Comet psychology

In reply to Dan Adams' letter (April 12, 1997), I'd like to address his central fallacy. If I can read anything through his blizzard of unconnected points, he seems to believe that the events recorded in history are governed by the symmetry, beauty, order and simplicity we find in nature -- a kind of symbiosis, if I grasp his point correctly. He also believes this is confirmed by science.

Nothing could be further from the truth (except, perhaps, his novel idea that Marshall Applewhite's death provides "clear proof" that religious non-Christians will be led to physical and spiritual death).

History, unfortunately, isn't as neat as that or as simple. For example, if I asked Mr. Adams what caused World War II, he may say Hitler was mad, or that Germany invaded Poland, or that the country was in economic ruin, or that it was a reaction against the Versailles Treaty... the list is long so I'll stop there. The point being that history is a random jumble of causes comprising economic, psychological, ideological and simply chance factors. A good example of the latter is Tony Blair, who wouldn't now be on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street if not for the unexpected death of John Smith, the previous leader of Britain's Labour Party.

So, to reduce the vast and complex tapestry of recorded human history to Mr. Adams' hourglass model would be, if not moronic, at least simplistic. He calls his model a three-point outline of world history, but actually, it's a two-point outline because the second coming of Christ can't be considered history until after he's arrived...obviously. But I do appreciate that a topless hourglass would lack the symmetry, beauty, order, etc. of a perfectly formed hourglass.

To his credit, Mr. Adams seems remarkably brave in the face of contradiction. First, he writes that the appearance of comets "may be connected with Jesus' and Abraham's birthday." Next, he states with certainty that "the dates given for the comets confirm their close proximity with their historical counterparts." Finally, he pleads "surely our faith rests upon Revelation, not on comets."

I fear even the least rational person would have trouble following the shifting arguments of Mr. Adams. But I understand his frustration. Just imagine William the Conqueror's absurd misunderstanding of Halley's comet as he launched his invasion of England. Or Genghis Khan's ridiculous interpretation of its reappearance as he was about to take over Europe and China. If only they had the benefit of Adams' hourglass.

He is also wrong if he thinks I am threatened by his spurious theories. The threat he poses is to his students. After all, any teacher who says he "makes no boast of human wisdom" should quit the profession and go get some.

One final point that's been worrying me: this hourglass figure that seems to obsess Mr. Adams. Topless or not, it quite clearly bears the hallmarks of a certain type of Freudian fixation. However, that's psychology, and for Mr. Adams that might be an 'ology too far.

DAVID WIXEY

Jakarta