I wonder if these authors and their reductivist buddies are aware that all humanists are not without ability to incorporate hard physical science to an even higher factual degree than they do. The quantum physicists like Wigner (Nobel laureate), Schrödinger and Heisenberg think that humanistic richness is robbed by reductionist unspiritual thinking. The global reifying thrust of materialism (Dr. Boddy of U of T, anthropology) is hopefully, in due course, going to return to a global deifying thrust of spiritualism. The only REALITY is NATURE and it assuredly includes ALL observable facts not just 'Toilet Philosophy'.

If I may be allowed to quote someone who tries to keep an 'open mind' and use WHATEVER WORKS even if it isn't 'modernity'. I choose to quote a wholistic doctor by name of Zoltan Rona who has his M.D. and M. Sc. He edited 'Encyclopedia of Natural Healing' in 1997 which says on pages 33 and 34:

“It is misleading to call natural health movement ‘alternative medicine’ as is often done. Natural Medicine is considered founder of contemporary Western medicine. What we now call modern medicine is actually an aberration, result of social change at dawn of industrialization in eighteenth century."

He continues to discuss one of greatest alchemists of all time whose books I found contain key to understanding how to make Philosopher's Stone. He does not identify Paracelsus as an alchemist due to cultural bias against alchemy that has led to many of them being burned at stake. He says on pages 34 & 35:

"PARACELSUS (1493-1541) At close of Middle Ages, Paracelsus dared to challenge orthodox medicine of his day, which, like today, had abandoned teachings of Hippocrates {Another alchemist.} and become bogged down in superstitious, dogmatic practices. With dramatic successes he achieved through observation and deduction to discover nature's latent healing powers, Paracelsus revolutionized medicine for centuries.

Born Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim {He used some other names in conjunction with these such as Phillipus Aureolus.} in Switzerland, this courageous genius had early opportunity to accompany his father, a physician, on his rounds. He learned value of observation and became acquainted with herbs and medicinal plants. In his university years, Paracelsus appreciated critical spirit which reigned in Ferrara, Italy, compared to close-mindedness in universities in other European cities. He was not content to limit himself to academic knowledge. He learned what he could practically from professionals and anyone else who had something to teach him about how to use latent forces in nature. Due to his healing successes, notably in treating plague, he began to gather a large following.

After returning to Basle, Switzerland, Paracelsus saved leg of rich printer Frobenius from amputation by applying his knowledge of nature's inner healing power. Paracelsus became Basle's official physician and was offered a professorship at University of Basle. He soon ran into trouble with authorities due to his blatant criticism of modern medicine. In a dramatic gesture Paracelsus burned books of medical authorities. Within several months he was forced to flee university and found himself wandering penniless. . For next eight years he lived with friends 'and worked on his manuscripts. The publication of DIE GROSSE WUNDANTZNEY in 1536 restored his reputation, and his fortune turned once more. Paracelsus became wealthy and was sought after by noblemen and royalty."

His actions against ‘sins and demons’ origins of disease and illness mirror free medicine and knowledge of Gnostic Cathars a couple of centuries earlier that led to their genocide in a crusade that was won by new head of Dominican Order of Catholics. Man, Myth, and Magic promotes MYTH that alchemy was dominated by hermits in pursuit of wealth and gold from lead. They say that Paracelsus was poor and proof that no Philosopher's Stone was ever created and that alchemists were greedy failures. This author says 'Paracelsus became wealthy' but that assuredly was not his purpose and when he died he had only one special goblet to give to someone who he knew understood its value. Continuing to quote Mr. Rona:

"Paracelsus attacked dogmatic belief of modern doctors that human body is controlled exclusively by stars and planets. He insisted upon right to discover latent powers of nature by daring to use his faculties of observation and imagination. He stressed healing power of nature, and raged against modern methods, such as wound treatment that prevented natural drainage of bodily fluids.

One of Paracelsus's most important medical discoveries concerned treatment of syphilis. He maintained that syphilis could be treated with carefully measured doses of poison mercury compounds taken internally. This contradicted all medical opinion of day, but he was proven right. Paracelsus was first to show that, if given in small doses, cause of an illness also cures it. This discovery was an anticipation of modern practice of homeopathy. In summer of 1534, Paracelsus cured many people in plague-infested town of Stertzing by applying same principle."

At time of Plague Flagellants were part of Catholic hierarchy; they were burning Jewish people in cities across Europe. Men, women and children were surrounded in their neighborhoods and burned. The genocide in Rwanda that was initiated by hatred' fostered by Roman Catholic Church' according to July 2000 report released by Organization of African Unity is little different than holocaust. The Catholic fostered anti-Semitism that was politically useful to Hitler (or Mississippi Senator John Stennis of House Un-American Activities Committee) who was a Catholic and never ex-communicated; has been used throughout recent history to empower Empire-builders from Holy Roman Emperor Constantine to this very day. Yes, I know Pope has meekly apologized, but behavior continues. The 'War on Women' founded in 'original sin' of St. Augustine and formalized at Council of Carthage in 397 A.D. has far reaching influence across sociological norms in Judaeo-Christian-Islamic complex. Thus we can see this author correctly uses word courageous when referring to Paracelsus.

As I watch people continually seesaw between dark nights of soul and exuberant bright days of soul, I see that everything is in order. It is very natural. The purpose of seesaw ride is to have fun, but it is also to eventually draw our attention to that center null point; fulcrum upon which we create our reality. As we ride seesaw, our attention is usually either on going up or going down or on those sitting on opposite end of seesaw. There's great joy in shooting up in air and there's some pain when your seat hits ground coming down. But if you put your focus on center null point fulcrum of seesaw then you will find an incredible peace. There is no tension at all, even though fulcrum is supporting weight of seesaw and its occupants. There is no competition in fulcrum; it is all in board and occupants. There is no war in fulcrum because a fulcrum is a ONE-ness principle and war is a duality principle. A see-saw is symbolic of two different principles (ONE-ness and duality) working together to create a new principle and new reality.

Within us, our heart is our fulcrum and our egos are our children taking turns riding on seesaw having lots of fun....and a few painful bumps. Don't battle your children. Don't discipline them. Love them, nurture them, understand them. They have a lot to teach. And they can show us how to have fun. But they need a steady fulcrum upon which to play.