The Decaying Days Of Rome (The Modern Man's Creed) Poem by Daniel Partlow

As in the decaying days of Rome, Stoicism is called 'Right'.
Playing to the pride, a memory of a national emphasis on Might.

And Epicureanism called 'Left' encourages the indulgence of every vulgar passion
Hedonisms flaming arrows have left the walls of modesty charred and ashen.

Absolute right is replaced by Might as is the Sanctity of Marriage
Abortion is embraced because of the bother of the baby carriage.

Unnatural vices - practiced and prophesied by the leading thinkers.
Profoundly advocating the life of adulterers, pedophiles, and drinkers.

Now hear the creed for the new Rome’s great defrauding hustles:
We believe in many Hegels, Neitzes, Marxs, Freuds, Rands and Russells,

We believe all is good, as long as you don’t hurt anyone... to your awareness
Whatever your definition of hurt or aware – that’s our idea of fairness.

We believe in sex before, during, and after marriage and the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun, and that promoting sodomy is a big political win.

We believe that all taboos are taboo.
And that there is nothing we need to eschew.

We believe that everything is getting better despite evidence to the contrary.
But all ‘evidence’ is subject to our spin and therefore any whim can carry.

We believe there is something in horoscopes, UFO’s, and bent spoons.
Jesus was a good man like Buddha, Mohammad, you, and countless more bafoons.

Yes, he’s good moral teacher, but we really think his good morals stink.
All religions are basically alike, at least the one we read was.. we think.

They all believe in love and goodness to make us a bit more convivial
The differences on Sin, Heaven, Hell, God and Salvation, are all just trivial.

We believe that after death comes nothing
For when you ask the dead what happens? they say nothing.

If death isn’t the end, and the dead have lied, then heaven must be guaranteed.
For all except perhaps Hitler, Stalin, George Bush, or those of Fundie-Creed.

We believe that man is essentially good – except in his behavior.
This is the fault of society and therefore only society can be his saviour.

Each man must find the truth that is right for him and write his own psalter.
Reality will adapt, the universe will adjust, and history will alter.

There is no absolute truth, except the truth
That there is no pure and absolute truth (or so we teach our youth) .

We believe in the rejection of any holy creeds
And the flowering of individual thought and resultant deeds

If Chaos be the father of all flesh, disaster is his rainbow in heaven.
And when you hear: “State of Emergency, ” or “Sniper kills seven”

“Troops Rampage, ” “Bomb Blasts School, ” or “Church-Arson Claims Another”
It is but the sound of the world worshipping its false and fallen father.*



*Much of this piece is based on the work of Ravi Zacharias and Steve Turner's Modern Man's Creed