The Gillian Gibbons teddy bear story is a lesson for us all. Her experience is much like those of Larry David in his comedy presentations where he forces us to think and see the absurd in much of what we experience. In particular he shows in a humorous way what it is to think about religion . Often, religious leaders and layity go to extreme measures and derive absurd results. Its often painful to see what extreme belief based on fear can do to those around us.
One sees from the Larry David stories that science is just like a religion, as well, as Larry confronts the science of doctors with the science of pharmacists. The fact is that doctors and pharmacists may only too easily have faith in different approaches. This assumption of a faith leads to very strange results. One caught in the middle has to choose between alternative faiths or approaches. The ongoing debate between cold and hot fusion are serious platforms for saving mankind. How do you choose? Generally, you choose on the basis of your faith and not on the facts. If you chose on your facts, then your behaviour would probably be entirely different. Just try it some day. Do nothing except that which is factually based. You will see how difficult it is to be rational and scientific and religious, all at the same time. The beauty of it is that our brains have a dominant area that works as a subconscious guide to our behaviour. We don't even think about what we do. We just do it.
The essence of sciences and religions is that that they try to be mutually exclusive. If you follow one, you are not to follow the other. Both claim that they are absolutely right. The reality is that both can be correct, and the problem is when they insist that this or that reality is not acceptable.
Another reality is that accidents do happen. These accidents can lead to unfortunate consequences. When the accidents are historical one is apt to get hysterical, as in the case of the death of Dag Hammarskjold, the UN leader who lost his life in a plane crash in Africa many years ago.