I too will raise my voice in defence of altered consciousness, though I wasn't there in the hippie days so can't confirm whether they all turned their backs on science. If they did, I still prefer them and their peace/love for nature ways to the science-deniers who prefer the rantings of a vengeful god and the idea of capitalism and economy and industry above all else - even the health of our planet. I think the religious right are our scariest science-deniers. The hippies at least do less harm.