Unbelievers Poem by Frank Avon

in this Era of Unbelief,
especially academics

(our current scribes & phraisees)
with their degrees in theology

no longer supported by belief, but
in line for tenure and promotions

must explain...
er, 'devise an explanation for'

a humble Jewish tekton
who would become

in one generation
the Holy Son of God,

of a virgin born,
from his tomb arisen.

Rumors, they say,
'fabulous concoctions, '

hallucinations
'of the evangelists' own devising.

Josephus, you must believe:
all his facts are real,

not mere truths,
mere tales of gods and heroes,

except the passage
where he speaks of Jesus,

'appears to repeat
the entire gospel formula, '

but, of course,
academics must argue

this is not really Josephus,
their gospel truth,

but 'corrupted, '
'later interpolation, '

'its authenticity dubious, '
'futile attempts'

to cull 'some sliver of historicity, '
still it's significant

for it happens to mention
Jesus' crucifixion.

So unbelievers believe
what's 'true' is not 'real'

nor the 'real, ' really 'true, '
unless they declare it's

- oh, yes -
believable.