Where does your Faith lie?

I came across this poem the other day on the ikon web site. Ikon is a "Belfast-based collective who offer anarchic experiments in transformance art, challenging the distinction between theist and atheist, faith and no faith."

The piece is titled "Where Does Your Faith Lie?" written by the poet Jon Hatch. It spoke to me on many levels and stayed with me for days after I read it. What struck me about this poem was the word lie and how each line has multiple interpretations based on how you (the reader) chose to define the word lie. This is not a piece of art presented for ones consumption and thus easily digested. Its purpose is to challenge and provoke you into engaging with the piece itself. It does not judge nor does it let itself be judged. What it does do is invites the reader to judge, not for themselves, but themselves.

Where Does Your Faith Lie?
by John Hatch

Where does your faith lie?

Does your faith lie in the belief that the universe was created in six 24-hour days?

Does your faith lie in there being an ark on Mount Ararat?

Does your faith lie in the account that God once made a donkey talk?

Does your faith lie in the belief that miracles don’t happen?

Does your faith lie in God once wiping out a city of thousands because it had homosexuals living in it?

Does your faith lie in the belief that everything the Bible says about ancient Israel is directly applicable to the modern state of Israel?

Does your faith lie in the belief that you will beat the odds and your smoking will not lead to a long and very painful death due to emphysema?

Does your faith lie in the research of the Royal College of Physicians or in the research funded by the tobacco industry?

Does your faith lie in the notion that the next politician you vote for will not support the next war?

Does your faith lie in Jesus having brothers and sisters?

Does your faith lie in the hope that heaven is full of people like you?

Does your faith lie in the free market?

Does your faith lie in the postcards that Christian Aid has you sent to the Prime Minister?

Does your faith lie in making poverty history?

Does your faith lie in the next president of the United States?

Does your faith lie in the United Nations?

Does your faith lie in scientific rationalism?

Does your faith lie in Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK?

Does your faith lie in the belief that there must be a good reason for why your government is detaining people indefinitely without trial?

Does your faith lie in your own ability to discern the mind of God?

Does your faith lie in the physical resurrection of Jesus?

Does your faith lie in the belief that civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are unavoidable?

Does your faith lie in the hope that a nineteen year-old Iraqi man whose sister and mother were killed by an errant allied cruise missile will not hold you responsible because you once carried a sign that read ‘Not in My Name’?

Does your faith lie in the belief that God does not punish sin?

Does your faith lie in the belief that there was nothing more that you could have done?

Does your faith lie in your tradition being closer to the truth than another?

Does your faith lie in the virgin birth?

Does your faith lie in a balanced diet and exercising?

Does your faith lie in your own body image?

Does your faith lie in the belief that anyone who shoots back is a terrorist?

Does your faith lie in maintenance of the status quo?

Does your faith lie in he (or she) eventually coming to their senses and taking you back?

Does your faith lie in a hell beyond this life for those who didn’t accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and saviour?

Does your faith lie in an endless supply of cheap energy?

Does your faith lie in the Stormont Assembly?

Does your faith lie in the words ‘peacemaker’ and ‘peace supporter’ being synonymous?

Does your faith lie in the belief that ‘follower of Jesus’ and ‘member of a church’ being synonymous?

Does your faith lie in your job?

Does your faith lie in financial savings?

Does your faith lie in the belief that sectarianism has nothing to do with you?

Does your faith lie in liberalism?

Does your faith lie in your own good intentions?

Does your faith lie in the belief that the investment and development coming into Belfast City Centre is significantly improving the lives of those living in the estates in Shankill, Ballymurphy, New Lodge, Ballysillan, Glencairn, Dundonald, Ballymacarrat, the Village, Finaghy, and the Markets?

Does your faith lie in Loving God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and loving your neighbor as yourself?

Does your faith lie in God loving the world so much that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have eternal life?

Where does you faith… Where does your faith… lie?