Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 05 No 05 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Volume 5, Number 5
Date: June 1996
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic delves into the demarcation problem between genuine science and pseudoscience, featuring a detailed account of the April meeting's presentation by Wolf Roder. The newsletter also includes a personal account of a Therapeutic Touch workshop, book reviews, and discussions on paranormal phenomena and legislative interference with science education.

April Meeting: Three Near Misses - Wolf Roder

Wolf Roder's report on the April meeting highlights a talk focused on distinguishing pseudo-scientific claims from new scientific knowledge. The speaker, quoting Martin Gardner, advised skeptics to focus on theories "so close to 'almost certainly false' that there is no reasonable doubt about their worthlessness." Laypersons, it was argued, have no competence to intervene in scientific debate. To illustrate the difficulty in distinguishing crackpot ideas from genuine insights, three scholars whose theories were initially rejected by their peers were presented: Alfred Wegener, Elaine Morgan, and Harlen Bretz.

Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift, first proposed in 1912 and published in book form in 1915, was met with significant opposition from the geological profession due to the lack of a proposed mechanism. A conference sponsored by the American Society of Petroleum Geologists delivered a "devastating critique," with one president of the American Philosophical Society reportedly calling the idea "utter damned rot." Despite this, later research in the 1960s, under the umbrella of plate tectonics, vindicated Wegener's core idea, making it the accepted geophysical paradigm.

Elaine Morgan, a writer for documentary television, published "The Descent of Woman" in 1972, proposing the Aquatic Ape Theory. This theory suggests humans underwent a phase of near-shore fishing and diving in their evolution, which could explain traits like reduced body hair, upright walk, subcutaneous fat, and waxy sebum. While initially met with criticism, Morgan has modified her hypotheses in subsequent books. A 1990 conference on her theories yielded mixed results, with one reviewer finding the traditional Savannah Theory more compelling and another comparing the Aquatic Ape Theory to von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods" for its reliance on imagination and unrelated facts.

Harlen Bretz's work on the channeled scablands of eastern Washington State, following the Scopes trial, described geological features like massive potholes and dry waterfalls, suggesting an exceedingly large flood as the cause. His peers, however, could not accept this interpretation due to the lack of a water source. Bretz's vindication came in 1940 when younger investigators identified a glacial ice dam that had blocked Lake Missoula. The repeated melting and breakdown of this dam caused massive floods that carved the scablands. This research indicated that nature sometimes operates through catastrophes, not just gradual processes. James Gilluly of the USGS, initially a doubter, was quoted as admitting, "How could anyone have been so wrong?"

Therapeutic Touch: What's it all about?

Joe Gastright recounts his experience attending a Level I workshop on Therapeutic Touch (TT), offered by the Edgar Cayce group, ARE. The workshop provided 20 contact hours and continuing education credit for nurses. Participants included nurses, massage therapists, and other healers. Gastright describes the training as involving "ballet like rituals" and sensitivity training exercises, establishing "instant intimacy." He notes that Dora Kunz, a co-founder of TT, was a fifth-generation clairvoyant who studied with Charles Leadbeater. Delores Krieger, recruited by Kunz, reportedly "proved" that "in-vivo human hemoglobin" increased by laying on of hands. Research by Janet Quinn in 1982 suggested that hand-waving (without touch) was as effective as touching. Gastright characterizes TT as a philosophy, a way of caring, and a sacred healing art, differing from Reiki and Reflexology by being an official nursing method. The practice involves working with "energy" called auras and "Energy Centers" called chakras. The healer is instructed in centering, diagnosing, "unruffling" the energy field, and transferring energy. Gastright expresses skepticism, stating, "There is no evidence that energy fields or Energy Centers exist beyond the finger tingling suggestions reinforced by the trainer." He calls pendulums, dowsing rods, and Kirlian auras "well known psychic scams" and finds the literature of TT unacceptable as scientific research. He notes that several major hospitals and the State of Ohio accept TT for continuing education credit, which he considers a problem deserving public attention.

President's Corner: Getting Informed and Staying That Way

Joe Gastright, president, discusses the challenge of finding reliable information on alternative health schemes. He notes that while libraries are a resource, key texts for Therapeutic Touch often lack bibliographies, citing Alice Bailey and Barbara Brennan as examples. Gastright plans to publish an annotated bibliography in the fall. He recommends the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) as a source of information on quackery, offering a newsletter and information sheets for a fee. He also mentions the work of the Rocky Mountain Skeptic organization in questioning the validity of continuing education credits for TT courses.

From the Un-easy Chair

The new editor, Wolf Roder, expresses his hopes and ambitions for the Cincinnati Skeptic, aiming to make it a comprehensive communication medium. He solicits contributions from members, including news, articles, observations, cartoons, reviews, letters, and fillers, to ensure the newsletter's quality and relevance.

