From: swbaker@vela.acs.oakland.edu (Texas Bob/Eddie Froman depending on th'moon)
Subject: New article: The Prophet Margin...
Organization: Oakland University, Rochester MI.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 16:39:10 GMT

Here's the first of two new articles, ready to go; I'm awaiting confirmation
from the author of the other one before it too is posted.

Without further hesitation...

---------- cut here ----------

%t The Prophet Margin - The Greatest Disciple since... well, Ever!
%s A history of the Prophet Margin
%a John F De Ryckere  (jderyck@engn.uwindsor.ca)
%d 19921204
%f UNREAL
%n 2U15
%i Profit
%i Margin, Prophet Jake
%x Religion
%e
As most beings in the universe already know, Prophet Jake Margin was, and
most likely will always be, the most influential and revered religious figure
of all time.  As opposed to most holy rollers who preached about doing good
to others, this most absolutely irrefutably righteous dude preached about
being good to oneself.  Even, I might add, if it meant being not so good to
your fellow man, insectoid, sentient energy field or what have you.  The good
Prophet originally was one of the more mainstream misguided followers taking
vows of chastity, poverty and other horrible vows.  His religious beliefs
(and the universal economy) were forever changed when he was visited by God
after a nasty fall off of the altar.  As he was convalescing in his hospital
bed with a rather nasty concussion, God visited him (in the form of a talking
bed pan of all things).

The conversation, according to Margin, went as follows:

     God:     Salutations, Margin.  Have I got some news for you!
     Margin:  What?  Who's talking?  Where are you hiding?  Is this Alachoo's
              Funniest Home HoloVids?
     God:     It is I, your God, Margin.  I have brought news of great
              Import.  I am speaking through this bed pan.

At this point Prophet Margin was rapt with attention, although somewhat
dismayed at the form his God would take.

     M:  Are you off your rocker?  God would not take the form of a bed pan!
         Perhaps as a nice potted plant, but a bed pan?  Never!
     G:  I would, and I did.
     M:  Then prove it!
     G:  I know why you fell off of the altar Margin.
     M:  (trembling) Y-you do?
     G:  Yes, I know all.  I would have previously struck you with lightning
         for drunkenness on duty, but this little tidbit changes everything.
     M:  (Astonished)  You must be the real thing.  Heavy.  And I'm to be
         your messenger?  I'm not worthy...
     G:  Yes I know, but good messengers are hard to find these days.  My
         news is this.  All of my disciples must set forth to maximize their
         net worth.  Tell them to become filthy rich at all costs.
     M:  But I thought you said to be rich in spirit, to shun material
         wealth!
     G:  I changed my mind.  I can do that, you know.  Tell them to become
         rich, millionaires even.  They can use whatever means are at their
         disposal.
     M:  Any means?
     G:  Yes, any means.  Suppose you were under the blistering suns of the
         desert world Kunth'k.  You have an ample supply of water, food, and
         so on.  Through the desert comes crawling a bedraggled millionaire.
         Days without food and water.  What do you do?
     M:  Why, I give him some of my food and water, of course!  It is the
         right thing to do.
     G:  Screw the right thing!  You take him for all he is worth.  Give him
         food and water, but only after he agrees to relinquish his millions.
     M:  I can't preach that -- it's heresy!
     G:  Well it came from me, so it can't be heresy.  I'll tell you what:
         as my messenger you should be rewarded.  All my followers will have
         to give you ten percent of their wealth.
     M:  Well, I suppose it isn't that bad.  I mean after all, the guy still
         does get food and water.  I suppose in fact a lot more people would
         be willing to help out that fellow.  OK, yeah, I think it's a good
         idea.  A great one in fact!  I'd be delighted to preach your word!
     G:  Oh, by the way, Margin.  Forget the chastity bit as well.  Sex is
         now a valuable commodity.
     M:  Really.  You mean I'm free to have sex?
     G:  Yes, you're free to have sex.  And not just with yourself any more.
     M:  (blushing) Right!

With this, Prophet Margin went into the universe preaching the new and
improved word of God.  He did meet some resistance from the 'old guard' of
the priesthood, but this resistance dwindled as the money from penances
started to earn the converted priests better temples, rectories, and
expensive retreats on the more temperate planets.

All civilizations pay homage to this guy now, even back-water ones such as
that found on Earth.  You will often hear earth-bred humans speak of
maximizing their profit margin.  It may have been a bit corrupted, but the
connection is still obvious!

While the message of Prophet Margin was to have an everlasting effect on
history, the same can not be said for him.  While travelling the vast void of
space he was again visited -- this time by a voice which told him that the
vacuum outside his luxury space-yacht was in fact, quite hospitable.  The
voice was dead wrong.
%e
*EOA*

---------- cut here ----------

Well, that about wraps it up for this one...  Stay tuned for another new
one in the next few days!

Steve
swbaker@vela.acs.oakland.edu
"Gravity brings me down"


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