Beliefs

 

I am sometimes asked, usually by those who cannot understand my devout atheism, what I believe in.

There is an inference that, if I do not believe in a god, specifically the one they believe in, then I cannot be a good man. They argue that without a code then I am somehow morally bankrupt.

Here then, is my code. It is by no means original, but it is simple. It can be summed up in just six words

They are :

Diversity
Tolerance
Inclusion
Equality
Human Kindness

I did think about writing here and explaining the nature, the relevance, the importance of each element – in isolation and holistically. But that would be preaching – something to which I have a great aversion.

Except to say that I personally feel these beliefs are core to a family, a community, a country, a world living in harmony. I live and breathe by them.

And I have yet to find a mainstream religion or a political manifesto which truly embraces all five of them.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

It disappoints and depresses me that, in the four years since writing this, the leadership and politics of ALL major countries have shifted further (in some cases dramatically) towards positions directly opposed to the above principles. And religion … well … best left unsaid.

Photo by Schlegel Doyle

 

Beliefs

 

I am sometimes asked, usually by those who cannot understand my devout atheism, what I believe in.

There is an inference that, if I do not believe in a god, specifically the one they believe in, then I cannot be a good man. They argue that without a code then I am somehow morally bankrupt.

Here then, is my code. It is by no means original, but it is simple. It can be summed up in just six words

They are :

Diversity
Tolerance
Inclusion
Equality
Human Kindness

I did think about writing here and explaining the nature, the relevance, the importance of each element – in isolation and holistically. But that would be preaching – something to which I have a great aversion.

Except to say that I personally feel these beliefs are core to a family, a community, a country, a world living in harmony. I live and breathe by them.

And I have yet to find a mainstream religion or a political manifesto which truly embraces all five of them.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

It depresses me that, in the two years since writing this , the leadership and politics of ALL countries have shifted further (in some cases dramatically) towards positions directly opposed to the above principles. And religion … well … best left unsaid.

Photo by Schlegel Doyle

 

Me – The ‘small print’

 

Some followers on WordPress and Twitter are surprised and disappointed when I express political or general opinions, outside of what they ‘expect’ from me. A number unfollowed me today after my recent tweet mocking the ludicrous idea that more guns make for a safer society.

Rather than you all unfollow me in an untidy fashion as you realise that I am not quite what you expected, I have decided to post this ‘small print’ about me, so all those who wish to take offence at my beliefs can disappear at once. I am certain there is something in here to upset most people but I do feel obliged to come clean about the man behind the writer.

I am white, male, English and middle-aged.
I am a socialist.
I am an atheist.
I am not poor (or particularly rich) by UK standards, and certainly not poor by world standards.
I would rather live in a poor, caring, fair society than a rich, uncaring, unfair one.
I believe all lives, whoever, wherever, are equal.
I believe all human beings have a right to food, water, and shelter
I believe we are all responsible for the safety and well-being of the children of the world.
I abhor discrimination by race, country of origin, sex (in the widest possible sense), age, religion (even though I am an atheist) and I abhor discrimination due to (lack of) wealth or education.
I abhor misogyny and the oppression and abuse of women in all societies
I abhor discrimination against those who face mental or physical challenges, or who are simply not like the ‘norm’.
I believe it is totally unacceptable that 1% of the world’s population own 50% of the world’s wealth, and that the gap between rich and poor globally is widening.
I think capitalism without morality has failed the majority
I hate the cult of money, and also the cult of celebrity.
I despise fervent nationalism or tribalism because it seldom leads to good outcomes. Flags should be reserved for sporting events.

There is probably more, but I am as bored with writing this as you probably are with reading it. Those who have decided to leave have probably left. There is more about me here and here if you can be bothered.

Please exit quietly. Hopefully some will remain.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Art by Fabian Perez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not all lives matter to me

ALL lives matter

It is not a cliché. Or a slogan. Or a wish. It is a truth.

