RUPERT AND RITUALS

Siegel places a wide range of faiths under the title fundamentalist and then associates these faiths with the most extreme reactions in Rupert. If this smug journalist had taken a little time away from his prejudices, he would not have presented all Christians as simple-minded, devil-phobic folk.

Another aspect Siegel seems to conveniently neglect is that there have been documented cases of cult-associated atrocities, including the Charles Manson murders and the Jim Jones tragedy. Occasionally bad things do happen under the auspice of sick people espousing sick philosophies. Were the people of Rupert really repeating the Salem witch trials, or were they doing their best to ensure that no Manson gang was preying on their community?

JAMES STANDISH

Redlands