Pavlov's Dogs

[TheRedneckProfessor]

Sitting in The Chapel...

 

Someone preached loudly

And we all clapped and sang

 

Someone preached softly

And we all knew that gentle stirring

 

Someone preached shamefully

And we all felt conviction

 

Someone preached Hellfire and Brimstone

And we all were sore afraid

 

Someone preached on the Glories of Foreign Missions (hallelujah!)

And we all said, "Here am I. Lord, Send Me!"

 

And then...

Oh that Great and Glorious THEN...

 

Then Somone rang the Dinner Bell

And we all slobbered and left.

[Margee]

....... no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings.........

[Fweethawt]

....... no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings.........

You kinda missed the point here, Margery.

 

This isn't a piece on breaking away from the church. Its just showing what happens on any given Sunday.

 

People go to church to be manipulated by the preachers. Their moods and feelings change with the whim of whatever the preacher is saying and how he says it. Then, when its all over (dinner bell rings), everybody heads out eat.

 

Totally reactionary -- just like Pavlov's dogs.

[Margee]

 

....... no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings.........

You kinda missed the point here, Margery.

 

This isn't a piece on breaking away from the church. Its just showing what happens on any given Sunday.

 

People go to church to be manipulated by the preachers. Their moods and feelings change with the whim of whatever the preacher is saying and how he says it. Then, when its all over (dinner bell rings), everybody heads out eat.

 

Totally reactionary -- just like Pavlov's dogs.

 

I guess 'buff' missed the point to Fweethawty cause she gave me a point!!    Oh well, that was the first mistake I ever made in my life!! Damn!

[Overcame Faith]

 

 

....... no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings.........

 

You kinda missed the point here, Margery.

This isn't a piece on breaking away from the church. Its just showing what happens on any given Sunday.

People go to church to be manipulated by the preachers. Their moods and feelings change with the whim of whatever the preacher is saying and how he says it. Then, when its all over (dinner bell rings), everybody heads out eat.

Totally reactionary -- just like Pavlov's dogs.

I guess 'buff' missed the point to Fweethawty cause she gave me a point!! Oh well, that was the first mistake I ever made in my life!! Damn!

I don't think you made a mistake, Margee. Good poetry is subject to multiple interpretations and your interpretation seems reasonable to me. It could be that the author is suggesting that when people realize the Pavlovian nature of church, that realization could lead one to deconverting and thus, as you said, "...no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings."

 

You are now back to your previous status of being mistake free. LOL

[buffettphan]

 Good poetry is subject to multiple interpretations

 

 

 

Exactly.  (Kinda like the bible... )

 

I "got" the literal (fundamentalist) interpretation of the poem, but carried it a few steps further to the a-ha moment of enlightenment of the brainwashed ones (all of us ex-c'ers) - and no longer being a puppet.  

[Fweethawt]

 

 

....... no longer to be 'puppets' on anyone's strings.........

 

You kinda missed the point here, Margery.

This isn't a piece on breaking away from the church. Its just showing what happens on any given Sunday.

People go to church to be manipulated by the preachers. Their moods and feelings change with the whim of whatever the preacher is saying and how he says it. Then, when its all over (dinner bell rings), everybody heads out eat.

Totally reactionary -- just like Pavlov's dogs.

I guess 'buff' missed the point to Fweethawty cause she gave me a point!!    Oh well, that was the first mistake I ever made in my life!! Damn!

I just put a point on everyone's post. Therefore I must be completely mistaken when I say that you all missed the point of this piece.

[TheRedneckProfessor]

Okay, I feel the need to interject here in order to clarify.  Both interpretations are correct.  I wrote the poem originally with the reactionary, knee-jerk observation in mind that freethawt astutely recognized (I was still in church at the time).  However, having left the church, I can concede that the end of the poem can accomodate the "finally free" interpretation as championed by Margee and more fully expounded upon by buffetphan and OvercameFaith.  Therefore, gold stars for everyone.

[Overcame Faith]

Okay, I feel the need to interject here in order to clarify.  Both interpretations are correct.  I wrote the poem originally with the reactionary, knee-jerk observation in mind that freethawt astutely recognized (I was still in church at the time).  However, having left the church, I can concede that the end of the poem can accomodate the "finally free" interpretation as championed by Margee and more fully expounded upon by buffetphan and OvercameFaith.  Therefore, gold stars for everyone.

You are a true diplomat. LOL

[Fweethawt]

Okay, I feel the need to interject here in order to clarify.  Both interpretations are correct.  I wrote the poem originally with the reactionary, knee-jerk observation in mind that freethawt astutely recognized (I was still in church at the time).  However, having left the church, I can concede that the end of the poem can accomodate the "finally free" interpretation as championed by Margee and more fully expounded upon by buffetphan and OvercameFaith.  Therefore, gold stars for everyone.

I don't think you know what you're talking about. You see... I... Wait a minute... Hmph.

 

Yeah. Okay.

 

Okay.