or how i
stopped worrying and
learned to love the b*mb
.
i read in the wall street paper
that protestant denominations
in the nations of the west have
been shrinking shrinking up
to forty and sixty per cent
.
.
closing closing
churches and choirs
daycares and chapels
losing losing members
money and preachers
sunday school
teachers
aldermen
deacons
and clerks
(oh my)
.
.
the
faithful
distracted
disinterested
halved by division
dissolution scandal
but the churchyards
still booming booming
with generational change
.
going going are altars
and communion cups
coat racks and pews
hymnals and chairs
donation plates
clerical robes crosses
.
.
.
the roman church is booming booming
in the developing nations around
the world despite perhaps
because of its most
serious threat of
schism
since
1054
a.d.
and
at least
there
are
three
practicing shakers still left on earth