> Wade,
>
> Are you saying that people become shamen because shamen are respected? If
> so, why are they respected...what niche do they fill? You seem to be saying
> that they are respected because they are prosperous: They are prosperous
> because they are respected.
For a very interesting explanation of what niche it is that shamans fill,
check out Howard Bloom's book _The Lucifer Principle_, specifically, the
section titled "Man--Inventor of the Invisible World". Main point:
they grant us a sense of control over situations that would otherwise make
us feel helpless.
Eva,
working her way through the CoV recommended reading list on company time