On Tue, 26 Nov 2002, Mia McDavid wrote: >The term I use is 'belief' and 'believer.' I tend to dislike >'religious' because it is often identified with outward show and >trappings as opposed to really trying to walk the walk. > >Of course, I contend that an atheist "believes" in the absence of God >(unlike a blue sky, not easily provable). So, we're no farther >forrader, are we? 'Faith' and 'faithful', same problem. DDB expresses >great faith in his atheistic worldview. > >What about 'mystic?' What we're really looking for, I think, is the >antonym to 'materialist.' > 'Immaterialist'? <*rimshot*> I found almost all of the Agnostics Prayer/Litany, by the way: http://www.freenetpages.co.uk/hp/lennybruce/jokes/agnostics-prayer.txt (and added in the missing line below) Madrak the Preacher, from "Creatures of Light and Darkness". Ah, the classics. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Possibly Proper Death Litany "Insofar as I may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what I say, I ask, if it matters, that you be forgiven for anything you may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. Conversely, if not forgiveness but something else may be required to insure any possible benefit for which you may be eligible after the destruction of your body, I ask that this, whatever it may be, be granted or withheld, as the case may be, in such a manner as to insure your receiving said benefit. I ask this in my capacity as your elected intermediary between yourself and that which may not be yourself, but which may have an interest in the matter of your receiving as much as it is possible for you to receive of this thing, and which may in some way be influenced by this ceremony. Amen." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Then into the hands of Whatever May Be that is greater than life or death, I resign myself -- if this act will be of any assistance in preserving my life. If it will not, I do not. If my saying this thing at all be presumptuous, and therefore not well received by Whatever may or may not care to listen, then I withdraw the statement and ask forgiveness, if this thing be desired. If not, I do not. On the other hand ..." (at this point, Madrak is interrupted, as his companion feels the accomplishment of the objective of Madrak's prayer -- and the preservation of his own life -- will be better served by getting the hell out of there). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "Thou who might be our Father, Who perhaps may be in heaven..." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "...hallowed be thy name, if a name thou hast and any desire to see it hallowed..." -----------------------------------------------------------------------