Arizona Skeptic - Vol 6 No 1 - 1992

Magazine Overview

The July/August 1992 issue of The Arizona Skeptic, Volume 6, Issue 1, is a journal promoting critical thinking. It features articles and reviews that apply scientific and skeptical analysis to various claims and phenomena.

Science and Dianetics by Jeff Jacobsen

This article critically examines L. Ron Hubbard's assertion that Dianetics is a "scientific fact." Jacobsen highlights Hubbard's repeated claims of scientific support, citing his own statements about "laboratory evidence" and his cautious approval of another scientific experiment. However, Jacobsen expresses caution regarding Hubbard's own experiments, noting the lack of accessible data on their methodology, results, control groups, or subject numbers. He questions whether Hubbard's research meets the standards of science.

The article delves into the philosophy of science, introducing Karl Popper's concept of falsifiability as a key criterion for scientific validation. Popper argues that a theory is scientific only if it can be demonstrated to be wrong through deliberate attempts at refutation. He posits that "good" scientific theories forbid certain things from happening, and irrefutability is a vice, not a virtue. Genuine tests of a theory are attempts to falsify it, and confirming evidence should only count if it results from such a test.

Jacobsen discusses Hubbard's claim that the "reactive mind" and its "engrams" can be certified by technicians, citing a claim of 273 individuals examined and treated. He questions the methodology and sample representativeness of this claim.

To test Hubbard's claims, Jacobsen recounts an experiment conducted by three researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1950, attempting to prove the existence of engrams. The experiment involved rendering a subject unconscious, imparting information, and then attempting to elicit the engram through Dianetic auditing. The auditors failed to elicit any passages related to the imparted information, leading the experimenters to conclude that the engram hypothesis was not validated, despite the test being on a single subject.

Jacobsen criticizes Hubbard and his successors for not releasing their experimental methods, which prevents scientific replication and verification. He argues that this lack of transparency, coupled with a dogmatic rather than scientific stance, prevents Dianetics from claiming scientific validity.

As a footnote, Jacobsen mentions that the only reference found to Hubbard's original experimental notes was in a 1950 taped lecture, described as "little notebooks, scribbles, in pencil," with names and addresses lost. A Ms. Benton reportedly found these notes chaotic and horrifying.

A Healthy Dose of Sarsaparilla by Jerome L. Cosyn

This section reviews an advertising poster from the late 1800s for Ayer's Sarsaparilla, featuring artwork of an angelic young girl. The poster's claims, such as "Makes the Weak Strong" and "Improves the Complexion, Purifies the Blood," are contrasted with modern American awareness of health and medicine. Cosyn argues that today's sophisticated and educated society would not be deceived by such "snake-oil incantations" or "quaintly transparent claims," given the abundance of scientific information available.

He notes the current inundation of wellness programs, organic foods, and health advice, highlighting the meticulous monitoring of diets and the reliance on "doctor tested, clinically proven, medically effective" products. Cosyn concludes that the era of primitive hucksterism is over, and American health awareness has "come of age."

Book Review: Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan

Reviewed by Chaz Bufe, this section discusses Steven Hassan's 1988 book. Bufe notes the difficulty in defining "cult" and introduces Hassan's work as a valuable resource for understanding cults and providing information on "exit counseling" for cult members.

Hassan, a former member of the Unification Church, categorizes cults into religious, political, psychotherapy, and commercial types. He identifies "mind control" as the defining characteristic of destructive cults, describing it as a process used to change a person's belief system without informed consent, leading to dependence on outside authority figures. This process often begins with deceptive recruiting techniques and involves a three-stage process: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.

"Unfreezing" techniques include sleep deprivation, denial of privacy, malnourishment, confusing language, guided meditations, and prayer sessions. Once a member is "unfrozen," cults "change" them through indoctrination, imposing a new personality structure. The "refrozen" state involves disownment of the old self, pairing with established members, radical alteration of appearance, fostering phobias to prevent leaving, stripping assets, and teaching thought-stopping techniques.

The review highlights Hassan's methods for breaking cults' hold, focusing on re-establishing contact with the member's "real self" and encouraging critical thinking. Hassan prefers "exit counseling" to coercive "deprogramming" and provides case studies demonstrating its effectiveness. He also offers advice for skeptics on how to unsettle cult members during street encounters by appearing sympathetic and asking probing questions.

However, Bufe raises concerns about Hassan's approach. He notes that while Hassan encourages doubt, he doesn't promote systematic scientific thinking. Bufe finds it troubling that Hassan considers former cult members who join fundamentalist, creationist churches as successes. A significant criticism is Hassan's insistence on the existence of underground satanic cults engaging in ritualistic practices, despite a lack of physical evidence, which Bufe attributes to Hassan's lack of appreciation for scientific investigation and susceptibility to tabloid hype.

Minor criticisms include the lack of an index in the hardback version and the quality of the typesetting.

Michael Persinger and Tectonic Strain Theory by Jim Lippard

This section presents a bibliography compiled by Chris Rutkowski, focusing on Michael Persinger's "tectonic strain theory" (TST) and its alleged correlations between geophysical forces and unusual events, including UFO experiences. The bibliography includes Rutkowski's own critical works on Persinger's theory and other critical works by different authors.

Book Review: Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric by Howard Kahane

Reviewed by Jim Lippard, this section praises Howard Kahane's textbook for its clear organization, up-to-date examples, and engaging style. Lippard, an instructor of logic and critical thinking, finds the book to be a "winner" for teaching critical thinking courses. The book covers arguments, fallacious reasoning, impediments to cogent reasoning, and the use of language, with examples drawn from various sources, including paranormal and fringe science topics. Lippard recommends it for skeptics but notes its high price.

Book Review: Sai Baba's Miracles: An Overview edited by Dale Beyerstein

Reviewed by Jim Lippard, this book examines the alleged miraculous powers of Indian guru Sai Baba. Beyerstein's work analyzes Sai Baba's claims, quoting followers and critics, and presents plausible explanations for the miracles, including evidence of sleight-of-hand in a materialization event. The book is noted for its easy-to-read format and quick reference capabilities.

Media Update

This section provides updates on contributions from Jeff Jacobsen and Jim Lippard. Jacobsen's article on Dianetics was reprinted in The Skeptic magazine. Lippard has been involved in radio debates on creationism and offers copies of these debates.

Newsletter Production Volunteers Needed

This section appeals for volunteers to help with the production and mailing of the newsletter, citing delays due to the production process.

Electronic Version of the Newsletter

Information is provided on how to obtain ASCII text versions of The Arizona Skeptic via GEnie, Cleveland Freenet, or by sending a diskette. An index to published issues is also available.

Upcoming Meetings

Details are given for the Phoenix Skeptics' monthly meetings, including the speaker for the September meeting, Chaz Bufe.

Articles of Note

This section lists several articles from other publications, including "Yes, Oswald Alone Killed Kennedy" from Commentary, "A Chaotic Cat Takes a Swipe at Quantum Mechanics" from Science, "Ghost Lights of Texas" from Skeptical Inquirer, and articles on creationism and "Religion in the News."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims, particularly Dianetics, the analysis of cult behavior and mind control, and the promotion of scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning, scientific methodology, and the debunking of unsubstantiated claims. The publication serves as a clearinghouse for factual and scientific information about the paranormal and fringe sciences, aiming to promote critical thinking and the scientific method.