J> Author Michael Crichton, in a 2003 lecture at CalTech, stated that
J> "The Drake equation cannot be tested and therefore SETI is not
J> science. SETI is unquestionably a religion."

It's not clear to me why a fiction author is considered an authority
on either science, religion, or philosophy (other than the fact that
he is a celebrity).

    Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard, taught at Cambridge, 
and earned an M. D. from Harvard. It's possible that he was exposed to 
science, religion, and philosophy during his school years. His training was 
largely in the life sciences. You are correct that he is a celebrity which 
does not validate or invalidate his opinions on SETI.
   I think he's correct that the Drake equations do not predict anything and 
are not really testable. Whether this makes them a religion I don't know. 
Crichton is not the only person to express the belief that SETI is a cult or 
religion.


Dave M.