Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 06 No 07 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Volume 6, Number 7
Date: April 1997
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought (ART)

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter delves into various topics from a rational and skeptical perspective, featuring articles on the Shroud of Turin, Scientology, holistic medicine, the differences between astronomy and astrology, and criteria for identifying pseudoscience.

The Shroud of Turin: March Meeting

Dick McGrath, Professor of Theology at Thomas More College and a founding member of ART, presented on the Shroud of Turin. McGrath's approach was skeptical of both devout believers and those who label it a medieval hoax, stating that its authenticity has neither been proved nor disproved. He noted that believers rely on faith, while skeptics face evidence they cannot easily dismiss. The shroud is described as a 14-foot long linen strip bearing a faint, reverse image of a crucified body, with marks of fire damage, water stains, and blood. While the image includes details like scourging and a crown of thorns, McGrath concluded that the jury is still out, and a careful, scientifically controlled study is needed. He also mentioned that the Roman Catholic Church has no official position on the shroud's status.

President's Corner: It's Not Holistically Clear

J.F. Gastright, the president, critiques the promotion of holistic medicine, particularly the "Wellness Centers" being established by a local hospital. He argues that while proponents claim holistic services complement regular medicine, their factoids suggest otherwise. Gastright questions the efficacy of treatments like therapeutic touch and reflexology, noting the lack of scientific evidence and the high cost. He criticizes the holistic community for being unreceptive to criticism and relying on ancient methods without rigorous testing, comparing it to outdated Western medical practices like bleeding.

Scientology: Religion or Business?

John Forester examines the IRS's decision to reclassify Scientology as a religion, granting it tax-exempt status. Forester questions this classification, suggesting Scientology is primarily a profitable psychological therapy. He notes that while its supporters are vehement, this does not prove its truth. The article posits that Scientology's claim to a secret theology, revealed only to those who pay enough, is the basis for its religious status. Forester argues that this secrecy, combined with its profit-making motive and the science-fiction nature of its dogma (involving "thetans" and "engrams"), makes it more of a business than a religion. He suggests that for Scientology to be considered a genuine religion, its theological documents should be made public.

April Fool Award

The "April Non-Skeptic Award" highlights outrageous claims from the media. Four nominations were received:

1. Don Merrill (WVXU): Compared human opinion to the electromagnetic spectrum, a claim criticized as poor physics and political science.
2. Leslie and Jacobi (WVXU): Claimed Mozart channeled his early symphonies and that repressed feelings cause cancer, linking it to stored bad energy and a soul with many parts.
3. Chris West (Cincinnati Enquirer): Wrote about the "benefits" of Therapeutic Touch, with a subject who, despite being skeptical, felt it helped with hip replacement recovery but could not prove it.
4. USA Weekend Magazine: Reported on universities teaching "integrative" medical subjects, including homeopathy and acupuncture, with a quote about students learning to read auras.

Ten Differences Between Astronomy and Astrology

This humorous list contrasts astronomy and astrology, highlighting that alcohol makes astrological concepts easier to comprehend, astronomers make accurate predictions while astrologers plan their lives by stars, and astronomers use telescopes while astrologers use Ouija boards. It also notes that Nancy Reagan never asked an astronomer for advice and that astronomers believe in relativity while astrologers believe in the relativity of truth.

Pseudoscience or Protoscience?

This section provides a list of questions to help differentiate pseudoscience from protoscience. Key questions include whether the subject shows progress, uses undefined technical terms, requires abandoning physical laws, relies on anecdotal evidence, claims "air-tight" experiments, has results that can be repeated by others, claims unfair criticism, is taught only in non-credit institutions, uses old texts, employs "factuals" unrelated to the claim, attacks critics, appeals to history, exhibits a "shyness effect," uses the appeal to ignorance, or relies on alleged expertise in other areas.

From the Un-easy Chair: The Question of God

The editor addresses the question of God and miracles, stating the newsletter is neutral on the topic, similar to Skeptical Inquirer. It notes that a third of skeptics believe in the divine, while others find supernatural beliefs untenable. The article distinguishes between the literal claims of fundamentalists, which can be debunked, and the abstract concept of God as a prime mover. It argues that both scientific and divine experiences are based on human experience, but science is public and verifiable, while divine experience is private. The editor poses the question of why mathematics is true and nature follows mathematical rules, suggesting that any concept of God must also adhere to mathematical logic.

Book Reviews

1. Science on Trial: The Clash of Medical Evidence and the Law in the Breast Implant Case by Marcia Angell, M.D.: Reviewed by Wolf Roder. This book is described as important for understanding flaws in the American legal and jury system. Angell, a medical doctor and lawyer, argues there is no evidence that silicone breast implants cause illness, yet multi-million dollar awards were made. The review highlights how juries are swayed by emotion rather than scientific evidence, and how "experts" with idiosyncratic opinions are allowed to testify.
2. The Killing of History: How a Discipline is being Murdered by Literary Critics and Social Theorists by Keith Windschuttle: Reviewed by Keith Windschuttle. This book is presented as a defense of positivistic learning in history against postmodern critiques that claim truth is relative. Windschuttle argues that history must be based on factual information, even if specific facts are disputed, and that interpretations must be grounded in what came before.

Letters to the Editor

1. Unveiling 2x9? Don't Let Any 19 Stand There Naked! by bio-astrologer Esmeralda von Lowenzahn-Dentdelion: This letter defends the mathematical significance of the number 19, claiming it is the ninth prime and that certain calculations involving it yield primes. The author also makes a point about engineering salaries versus philosophy Ph.D. earnings.
2. The Icon is Sweating, Not Weeping! by theologian Franz Bibfeldt: This letter comments on Joe Nickell's article about a "weeping icon." The author playfully suggests that if the icon is sweating, it could be olive oil, and questions why it is sweating, attributing it to potential trouble for "her son."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cincinnati Skeptic consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach to evaluating claims, particularly those related to paranormal phenomena, alternative medicine, and unconventional belief systems. The newsletter encourages critical thinking and skepticism towards assertions lacking scientific support. It highlights the importance of clear definitions, verifiable evidence, and rigorous methodology in distinguishing between legitimate science and pseudoscience. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific inquiry and against the uncritical acceptance of claims based on faith, anecdote, or tradition. The magazine also engages with philosophical questions, such as the nature of God and the limits of scientific understanding, while maintaining its core skeptical outlook.