nitrodamus asked this question on 1/13/2000:

I found the article you posted very interesting and informative.

I once read a book named 'Cat Magic'. It's about witches and stuff like that. It was a truly fantastic story and very heartrending. Have you heard of it?

I find Wicca very fascinating. Perhaps if I had the chance, I'd join or do something like that!! Weird huh!!!

minerva gave this response on 1/13/2000:

Not so weird... college professors and students have asked me for information about my path, and there is one teacher in particular who is studying it in depth, from an academic point of view of course.

Yes, I heard about Cat Magic. I haven't read it, but I know that Whitley Strieber talked to real high priestesses and priests during his research, so I know he did his homework. I've seen a film based on another of his novels, "Communion" (starring Christopher Walken as Whitley Strieber himself), about experiences that the author says he had with UFO abductions (he wrote two or three novels about that).

I wanted to compliment you on how you handled one of those recent letters: "I guess without the bible we wouldn't have the KKK, the end-of-world prophecies, creation 'scientists' who seek to destroy science and put it in disrepute, murderers who try to accelerate the 'coming of Jesus', etc."

Plus the Inquisition; don't forget the Inquisition :-)

Let's see... this person said, "Regarding evolution: I would point out that we often pay far too much attention to the suppositions of scientists and far too little attention to their observations. Their observations are vital, their suppositions are opinion. Too often we jump to conclusions. We quickly bypass scientific observations (not attempting to draw our own conclusions) and head straight for the scientist's conclusions- this is truly blind faith."

Is this equating blind faith with following the scientific method? Interesting... blind faith... believing without seeing... isn't that just the opposit of the scientific method (OBSERVATION)?

"Their only redeeming quality they have is, they pay their taxes so that some of it is allocated for scientific research."

On the down side, however, they also vote and reproduce...

Anyhow, if you wish to analyze this any further, I could recommend some books, although you said you're not big on non-fiction...