Karmic Ex Cathedra

Jacob had a ladder, Jesus had a cross,
Paul and Peter built  church and Rome was at a loss
A thousand years it took for new temples to arise
Cathedrals built where pagan rites long ere were compromised
War, neglect and progress in turn laid many of these low
Their congregations converted and killed by former friend and foreign foe
Coveting what others possess, whether women, land or gold
The powers-that -be donned the vestments, shearing sheep in the new fold.

To label that religion means to forget the lessons of the past
In the fictional forge of hell-on-earth it's a mold time and again recast
If indeed a spirit dwells in men, it expresses itself in diverse ways
And cannot be made to reinhabit the follies of yesterday
Virtues such as love and kindness must triumph over vice
Anything less means blindness and a pointless sacrifice.