Hi, all!

I just read a couple of these threads on a whim, hoping for, well, I don't know what. I never expected such a fascinating and intellectual discussion- thanks you all for your intelligence and tolerance! I go to school in Virginia, and the campus is overwhelmingly Christian. I'm agnostic; the attitudes of most of the people I know towards that can get very wearing. A lot of people I know (including a roommate...grr!) don't seem to be able to accept that I'm actually happy with such a belief system, and really don't secretly yearn to be converted. It's wonderful to have found a group of folks who don't consider agnosticism/atheism to make one a sort of misguided moral misfit!

As to the original question of this thread, I'd like to suggest a very old Celtic song, written by a poet named, I believe (though I can't vouch for the spelling), Amergin Glungel. The version I have is called "Wind on Sea", and it's recorded by Anuna on their CD "Invocation". The lyrics are in English, translated from the original poem and then set to music. It's not really a song celebrating atheism, but it does celebrate the self in an almost religious way.

The chorus reads: "Who but I can cast light upon the meeting of the mountains? Who but I will cry aloud the changes of the moon? Who but I can find the place where hides away the Sun?"

And one last comment, concerning the Carmina Burana. A little bit of history- these songs were written, for the most part, by men known as Goliards or clerici vagantes (wandering clerics). During, I believe, the 9th through 13th centuries, these men generally drifted around Europe seeking learning and writing poetry. And yes, some of it is pretty racy. The Goliard songs were generally written about women, drinking, the corruption of the church, and the joys of the wandering lifestyle. One of my favorites is the Archpoet's "Goliardic Confession".

"Made of the light stuff of the elements, I am like a leaf, with which the winds play."

Beautiful Latin; the beginning celebrates the many pleasures of not being tied down to anything- both local and moral.

Sorry this is so long and rambling! If my info's wrong, let me know- I'm a Latin fan, but I'm a little too lazy (and busy!) to give it the time I should.

Valete! Prezmyra