Bay Area Skeptics Information Sheet - 1988 05

Magazine Overview

"BASIS", the newsletter of the Bay Area Skeptics, Vol. 7, No. 5, published in May 1988, features a range of articles critical of pseudoscience and promoting scientific inquiry. The editor is Kent Harker.

Randi Dazzles San Francisco Audience

By Yves Barbero, this article reports on a talk given by James "The Amazing" Randi in the Bay Area. Randi discussed his investigations into the paranormal, highlighting the continued success of faith healers like Peter Popoff, who was reportedly taking in over a million dollars a month before declaring bankruptcy after Randi's book "The Faith Healers" was published. Randi emphasized the dangers of faith healing, stating it diverts people from real medicine and fosters magical thinking. He humorously noted, "Magic doesn't work! Cheating works better." Randi also recounted an encounter with a Chinese parapsychologist who used children to demonstrate psychic powers, noting how easily such claims could be disproved with simple, double-blind experiments. He demonstrated that a traditional healer's claimed ability to control a patient's movements remotely was not correlated with the patient's actions, even when the healer was not in the same room. Moving to Australia, Randi, with the help of the Australian "60 Minutes," exposed a channeling hoaxer named "Carlos" (real name Jose Alvarez). Alvarez, with a fabricated persona, filled the Sydney Opera House, and his "crystals" (lucite) were offered for sale. Randi concluded by urging people to choose the adventure of science over superstition.

Creationist Counter

By Everett Peterson, this article serves as a rebuttal to a previous "BASIS" article titled "2nd Law vs. Creationism" by Jim Ardini and Dick Kidd. Peterson addresses the creationist claim that the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics denies the possibility of spontaneous organization, arguing that the earth is an open system receiving energy from the sun, allowing for local decreases in entropy. Peterson cites Dr. Henry Morris from the Institute for Creation Research, who states that while thermodynamic laws are defined for isolated systems, real-world systems are open. Peterson argues that Ardini and Kidd's interpretation of the 2nd Law is flawed, particularly concerning the Miller-Urey experiment. He contends that the experiment, which produced complex organic molecules, was not spontaneous, as it involved a "program" (Miller's hypothesis) and a "power converter" (electrical discharge) to energize the process. Peterson criticizes Ardini and Kidd's explanation of the experiment's setup and energy source, clarifying that electrical discharge was used instead of ultraviolet light and that the process ran for a week with a small yield. He also points out that the apparatus was sophisticated and included a U-tube to prevent circulation, acting as a trap for the formed acids, which would have been destroyed in the boiling phase. Peterson concludes that Ardini and Kidd did not effectively criticize the creationist stance and hopes they will clarify their points for their students.

Counter Counter

This editorial piece responds to Everett Peterson's "Creationist Counter" article. The editor questions the logical basis of Peterson's argument, particularly his reliance on Dr. Henry Morris's statement that "in the real world there is no such thing as isolated systems." The editor argues that scientific laws are formulated for ideal conditions, and while real-world conditions differ, corrections are made. The article challenges the creationist tactic of using the "Argument From Design" to imply a need for an intelligent designer, questioning how the designer itself came to be. It asserts that evolution is a gradual change supported by the fossil record, and scientific theories attempt to explain the natural means of increasing complexity. The editor criticizes the creationist insistence on divine fiat for creation as unscientific due to its unverifiability. The piece also touches on the distinction between biological evolution and abiogenesis, noting that evolution is largely settled science, while the origin of life remains an open question.

Kurtz in Oakland

An announcement for a speaking engagement by Dr. Paul Kurtz, a prominent skeptic and humanist, to be held in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 7th. Information is provided for both the main talk and a subsequent reception, with contact details for reservations.

Chiropractic: From the Inside

Authored by J. Keating, PhD, and Robert Mootz, DC, this article presents a critical view of the scientific status within chiropractic. The authors describe chiropractic as primarily a clinical art, suggesting that its practitioners pay only lip service to science. They argue that dominant chiropractic metaphors have hindered the development of chiropractic science, citing the definition of science, research priorities, the practitioner's role, interdisciplinary dialogue, and research goals as areas impeding scientific development. The authors note that chiropractors have political reasons to encourage manipulation research but must address organized medicine's criticism of the lack of rigorous data to support chiropractic's clinical art for progress toward scientific credibility.

A Rational Explanation for One Aspect of UFO Behavior

By Jef Raskin, this article offers a skeptical explanation for reported UFO accelerations. Raskin recounts two personal experiences of observing unexplained "accelerations" of lights in the sky. In the first instance, he later realized the phenomenon was a reflection of a sodium vapor lamp in his truck's windshield. He emphasizes that observers, even reliable ones like airline pilots, often report accelerations beyond human capability, but their reports do not typically involve "third kind" encounters. Raskin's experience highlights how misinterpretations of light phenomena, particularly reflections, can lead to seemingly inexplicable sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, critically examining claims of the paranormal, pseudoscience, and creationism. It advocates for scientific reasoning, evidence-based inquiry, and a clear distinction between science and faith. The articles challenge unsubstantiated claims, expose hoaxes, and encourage critical thinking, particularly in areas like faith healing, creationism, and UFO phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific methodology and against the encroachment of non-scientific beliefs into public discourse and education.

