Rich Diversity or Impoverished Tolerance? You Be the Judge

Who'da thunk we'd find any of this in Elburn, a psychic fair AND far right attitudes opposing it? There is more than one path to divinity, and it's my own opinion that finding the divine in oneself entails finding the divine in others--with love, tolerance, and understanding, regardless of philosophical differences. Who knows? Maybe to divine IS divine. When such ability is used to aid and heal, who is to say that it isn't a gift from God? Or Goddess? 

There is much stock to be taken from the creed, "An it harm none, do as thou wilt." And I can tell you, my friends, those words of wisdom do not come from Christian philosophy. But this one does, and an equal amount of stock should be taken from it, "Do unto others as thou wilt have others do unto you." That includes not imposing one's views upon others, unbidden and judgmentally. 

With all due respect to my numerous fundamentalist friends, I'm headed to that Elburn psychic fair with my mom, in just a bit. And not to protest. ...Unless it's to oppose narrow-minded, judgmental, moral elitism. But then again, to each his own. Intolerance, get thee behind me.

Psychic fair faces opposition in Elburn

June 25th, 2009, The Elburn Herald

• Letter: Connecting with dead not harmless
• Community center announces open gym
• Letter: Fireworks, celebrations and community character
• Elburn village notes

Filed Under: Elburn

Tags: Denise Vanvliet • Elburn and Countryside Community Center • Gary Augustine • Parents Advocating 4 Kids

Others say ‘A Day With Your Angels’ OK by Martha Quetsch

ELBURN—Some village residents, including a minister, are disturbed about an event that will bring psychics and mediums to the Elburn & Countryside Community Center Saturday, saying its focus is dangerous.

However, Denise Vanvliet, who is organizing the event, said “A Day With Your Angels” will be entirely positive.

“No devil worship, nothing like that,” said Vanvliet, massage therapist and owner of Intuition Institute, a community center business tenant.

“A Day With Your Angels” will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Community Center, 525 N. Main St. Vendors and exhibitors will include people offering aura readings, palm readings and Reiki mini-sessions to enhance a person’s energy flow, Vanvliet said.

Gary Augustine, pastor of the Evangelical Fellowship Church in Elburn, does not want children who might be at the community center to be exposed to “the dark side of spiritism and the demonic.” He and other church representatives have gathered together for community-wide prayer meetings since hearing about the event, and they will hold one on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Community Center gymnasium to pray for protection against the dangers they believe it will present.

On Saturday, a group of parents will be at the event representing Parents Advocating 4 Kids (PAK) to suggest with signs and literature that the community center where children congregate might not be the best place for a psychic fair, just as you might not want a shark exhibit in a water slide pool for kids, Augustine said.

The children who will be at the Community Center that day include those attending martial arts and dance classes, which are held in other areas of the building, Community Center Board member Jack Hansen said.

Hansen said he does not see anything wrong with allowing the event to take place at the Community Center, since nothing the vendors and exhibitors plan to do is illegal. The Community Center will receive a rental fee for ”A Day With Your Angels” and for the prayer meeting on Friday.

“We welcome both of these kind of events. They bring people to the community center,” Hansen said.

“Day With Your Angels” also will feature clothing and handbag vendors, and Paisano’s pizza.