Bay Area Skeptics Information Sheet - 1988 06

Magazine Overview

Title: BASIS
Issue: Vol. 7, No. 6
Date: June 1988
Publisher: Bay Area Skeptics

This issue of "BASIS," the newsletter of the Bay Area Skeptics, explores various topics related to skepticism, pseudoscience, and critical thinking. It features articles on distinguishing reality from illusion, debunking creationist claims, and analyzing UFO abduction reports. The newsletter also includes a section on quackery and a discussion on the nature of belief.

What is Real?

This section features an excerpt from a lecture by professional magician David Alexander. Alexander, who also has credentials in private investigation and publishing, discusses how to determine what is real from what is fake, particularly in the context of magic and psychic phenomena. He emphasizes that people are often poor observers and vulnerable to manipulation, describing how their recollections can be shaped by the presenter. Alexander states that being fooled is not a matter of stupidity but of lacking specific knowledge. He quotes Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, who described a magician as an actor playing the part of a psychic. The core of a magician's success, according to Alexander, lies in influencing the spectator's mind through misdirection, attention control, and disguise. He differentiates magicians from psychics by their context, mind-set, goals, and results, noting that while they may use similar methods, their underlying ethics and objectives differ. Alexander highlights that in both magic shows and psychic readings, careful examination often ceases once the audience or client accepts the premise, leading to a 'leap of faith.' He also points out that a psychic has the advantage of the client's unflagging belief and faith, which can be exploited financially. Alexander shares a personal anecdote about a seance where he felt a strong emotional pull, attributing it to his own internal experience rather than a spirit manifestation, underscoring the importance of understanding the emotional component in people's engagement with mediums and psychics. He quotes Mark Twain on the speed at which lies travel and criticizes the media for inaccurately reporting on the paranormal and rarely following up with skeptical investigations. Alexander asserts that the burden of proof lies with the claimant of paranormal or supernatural phenomena, not the skeptic. He notes that many claims are based on personal stories or anecdotes, and that belief in the paranormal is often promoted by charismatic individuals selling products or services.

Flood Theorists Sink

Authored by Edgar Deacon, this article critiques the arguments of fundamentalist Christian creationists (FCC) regarding the formation of coal seams. Deacon notes the FCC's defeat in the Supreme Court based on creationism promoting religion, but argues that their case should have been settled on scientific grounds, which they failed to present. He contrasts this with Australia, where there is no constitutional prohibition against state-sanctioned religious indoctrination, and the FCC has a strong presence, with fundamentalist private schools subsidized by taxpayers. The article explains the scientific view of coal formation: consolidated plant material from vegetation in swamp forests over long periods, subjected to heat and pressure. Deacon then outlines the creationist scenario, which posits that coal seams formed after the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption from a gigantic raft of logs and stumps, accelerated by volcanic ash and clay. He refutes this by pointing out that coal seams are often pure, with little volcanic ash, and that many have consistent thickness over large areas, indicating original swamp sites rather than flood deposition. Deacon also highlights that flood geology cannot account for the absence of animal and bird fossils in strata sandwiching coal seams, which contain only primitive land reptiles and marine life, contrary to the Genesis account of a world stocked with animals. He contrasts this with later geological periods where fossils of dinosaurs and birds are found. Deacon dismisses the assumption of a worldwide flood as the major absurdity of flood geology, noting that the FCC ignore parallels with Babylonian flood legends and that evidence of a flood at Ur was localized to Mesopotamia. He concludes that memories of such a flood, embroidered with myth, likely persisted into the historic period.

