Skepticism

I wholeheartedly agree with Paul Kurtz (“A Marriage Made in Heaven’s Gate,” Commentary, May 19) that the public is far too gullible to claims of the supernatural. I am a skeptic and often find myself arguing for the importance of scientific method.

However, I think he goes over the line in blaming movies that are purely entertainment, such as “Independence Day.” We who espouse objectivity and fact-finding when it comes to the supernatural ought to concentrate on media that masquerade as “documentary,” such as “Unsolved Mysteries,” or specials that feature so-called “true” accounts of alien abductions or alien autopsies. If we focus on movies that are obvious fantasy, we risk being viewed as a bunch of humorless curmudgeons and will win no converts to skepticism.

BARBARA DELLAMARIE

Burbank