Whatever sex, shade of skin, home country or country of origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, background, wealth or poverty, tribe, social standing, class or caste.

ALL lives matter.

Not only do all lives matter. But they all matter EQUALLY.

Nobody but nobody, is better or more important than anyone else.

But whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, if other innocent lives matter so little to you that you are prepared to kill, maim, rape, bully, terrorise, harass, subjugate or damage other lives …

Then your life does not matter to me

Not one little bit.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Photograph taken from the web. I was going to use photos of flag waving ISIS extremists or American white supremacists or similar from elsewhere, but I could not bear to look at their foul hate filled faces.

 

A Holy Season

 

A Holy Season

.

It is a holy season.

Cruel winds

shrill at the corners

scrub my face raw.

I hear a choir

dying in every gust.

.

It is a holy season.

Ragged chanting

from the perennial faithful

to celebrate birth.

.

It is a holy season.

Merciless children

torment the purses

of betrayed mothers,

extracting promises

like teeth.

.

It is a holy season.

Her head rests

blind

on my shoulder

leaking tears.

Her dead breath

is captured

in my curls.

.

It is a holy season.

I will undress it,

blue-fingered torture

from collar

to spine.

.

It is a holy season.

Licking thin lips

fresh with the taste

of salt and blood.

.

It is a holy season.

The meek

dream of inheritance

while the mighty

steal the shirts

from their backs.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Written during a bitter winter long ago when I lost my heart, my words, and the last tattered remnants of faith – in religion, in politics, in big business. In the time since I wrote this the rich have become far richer all over the world. And much more skilled at lying and stealing. Hence Trump.

It has become a ritual for me to post this every year. An antidote to the commerciality and tacky sentimentality that the season swims in.

photograph borrowed from diginoobsi

 

Beliefs

I am sometimes asked, usually by those who cannot understand my devout atheism, what I believe in.

There is an inference that, if I do not believe in a god, specifically the one they believe in, then I cannot be a good man. They argue that without a code then I am somehow morally bankrupt.

Here then, is my code. It is by no means original, but it is simple. It can be summed up in just six words

They are :

Diversity
Tolerance
Inclusion
Equality
Human Kindness

I did think about writing here and explaining the nature, the relevance, the importance of each element – in isolation and holistically. But that would be preaching – something to which I have a great aversion.

Except to say that I personally feel these beliefs are core to a family, a community, a country, a world living in harmony.

And that I have yet to find a mainstream religion or a political manifesto which truly embraces all five of them.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Photo by Schlegel Doyle

 

 

 

A holy season

.

It is a holy season.

Cruel winds

shrill at the corners

scrub my face raw.

I hear a choir

dying in every gust.

.

It is a holy season.

Ragged chanting

from the perennial faithful

to celebrate birth.

.

It is a holy season.

Merciless children

torment the purses

of betrayed mothers,

extracting promises

like teeth.

.

It is a holy season.

Her head rests

blind

on my shoulder

leaking tears.

Her dead breath

is captured

in my curls.

.

It is a holy season.

I will undress it,

blue-fingered torture

from collar

to spine.

.

It is a holy season.

Licking thin lips

fresh with the taste

of salt and blood.

.

It is a holy season.

The meek

dream of inheritance

while the mighty

steal the shirts

from their backs.

.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant

Written during a bitter winter long ago when I lost my heart, my words, and the last tattered remnants of faith.

Not quite what you expected …

photograph stolen from NobodysCupcake

 

Religion

She has travelled from far to be here.

She is naked.

Kneeling.

Her face upturned, her hair cascading onto her pale shoulders. The reverent light from a dozen candles is bathing her skin. Her eyes are shining.

In them I can see my own solemn, intense. devout reflection.

The night is silent, fragrant with incense, sublime with devotion, hushed still by this moment.

This sacred, divine, wondrous, holy moment.

This is my religion.

.

© the author writing as Romantic Dominant.

Painting stolen from dzwizard1954