E-mail from the Amazing Randi

Randi comments on a piece of "typical nut stuff" received via email, describing it as a perfect example of a faulty argument that proves itself. The accompanying text, "An Unshakable Explanation of Para-psychology," argues that supernatural entities (demons) intentionally hide their powers from scientific scrutiny to prevent people from accepting psychic powers as fact. The author suggests that these superintelligent beings know events in advance and would not manifest under conditions that would lead to widespread publicity.

Defective Quarks

This section, extracted from the mini-Annals of Improbable Research (mini-AIR), humorously discusses reports of "defective quarks" being distributed in Switzerland. The author plays on the dual meaning of "quark" as a subatomic particle and as Swiss cheese (milkcurds). The piece concludes that it is not credible that Swiss people would distribute defective cheese, and figuratively, "quark" means nonsense, questioning how defective nonsense could be distributed, especially in rational Switzerland.

Book Reviews

No Turning Back: Dismantling the Fantasies of Environmental Thinking by Wallace Kaufman

Reviewed by Wolf Roder, this book criticizes environmental groups, arguing they are political advocacy groups that exaggerate hazards and advocate counterproductive actions. Kaufman contends that these groups often make nature a substitute for God, creating a religion around environmentalism. He suggests that environmentalists may fantasize about pristine past environments that never existed and advocate policies that can lead to negative consequences like uncontrolled forest fires. The review highlights Kaufman's thesis that modern industry and science, not wildness, enable environmental preservation and exploitation.

Past Imperfect: History According to the Movies edited by Mark C. Carnes, Ted Mico, John Miller-Monzon, and David Rubel

Reviewed by Wolf Roder, this book examines the historical accuracy of sixty films. Experts evaluate each movie for its historical meaning and teaching. While acknowledging that films often simplify or telescope events for narrative coherence, the review notes that movies are frequently "morality plays or parables" that misinterpret complexities and ambiguities to support popular attitudes and prejudices, serving as the primary historical truth for many Americans.

The Myth of Scientific Literacy by Morris H. Shamos

This short book note summarizes Shamos's argument that "scientific literacy" is an ill-defined concept. He believes that true understanding requires rigorous study of science, including math, logic, and lab procedures, rather than just learning about technology's outcomes. The author is described as blunt and leaves a "bitter taste of ashes."

Tales from the Paranormal

This section features items from mini-AIR. It mentions reports of the CIA and KGB hiring psychics. A free Paranormal Ability Testing Service is offered, where individuals mentally send their name and address to test for psychic powers; failure to receive notification within three days implies no powers. The paranormal testing program led to a spin-off called PGP-Y, a data security protocol for the internet that uses telepathic transmission. An incident involving bent spoons during testing is also mentioned.

Bits and Pieces

Defending His Seat and House: Anatoly Kashpirovsky, a former psychic, hypnotist, and faith-healer elected to the Russian Duma, refused to vacate his government apartment after losing his seat. He threatened to use his psychic powers to fight eviction. The article notes that it is unclear how he would deal with female officials.

Tennessee Bill on Evolution: A bill introduced by Tennessee State Representative Zane Whitson would make it a crime to teach evolution as fact, requiring it to be taught only as a scientific theory. The bill passed committee in both houses. An interchange on The Freethought News Group discusses a similar bill sponsored by Ohio State Rep. Ron Hood, which would require that arguments inconsistent with evolution also be included in instruction. Dick Duggan expresses concern that this could lead to arguments unsupported by evidence, such as claims that evolution leads to immoral behavior or that evolution and creationism are equally scientific.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cincinnati Skeptic consistently adopts a critical and skeptical stance towards claims lacking scientific evidence. The newsletter champions critical thinking, scientific methodology, and the importance of distinguishing between established science and pseudoscience. Recurring themes include the examination of alternative health practices, the critique of paranormal claims, the evaluation of environmentalist arguments, and the defense of scientific principles against legislative or societal interference. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-pseudoscience, encouraging readers to be informed and to question unsubstantiated claims.

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic, Volume 5, Number 5, published in 1996, explores a range of topics related to skepticism, belief, science, and social issues. The cover headline, "Belief and unbelief?", sets the tone for several articles that question various forms of conviction and evidence.