This document contains selected articles from the May 1988 issue of "BASIS", the monthly publication of Bay Area Skeptics. The publication focuses on skeptical inquiry into phenomena often associated with the paranormal, cults, and pseudoscience.

Article 1: A Skeptical Look at UFO Sightings

Ivan Linderman recounts two personal observations of unusual aerial phenomena. The first involved lights at the ends of a windshield that seemed to move quickly and vanish, leading him to suggest skepticism towards reports of moving lights seen from moving vehicles due to potential illusions created by reflections and glass ripples. The second, more detailed observation occurred in the Santa Cruz mountains. Linderman observed a white light moving from south to north at an estimated altitude between 1500 and 3000 feet, about 10 miles away. He initially identified it as an aircraft. However, the light then accelerated with what seemed like impossible rapidity, from an estimated 100 mph to 1000 mph. Linderman, who has a hobby of plane watching and is familiar with aircraft speeds from sources like Jane's "All the World's Aircraft," was particularly startled by this acceleration. He attempted to observe with binoculars but the object was lost from view. Later, he saw another, smaller acceleration. Linderman's analysis concludes that these apparent accelerations can be explained as illusions. He posits that an aircraft flying towards the observer, descending, or making a turn can create the impression of sudden acceleration or changes in direction, especially if its apparent path is nearly straight. He emphasizes that such reports should be treated with extreme suspicion and are likely instances of this illusion, which could convince even experienced observers if they were less skeptical.

Article 2: The Cult Leader

This section details a presentation by Richard Gallyot, introduced as a "Cult Buster," at a February meeting attended by about 50 people, many of whom had dealings with cults. Gallyot, who had managed a flower shop near the People's Temple members and interviewed survivors after the Jonestown deaths in 1978, discussed the Jonestown debacle. His presentation became controversial when he suggested it was a government conspiracy, offering examples that were not convincing to the audience. He prefaced his talk by stating some conclusions were his own and that even if "75% of what he said was mistaken, there's still that 25% that needs looking into."

Gallyot used a 1976 videotape of a Jim Jones sermon to illustrate techniques Jones used to control his followers:

1. Special Powers: Jones allegedly materialized lost objects, disclosed personal facts unknown to members, and faked his own assassination and resurrection.
2. God-like Status: Jones claimed he was God and could perform miracles, stating, "I, the God...shall do all the miracles your God said he'd do but never did."
3. Destroying Beliefs: Jones aimed to get people out of religion by stomping on a Bible, thereby removing existing belief systems to establish himself as the sole belief system.
4. Sole Source of Protection: Jones claimed to have protected a member from a fatal car accident, stating, "I wasn't there, but I AM there!"
5. Official Public Support: Jones secured public officials' support through bribery, block votes, and free political workers, using false rumors and blackmail.

Gallyot also discussed the power of the cult, noting that six months before the Jonestown deaths, escapees reported plans for mass suicide, which were dismissed by officials.

He provided comments on how and why people join cults:

1. Unintentional Joining: People don't usually intend to join cults.
2. Vulnerable Recruitment: Cults target aimless, lonely, hurting individuals without a support system.
3. Appealing Messages: Cults tell people what they want to hear, with Jonestown being billed as a paradise.
4. Difficulty Escaping: Once recruited, escape is difficult due to constant supervision, deprivation (drugs, sleep), hard work, punishment, and the ultimate threat of murder for dissent.

Gallyot concluded that "Cult Mind Control (and perhaps Political Mind Control) is a disease that can effect anyone," requiring a susceptible host, a portal of entry, and a virulent organism.

Ivan Linderman is noted to have an M.S. in cell biology and is V.P. of his own company in San Rafael.

Article 3: Evolution vs. Creationism

This section announces Dr. Eugenie Scott, BAS advisor and Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, as the speaker for the May meeting. Dr. Scott, who holds a Ph.D. in anthropology, will discuss developments since the Supreme Court case concerning creationism in public schools. This includes a case in Chicago where a creationist asserts a First Amendment right to teach creationism in class. The article highlights Dr. Scott's role as a "tireless soldier in the battle against creationist attempts for equal time in the public schools" and her special interest in medical anthropology and health fraud.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The publication "BASIS" consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, encouraging critical examination of extraordinary claims, whether related to UFOs, cults, or pseudoscience. The articles in this issue demonstrate a commitment to providing rational explanations for phenomena, analyzing the psychological mechanisms behind cult adherence, and engaging with scientific and educational debates like that between evolution and creationism. The editorial stance is clearly against unsubstantiated beliefs and in favor of evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking.