Msg#: 1937                                         Date: 02-25-95  01:32
  From: Sean Mccullough                              Read: Yes    Replied: No
    To: Dan Ceppa                                    Mark:
  Subj: laughing

 > ... "Cogito, ergo Dei non est"  (I think, therefore I am an atheist.)

Dan!!

That Latin's __screwed__ !!

Try "Cogito, ergo atheistus sum". The Romans had the Greek
term (the Greeks were right next door) and it makes better
sense than what you quoted. "Dei" is plural (Gods) and
"Est" is SINGULAR (he, she, it is).

The closest correct Latin involves fixing one to agree with the other, to wit:

"Cogito, ergo Dei non sunt"   --  I think, therefore the Gods are not; or

"Cogito, ergo Deus non est"   -- I think, therefore God is not

The correct Latin for "I am an atheist", however, is
"Atheistus sum" (for Dans, Frederics, Styxs, Seans, etc.)
or "Atheista sum" (for Judiths, Gwennies, Suzannes,
Blanches, etc.).

I __hate__ mangled Latin. Especially when it's the Gauls
who mangle it. (Italians, especially Tuscans, are far
gentler to their Latin!)

Ah, Dopefish, Dopefish..............

                                   slack -- s.