Ramparts

This regular feature of "BASIS" encourages readers to submit examples of irrationality from their local scene. The current "Ramparts" section includes several items:

• Rev. Peter Popoff: Tom Haydon of the "Arizona Republic" reports on the bankrupt evangelist Peter Popoff's attempts to reorganize his ministry by begging for donations, including money for Bibles for distribution behind the Iron Curtain. "Free Inquiry" magazine is cited as having proof that Popoff is running a scam.
• "Vanishing Pet" Theory: An item from the "Union Democrat" discusses the theory that lost pet ads predict earthquakes. However, research from UC Davis contradicts this, finding no connection and suggesting more mundane reasons for pets going missing, such as being lovesick, stolen, or disliked by owners.
• Virgin Mary Apparition: Skeptics Mr. & Mrs. Randy Smith report an alleged apparition of the Virgin Mary on the exterior walls of a home in Bakersfield. The homeowner, Mr. Zamora, has conducted tests, including replacing light bulbs, to prove it's not a lighting effect. He has since cemented his front yard to manage the flow of pilgrims.
• Psychic Scam: BAS secretary Rick Moen shares an "Insight" article about a New Jersey psychic who allegedly told a woman her deceased husband had a curse that caused him illness. The woman paid the psychic $7,000 cash and $2,000 in expenses. When the psychic then claimed the woman's mother also had a curse, legal action was initiated for repayment.

UFO Abductions: Fact or Fantasy?

This section, written by Julie Stern, reports on a panel discussion held by the National Council for UFO Investigation (NCSA) in Bethesda. The panel featured Philip Klass, a founding member of CSICOP, and Bruce Maccabee, a research physicist and chair of the Fund for UFO Research. The discussion, moderated by James Sharp, director of the Albert Einstein Planetarium, reviewed the history of UFO abduction claims, including the 1961 Barney and Betty Hill case and recent bestsellers like Whitley Streiber's "Communion" and Budd Hopkins's "Intruders."

Philip Klass questioned the validity of abduction claims, outlining Hopkins's criteria for evidence (missing time, nightmares of strange creatures, seeing unidentified lights) and humorously suggesting that many audience members met these criteria. Klass critiqued Hopkins's methods, citing assumptions based on hesitant statements and dreams, and the failure to search for verifiable evidence. He specifically mentioned the "Kathy Davis" case, which Hopkins considered important due to physical evidence, but which Klass found lacked such evidence, offering down-to-earth explanations instead.

Bruce Maccabee, while also identifying as a skeptic, expressed skepticism of "one-sided skepticism" and admitted the lack of hard physical evidence but affirmed the existence of unexplained sightings. He diverged from the panel's focus on abductions to provide a historical background of UFO reports, arguing that understanding the phenomenon requires context beyond just abduction claims. Maccabee presented several UFO incidents, including the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting and the November 1986 Japan Airlines sighting, as examples of unexplained events. He suggested that scientists have not been skeptical enough in their explanations.

Klass responded by apologizing for Maccabee deviating from the topic and countered the JAL sighting argument by suggesting the crew saw Jupiter and reflections off ice crystals. A lively question-and-answer session followed, with Klass and Sharp cautioning Maccabee to stay on topic, and Klass himself being criticized for his behavior towards other speakers and UFOlogists.

Quackery's Appeal

This section includes an excerpt from Samuel Uretsky's "It beats The Truth," detailing his experiences with AIDS patients at N.Y.U. Medical Center. Uretsky describes how AIDS patients seek facts to construct a truth and recounts saving a patient from exploitation by promoters of RNA/DNA capsules. He also mentions helping another patient avoid a "catalyst-altered water" scam. Uretsky laments that while people's willingness to help can provide comfort, the gratitude is sometimes uncertain, and the money is less important than the human connection. The piece suggests that abandonment is more painful than death itself.

Nonbelief vs. Disbelief

Authored by Hans Sebald, Ph.D., this article discusses an editorial in "The Zetetic Scholar" that distinguished between disbelief and nonbelief. Sebald explains that disbelief, in this context, requires the disbeliever to prove the reality basis of their disbelief, effectively proving the phenomenon does not exist. Nonbelief, conversely, is presented as a more agnostic stance, where the claimant is expected to provide proof for their assertion. Sebald agrees with Marcello Truzzi, the editor of "The Zetetic Scholar," on many points but differs on the responsibility that arises from a disbelieving stance. He argues that certain claims are absurd and that the word "absurd" implies a statement or assumption that is contrary to reason or common sense.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "BASIS" revolve around critical thinking, the scientific method, and the debunking of pseudoscience and irrational beliefs. The Bay Area Skeptics, through its publication, consistently promotes skepticism as a vital tool for understanding the world, distinguishing fact from fiction, and resisting manipulation. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and challenges claims that lack empirical support, whether they pertain to psychic phenomena, creationism, UFOs, or medical quackery. The newsletter encourages readers to be vigilant, question assertions, and apply critical analysis to information encountered in daily life and through media.

