From: wahidazal66@gmail.com   
      
   On Sunday, 23 June 2002 06:30:06 UTC+2, Freethought110  wrote:   
   > The Evil of Theocratic Government   
   >    
   > 105Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a man named Adam. 106And   
   > God spoke unto Adam, saying, "Thou art the Best-Beloved of the worlds"; and   
   > He raised him up as a messenger. 107And Adam arose and taught His faith unto   
   > the people, reforming their doctrines and practices, and seeking to build a   
   > new civilization.   
   >    
   > 108Now there was a great ring that had been forged from the very foundation   
   > of the world by the lord of darkness. 109He brought it forth from the lake   
   > of fire as the supreme ring of power. 110And whosoever did possess and use   
   > this ring could rise up and become the Lord of all the worlds. 111But the   
   > Lord of Light prevented the lord of darkness from using the ring himself,   
   > and He said unto him, "I will allow thee to give thy ring unto any mortal   
   > man that I choose. 112And I will assist this man to refrain from using it.   
   > 113But thou mayest seek to tempt him into using it as thine agent." 114And   
   > the dark lord agreed to this bargain, hoping that the lure of power would   
   > convince any man to use his ring.   
   >    
   > 115When Adam was raised up to prophethood, God came unto him saying, "O   
   > Adam, O My messenger! 116Verily do We warn thee that Satan fast cometh upon   
   > thee with a great ring, and he shall tempt thee therewith. 117Use not this   
   > ring; slip it not on thy finger! 118For if thou dost use the ring of the   
   > dark lord, thou shalt become his slave, and he shall become thy master.   
   > 119Thou mayest adorn thyself with anything We have provided for thee, but   
   > never with the ring from the lord of darkness." 120And Adam said unto God,   
   > "Yea, O my Lord of Light! 121I will resist the temptation of Satan and do as   
   > Thou commandeth. 122For truly Thou art mine only Lord."   
   >    
   > 123Sure enough, Satan appeared unto Adam in the form of a serpent; and the   
   > golden ring encircled his graceful form. 124And the serpent said unto the   
   > man, "O Adam! O most glorious prophet of God! 125Thou art the supreme   
   > manifestation of the Lord of Light, and for many cycles shall all men be   
   > under thy shadow. 126Truly do I pay thee homage, O most noble messenger!"   
   > 127But Adam said, "Depart from me, Satan! 128For the Lord hath warned me   
   > about thine evil ring, and I want not what thou hast to offer me."   
   > 129But the serpent retorted, "Hath thy Lord not told thee about the power of   
   > my ring? 130He doth not want thee to wear it, because then thou shouldst   
   > become the Lord of all the worlds -- so wonderful and glorious art thou, O   
   > Adam!" 131And Adam said, "Is this the truth? 132For God hath told me that if   
   > I should take thy ring and slip it on my finger, I would surely become thy   
   > slave." 133But the serpent answered, "Nay, thy Lord hath sought to trick   
   > thee, and to deny thee thy rightful portion. 134Here is the ring of power;   
   > We have chosen to give it to thee. 135Use this ring, and gain for thyself   
   > the mastery of all creation! 136Use this ring, and all shall bow down at thy   
   > command! 137Use this ring, and thine order shall never pass from this   
   > earth!" 138And Adam, seeing the beauty of the ring, did take it.   
   >    
   > 139And one day, Adam spoke unto his followers, saying, "Seek not the things   
   > of this world, but seek only the things of God. 140Restrain yourselves from   
   > your lusts, and your cravings, and your desires; and hew the path of   
   > moderation in all things. 141And if the powerful in the earth be leagued   
   > against you, fight not but with the sword of the Spirit and the arrows of   
   > the angels descending from heaven. 142For the wicked may sin with impunity   
   > in this world, but verily in the world beyond they shall be judged by the   
   > Almighty, the All-Wise." 143And when Adam taught these things, his followers   
   > turned away in disappointment, for they wished for the victory in the life   
   > of flesh, and they regarded not the things beyond. 144And they said unto   
   > him, "O prophet! Canst thou not ask our Lord to bring forth for us different   
   > verses? 145For these verses are sour upon the tongue and discordant in the   
   > ear."   
   >    
   > 146And Adam prayed unto the Lord, saying, "O God my God! 147The people have   
   > turned away from Us in heedlessness, for they find not Our verses sweet and   
   > melodious. 148Inspire me with another message, O Lord, that my people may   
   > regain their faith." 149But the Lord rebuked Adam, saying, "It is for thee   
   > to deliver My message, whether the people agree or dissent."   
   >    
   > 150So Adam, immersed in sorrow, found the ring of the dark lord hidden   
   > within his garment. 151And he did slip it on his finger. 152Wearing the ring   
   > of power, he went forth again unto his people, and he spoke unto them the   
   > verses of Satan: for the will of the tempter had entered into his heart.   
   > 153And he recited words of great power and magnificence, saying, "This is   
   > the Day that shall not be followed by night. 154In this Day, the Lord hath   
   > established His reign in the earth. 155In this Day, all lands and peoples   
   > shall come under the dominion of a new world order, an order that shall   
   > supplant all nations and kings. 156It shall be an order infallible, an order   
   > unchallengeable, an order invincible, an order undeniable. 157Assuredly it   
   > shall be an order unending. 158For in this Day, all the earth shall become   
   > as the garden of paradise; and all may eat freely of the fruits of the Lord.   
   > 159Nothing shall be restrained from you; nothing shall be withheld from you.   
   > 160It shall be heaven on earth, and your leaders shall be as the gods."   
   >    
   > 161And the people did love these verses. 162And it came to pass that they   
   > forgot all that Adam had taught them of the Lord of Light, but they   
   > remembered everything of the lord of darkness. 163And they knew not the   
   > difference, for only Adam knew when he wore the ring of power.   
   >    
   > 164And when Adam's days were finished in the earth, he ascended and entered   
   > into the presence of the All-Glorious. 165And God said unto His messenger,   
   > "O messenger, whose cycle shall endure for many cycles in the earth! 166Thou   
   > hast been a true messenger, and hast faithfully delivered My message.   
   > 167Wherefore however hast thou used the ring of the dark lord? 168For I   
   > commanded thee never to let it slip upon thy finger, but thou didst cast   
   > aside My counsel and allowed thyself to utter the verses of error." 169And   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)