Belief and Unbelief: A Skeptic's Poll

The issue opens with a quote from Rep. Robert Hagan of Youngstown, who contrasts faith-based creationism with science-based evolution. This is followed by an article by Frank Fire that delves into the results of a poll conducted by the Skeptics Society among its members. The poll asked members if they believed in a God or a purposeful higher intelligence that created the universe. Out of 5072 questionnaires sent, 1019 were returned. The results indicated that 20.7% thought it was very likely, 14.4% possibly, 8.6% not very likely, 26.4% very unlikely, and 33.3% definitely not. The author notes that the percentages add up to 103.4%, expressing skepticism about the data's accuracy. The article also mentions that these results appeared in the journal *Skeptic* (vol. 3, no. 3, 1995, p. 10), which is described as a rival to the *Skeptical Inquirer* and is published quarterly by the Skeptics Society. Membership to the society is $35.00 per year, with a mailing address provided for their PO Box in Altadena, CA.

The Skeptics Society also sponsors a lecture series at Caltech. The journal *Skeptic* is characterized as being more willing than the *Skeptical Inquirer* to discuss religion, take an anti-religious stance, or engage in scientific controversy.

Daguerre Story

A brief anecdote is presented about Louis Daguerre, the inventor of an early photographic process. The story illustrates the perceived novelty and complexity of his method through a dialogue with an investor who initially compares it to the work of a "second rate psychic charlatan."

In The News: The Patriots

This section focuses on the "Patriot" movement in the United States, which the author characterizes as being driven by paranoia and error, distinguishing them from the soldiers who freed the American colonies. The article identifies these "False Patriots" as including militia movements, Freemen-Sovereign Citizens, Identity believers, Posse Comitatus, Klansmen, Skinheads, and neo-Nazis. It lists several hate crime activities associated with these groups, such as the murder of Alan Berg, the Oklahoma City Federal Office Building explosion, bank robberies, and the derailment of an Amtrak train in Arizona. The article details their general belief that the government is the enemy, plotting to impose a New World Order and infringe on constitutional rights, particularly the second amendment. They cite events like the Ruby Ridge incident and the Branch Davidian fire at Waco as evidence. The article also mentions beliefs about foreign troops and unmarked helicopters on US soil, and the implantation of ID biochips. Most groups are described as white, adult males with racist delusions against various minority groups. They are noted as being skilled users of the internet, radio talk shows, and fax communications. The article further explains that Identity Church believers draw from the Anglo-Israel cult, believing white Christian men are the true Israel and Jews are the spawn of Satan. These groups often consider themselves "sovereign citizens" not bound by US laws and may establish their own courts. They assert that the Second Amendment allows them to own weapons and form private militias. Para-military armed groups are noted in the Greater Cincinnati region, specifically in counties of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The information for this article is primarily sourced from "False Patriots," a 1996 report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose Klanwatch has been monitoring white supremacy and hate crime activity since 1979.

Letters to the Editor

From the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday April 2, 1996 pA-6: Please Send in Photos of Alien Abductors

Thomas M. Olsen, in a letter to the Wall Street Journal, compares the skeptical attitude towards alien abductions to the French Academy of Science's historical disbelief in meteorites in 1803. Olsen argues that while the academy had reason for disbelief until evidence was presented, those who believe in alien abductions have not met their burden of proof. He states there are no authentic alien artifacts or reliable objective observers, and the belief relies solely on the word of abductees and their therapists. He suggests that past beliefs in abductions by fairies and demons are comparable and that "abductees" may be influenced by suggestive questioning from their therapists. For objective background, he recommends books by Robert A. Baker and Philip Klass. Andrew O. Lutes, a member of ART, is credited with this letter.

From The News-Journal of Mansfield, Ohio, May 11, 1996 p8A

Andrew O. Lutes, also a member of ART, addresses the idea that evolution is a tool of racism. He argues that while evolution has been misused to promote racism, so have Christianity and the Bible (citing the Curse of Ham). Lutes contends that if Christianity and the Bible are still considered valid despite their misuse, then evolution should also be considered valid. He explains that evolution shows common ancestry, which refutes racism by demonstrating that all races originate from the same source. He further suggests that evolutionary charts showing early hominids as dark imply that all people descended from an original black race, thus challenging racist notions of black inferiority. Lutes clarifies that forensic anthropology, used to reconstruct appearances from bone fragments, is a recognized science, not voodoo. He asserts that evolution does not inherently remove God from the equation and that many mainstream religious denominations uphold both belief in God and evolution, referencing "Voices for Evolution" published by the National Center for Science Education.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of evidence, belief, and scientific understanding. The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, questioning unsubstantiated claims, whether they pertain to religious beliefs, paranormal phenomena like alien abductions, or extremist political ideologies. The editorial stance appears to favor scientific reasoning and critical analysis, as evidenced by the critique of the "Patriots" movement and the defense of evolutionary science against accusations of racism. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between evidence-based conclusions and faith-based assertions or conspiracy theories.