W-b Blaze Does Extensive Damage; No One Injured

1 Killed, At Least 2 Hurt In Head-on Crash On Route 309

Monday, December 11, 2000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 12A 





Regarding Steve Corbett's column, ``Awash in a sea of intolerance and
disrespect,'' Mr. Corbett makes several statements regarding the Wyoming
Valley that are neither accurate nor true, basing it on his experience with an
act of vandalism which he interprets as a hate crime. He writes,
``Wilkes-Barre also has a lengthy history of religious intolerance.'' I would
like Mr. Corbett to give us more than his opinion - some hard facts and
numbers instead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wyoming Valley has over 200 churches, houses of worship and temples of
over 50 denominations listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone book. These
include mainstream Protestant organizations, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox,
Baptist, an Islamic mosque and synagogues for all three expressions of
Judaism. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We are also home to one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in
Pennsylvania. The Quakers, whom I am sure Mr. Corbett knows, follow a
philosophical and religious practice similar to Zen in some respects, while
still maintaining their Christian identity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In addition, we have Christian Science and Unity - two American originals
on the religious scene with very different views. There is also the
Unitarian-Universalist congregation, a true center of spiritual diversity, who
recently asked me to speak to them on the nature of traditional Western
esotericism. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Under fraternal organizations, there are over a dozen Freemason lodges,
including Order of the Eastern Star - two of world's most established and
international organizations - founded on the principle of religious tolerance.
Many of these same people also belong to the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic
fraternal organization - something unthinkable 100 or even 50 years ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From the 1920s to the present, there have also been a variety of genuine
``esoteric'' organizations present in the Wyoming Valley. Several Rosicrucian
lodges have existed. In addition, Martinism, an organization dating back to
18th century France, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn dating from 19th
century England, and several other organizations have operated or currently
operate study groups or temples in the Wyoming Valley - quietly and with no
opposition or disrespect from their neighbors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There are teachers, organizations and schools openly advertising
instruction in Chinese Taoism, Indian Vendanta (Hindu scriptures) and a host
of New Age subjects. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For four years the Wyoming Valley Society for Esoteric Studies has held
regular classes, seminars and workshops on topics such as Kabala (Jewish
mysticism), Paracelcian alchemy (the forerunner to modern homeopathy),
Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism and meditation. We have never experienced a single
incident of intolerance or even simple rudeness from anyone regarding our
activities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 While the Wyoming Valley is not a hotbed of liberalism nor quick to adopt
new ways, it does fundamentally have a ``live and let live'' attitude when it
comes to matters of philosophy and religion. This stems in part from a high
degree of ignorance of the diversity of the religious and philosophical
traditions and choices that populate the area. But ignorance is not
intolerance, nor is it a crime. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To suggest that religious intolerance is a matter of course in Northeastern
Pennsylvania is neither accurate nor true. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 FR Mark Stavish &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wyoming Valley Society for Esoteric Studies &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kingston &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wyoming Valley's Religious Diversity Met With Indifference, Not Intolerance