Michael, I'm questioning your statement that Jesus "did believe that madness was caused by demonic "possession" "

In other words, Jesus and the people of his time personified what we consider in more abstract terms.

So, yeah, Jesus was not well-versed in the scientific terminology of our current enlightened age. So you've proved him wrong, just as the fundamentalists prove others wrong by demanding that all talk and think only in their terms.

There are gentler ways to carry on a discussion - by seeking to understand the perspectives of others, instead of constantly seeking to refute them.

But in general, Mike, I think you're a good guy, one of those with the "generous and loving heart" that I spoke of above.

-Joe-