seemed to her that everything had stopped.
She drew a breath, and though extremely scared,
reached downward for the panel she had dropped.

He rolled his eyes and said, “How cute you look,
but soon your arm will tire; you’ll leave it lay.”
She knew she would; he’d read her like a book.
He paused a moment; then he turned away.

Despite her normal youthful lack of sense,
our heroine could still tell right from wrong,
and wrong it was to practice violence
for selfish reasons. No, she must be strong.

Her grip relaxed; her shoulder took the weight.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and prayed.
A Christian, she must not be moved by hate.
A judgment based on values must be made.

’Twas momentary anger, she could tell.
His was no crime the law would recognize,
and killing him would sentence her as well.
Plus, now she’d no advantage of surprise.

Besides, her jealousy had no good base.
The skull before her was not hers to break.
The Mission, though, was quite another case.
She had to do it for the Mission’s sake.

The Mission’s sake: So Ciral thought he understood how culturgens influenced people’s behavior, but having grown up in a culture that lacked powerful beliefs, he didn’t grasp how strong that influence could be. Merrimac chose not to develop this theme, preferring instead to hit us on the head with it, as it were,

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac