The coming of the true faith

Before the true faith came, this world was black with pagan sin;
Each man believed as he saw fit, as conscience spoke within.
But then a new force rose to combat this foul right of choice;
The Cross decreed the race henceforth would worship with one voice.

The Christians spoke of love, of peace, of universal truth;
Small wonder that to spread this precious creed they made good use
Of fire and of the sword, for any pagan who'd deny
This pure and righteous loving faith -- such scum deserved to die!

Indeed, there seemed no limit to the Christians' holiness;
The rack, the scourge, the iron maiden, nothing did they miss,
To bring the truth to erring souls, to write their boundless love
In lines of smoke from witches' pyres across the sky above.

But Satan wasn't beaten yet -- his wiles remained yet strong;
The New World beckoned, where we once again did that great wrong
Of separating church and state, of letting all be free
To have one god or ten or none, with no truth by decree.

Two hundred years this sinful freedom reigned across our land.
But have no fear, the Christian Right is risen, sword in hand,
To turn the nation back toward the righteous way of truth!
For freedom's but a folly of our nation's wicked youth.

It will be so convenient!  They know what's best for you!
They'll tell you what you can and cannot read, or think, or do!
The righteous life comes easy when to sin you are not free;
Will rack and stake return as well?  We'll have to wait and see.....