R.L. said:

>Some feel that the telescopes on the summit are an
>insult to the 'gods'... my feeling is that if there is a god,
>or gods, then they will be more impressed by people that
>spend their lives trying to understand their creation than by
>morons repeating memorized prayers.

I'm an agnostic and don't buy into the notion of "faith". Nature is the closest thing to "god" if one does not accept religious faith. Science is the study of nature. I would argue that a scientist is closer to the universe's creator (if he/she/it exists) than a mullah or a pope.

Concerning "morons repeating memorized prayers": Don't dismiss the possibility that the creator is insane or evil. Maybe he created the universe so morons could pray to him. David Lindsay's "A Voyage to Arcturus" explores that premise. This science fiction classic is on-line at:

http://www.litrix.com/arcturus/arctu001.htm

Chapter 6, "Joiwind" explores the concept of virtuous people unknowingly worshiping an evil god.

Gary