Amos, the only belief I'm scorning is the one that says "Because I think that someone or something speaks directly to me and tells me what to do and that it is right and moral, it must therefore be right and moral."

I also scorn those that would defend this conceit or delusion, be it today or 500 years ago.

Nicole, please don't you 'assume' to tell me what I think. I'm only assuming from the evidence of your somewhat tortured arguments that you're confused. You certainly don't have to go back to the 15th Century to find folks who believe those Jewish murdering, blood-drinking, witches ... killed [their] savior. Because they KNEW how evil Jews were. To do otherwise was to betray God. Check any fundamentalist bible-belt congregation- they're still with us, still mouthing this shit.