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Letter to Glen Rock Gazette

1/24/03

Irony In Letter About Psychics

I am writing this short note in response to a letter in your issue of 1/17/03 by Ms. Patti Crawford. I found it amusing how she railed about the tarot card reading shop that has opened up in Glen Rock. While I feel that shops like this are silly and will eventually go out of business, I found a large amount of irony in the letter. Ms. Crawford is against this belief in the supernatural, yet she then goes on to talk about the bible and Jesus, etc. Does she not see that she is then promoting a different supernatural belief ? She is simply replacing “Tarot Card Readings” for  “Believe The Word Of The Bible”.  And, judging by her line about “psychic’s abilities are real and they can tap into a spirit world that we have no business connecting with”, she also believes in the ridiculousness of John Edwards and James Van Praagh talking to the dead.

Ms. Crawford does not want it open because it disagrees with her own beliefs. Would Ms. Crawford also wish the Raelians not to open up a center in Glen Rock because it does not agree with her “True Religion”? Does she object to other religions or groups expressing their rights because they do not follow her “True Religion”? Should we ban the Jews, Sikhs, and even other Christian sects? What about the book shop which sells Harry Potter books – is that also promoting the “Dark Arts? Should we shut it down and maybe burn the books? (By the way, Fahrenheit 451 was just named NJ’s entry into a National Book reading program!)

Why not give up all superstitious beliefs and look into science? Religion has been created to explain natural phenomena that the science of the day could not or by people in power wishing to stay in power. If Ms. Crawford, or anyone, really believes that the bible is the true, literal word of God they should read some history and understand what was left out of the New Testament by people wishing to stay in control (read about the conference of Nicea 325 A.D.).

Also, while I feel that the owner of the psychic services shop has a right to open up and do business I would expect that market forces would close it down, as it would churches, TV shows like “Crossing Over” and other inane, superstitious cults (although I am still amazed at the “cloned” baby that’s been in the news lately, and can’t wait to see proof!).

I have tried to keep this note short and have not even touched on Ms. Crawford’s lines about “God created us” – read about evolution and  “the occult is dark and dangerous” – read science and you will feel better and less afraid of the occult. There was a lot of  room to work in her short article, but I will stop here for now (and I am looking forward to the response to my note).