Title: BASIS
Issue: June
Volume: 1989
Publisher: Bay Area Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of "BASIS," the monthly publication of the Bay Area Skeptics, features several articles that critically examine belief systems, particularly astrology, and advocate for a skeptical and rational approach to understanding the world.

Articles and Content

The Nature of Disbelief and Absurdity

The issue opens with an article that delves into the philosophical underpinnings of disbelief. The author argues that there are limits to the responsibility of disbelievers to prove the nonexistence of claims. The core of the argument rests on the concept of absurdity: if a claim is inherently absurd, like the Earth's center being made of an apple pie or a literal six-day creation as described in the Bible, then disbelief is the rational stance, and the burden of proof should not fall on the disbeliever. The author contrasts this with claims that might warrant investigation, such as clairvoyance, where an "interested nonbeliever" would seek demonstration and verification. The piece emphasizes that nonbelief in absurd claims is not narrow-minded or dogmatic but a virtue when confronting illogical assertions.

Sin Signs: A Satirical Look at Astrology

Following the philosophical discussion, the magazine presents a section titled "SIN SIGNS," attributed to Dr. Leilani Allen. This section offers highly negative and often humorous reinterpretations of the traditional zodiac sign descriptions. For instance, Aquarians are described as lying a great deal and being stupid, Pisceans as cowards who do terrible things to small animals, and Capricorns as doing nothing of importance and tending to "take root." This satirical approach aims to expose the arbitrary and often nonsensical nature of astrological personality assessments.

Editor's Corner: Astrology and the White House

Kent Harker, the editor, contributes a piece focusing on the public reaction to revelations about the President of the United States conforming his agenda to astrological arrangements. Harker notes that while many people accept astrological claims, it is often considered a "closet craft." The "Reagan debacle" is seen as an opportunity to ridicule astrology, with headlines like "Reagan's Star Wars" and "A 16th-century quack has L.A. quaking" being cited. The article discusses how skeptics, like those from BAS, were called upon to comment, contrasting with the efforts of astrologers and the White House to downplay the situation.

#### Shawn Carlson's Research

Harker highlights the work of BAS board member Shawn Carlson, whose research on astrology was published in the prestigious journal "Nature." Carlson's experiment aimed not to disprove the existence of a mechanism for astrology but to show that astrologers perform no better than chance at their claims. Carlson appeared on a radio program opposite Bay Area astrologer Pat Brown. During the exchange, Brown defended astrology, suggesting that planets "block" each other's energies. Carlson countered that longevity of an idea does not guarantee its truth, drawing parallels to prejudice and superstition. Brown accused Carlson of not bothering astronomy, to which Carlson responded that astrologers do harm, citing medical and psychological advice given without proper licensing.

#### Further Skeptical Voices

The article mentions other skeptical voices, including astronomer Andy Fraknoi, who questioned the rationale behind choosing the moment of birth as the point of astrological influence, suggesting conception might be more logical. Fraknoi also humorously proposed protecting newborns from unfavorable celestial influences by wrapping them in steak. The issue also touches upon a Christian healing team's performance, where a leg was reportedly grown an inch, further illustrating the types of claims that skeptics scrutinize.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of "BASIS" are skepticism, critical thinking, and the debunking of pseudoscience, particularly astrology. The publication clearly aligns itself with a rationalist viewpoint, aiming to expose illogical beliefs and practices. The editorial stance is one of advocating for evidence-based reasoning and questioning claims that lack empirical support. The magazine encourages readers to adopt a critical perspective towards cultural beliefs and assertions that are not grounded in scientific understanding. The publication also serves as a platform for the Bay Area Skeptics to disseminate their views and engage with the public, offering resources for obtaining more information and joining their community.