Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 08 No 05 - 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 8 No. 5
Date: February/March 1999
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter, published by The Association for Rational Thought, features a range of articles exploring scientific literacy, belief systems, historical analysis, and scientific news. The cover includes quotes from Goethe's Faust and a table of contents highlighting key articles.

December Meeting: Are Religious Belief and Scientific Literacy Linked?

The lead article discusses a presentation by George Bishop, a professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati, who has been researching survey data on the relationship between religious belief and scientific literacy. Bishop examined studies by J. H. Leuba (1914, 1933) and a more recent replication by Larson and Witham (1996) concerning scientists' beliefs in God and immortality. Leuba's initial study found 42% belief in God and 51% in immortality among scientists. His 1933 follow-up showed a decline to 30% and 33% respectively. Larson and Witham's 1996 study reported similar figures to Leuba's 1914 data (39% God, 38% immortality), leading them to conclude that scientists' beliefs had not changed significantly. However, Bishop discovered that Larson and Witham had omitted Leuba's 1933 data, which showed a decline. Bishop speculates that if Larson and Witham had used comparable samples (including only 'eminent' scientists as Leuba did in 1914), they might have found a further drop in belief.

The article also touches upon Gallup Poll data regarding beliefs about human evolution. George Gallup Jr.'s organization has been asking about creationist, theistic, and Darwinist viewpoints since the 1970s. Bishop's analysis of data from 1982-1997 indicates a strong inverse correlation between education level and belief in creationism. College graduates were significantly more likely to choose the Darwinist response, while those with less than a high school education were more likely to believe in creationism. Religious preference also played a role, with those identifying as 'No religion' most often choosing the Darwinist position.

Letters to the Editor

Mary Pacinda writes in response to an article about Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, underground vaults, alien bodies, and UFOs. She suggests that the 'missile-shaped things' might be giant underground compressors for wind tunnels in Area B of WPAFB, and that 'cryogenic' tanks could be part of the cooling system for these tunnels. She also posits that the underground system might be for maintenance of the wind tunnels and other labs. Pacinda further suggests that stories of bodies being taken to WPAFB could be related to post-mortem studies of jet pilots killed in 'mishaps', potentially explaining reports of mutilated bodies.

Marcel Gillet is quoted regarding the tenacity of superstition, noting its use as a tool for controlling fate and as a psychological support. He cites an example from the eighteenth century where reliance on dowsers (tourneurs de baguettes) misguided and delayed the exploration of coal deposits in France.

From the Un-Easy Chair

This section reviews a Newsweek article (January 25, 1999) titled “Unmasking Sybil,” which re-examines the case of the famous psychiatric patient whose story was popularized in the book 'Sybil' by Flora R. Schreiber and the subsequent TV movie. The review notes that the book and movie led to a surge in diagnoses of Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). Historians have found little evidence of the extreme abuse described in the book, suggesting Sybil's mother may have been schizophrenic. The real Sybil met her psychiatrist in 1950 and remained dependent on her throughout her life. The review quotes a doctor who suggests Sybil did not spontaneously develop multiple personalities but rather adopted them through interaction with her therapist, describing her as a brilliant hysteric, highly hypnotizable, and suggestible.

The editor comments that Sybil's illness appears iatrogenic, and she did not seem to benefit from the diagnosis or treatment, finding more solace in the woman as a friend than the psychiatrist as a doctor.

A Puzzle for Thinkers

This section presents a mathematical puzzle about choosing between a straight-line salary increase of $950 or an exponential increase of 3% annually, starting at $18,000. It also provides solutions to previous puzzles, including finding a cube with the same surface area as a sphere and discussing the surface area of a hot dog.

Too Many Books.... Too Little Time....

This section reviews two books:

1. Hitler's Wien: Lehrjahre eines Diktators by Brigitte Hamann: This book examines Hitler's formative years in Vienna from 1906 to 1913. The review highlights that Hamann traces the origins of Hitler's ideas to this period, finding no evidence of anti-Jewish doctrine from his earlier life. The book details Vienna's history and its ethnic and political landscape, where Germans saw themselves as the ruling 'race'. The review notes that this was a period of high racist thinking, often termed 'scientific' racism. Hitler supported himself by painting and lived in shelters for the poor. Despite having Jewish acquaintances, no personal animosities against Jews are recorded. The review states Hitler was not highly educated, having dropped out of school, and absorbed the prevailing racist ideas of the time, which formed a quasi-religious worldview where 'race' explained everything.

2. Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer: The review praises Shermer's book for its clarity and insight, noting his confession of having believed in various irrational ideas himself. Shermer defines science and scientific concepts like paradigms and theories, emphasizing that they are testable and open to revision. He uses David Hume's maxim about proportioning belief to evidence. The book covers topics such as psychic phenomena, Edgar Cayce, ESP, Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs), alien encounters, witch crazes, the Satanic Ritual Panic, the Recovered Memory Movement, and Ayn Rand's objectivism. Shermer also discusses Creationism and his debate with Duane Gish. Part Four of the book addresses pseudohistory, specifically 'holocaust deniers', examining their claims and refuting them. Shermer concludes that people believe 'weird things' because they want to, these beliefs offer comfort, they are simple, or they provide moral meaning.

News From Science

This section presents several brief science news items:

• Warp Drive: Breakthrough Propulsion Sought: NASA's Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Program is seeking research proposals to achieve goals such as eliminating the need for propellant, overcoming the speed of light limitation, or producing unlimited onboard energy.
• **Patent Office Hires “Original

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 8 No. 5
Date: February/March 1999
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought (ART)
Country: USA
Language: English

Organization and Mission

The Association for Rational Thought (ART) is presented as an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization. Its core mission is to investigate paranormal and pseudoscientific claims from a responsible, scientific perspective, sharing the findings with the public. ART aligns itself with the philosophy of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), an international body that investigates alleged paranormal events, conducts workshops, and publishes the journal *Skeptical Inquirer*.

Meetings and Membership

ART holds its meetings on the second Saturday of each month, from September through June, starting at 10:00 AM. The meetings take place at James Tavern in Blue Ash. These meetings are open to the public. The organization also maintains a database of information on paranormal claims for local new media and actively investigates local paranormal claims. ART was founded by Cincinnati area skeptics in 1991. The annual dues are $15.00, which includes a subscription to the *Cincinnati Skeptic* newsletter. The newsletter is published monthly.

Contact Information and Membership Drive

For further information, individuals can contact President Roy Auerbach at (513) 731-2774 or Nurit Bowman at (513) 731-0642. The organization's website is also provided for information. Roy Auerbach can also be reached for address changes, corrections, and membership questions via phone or email at [email protected]. The mailing label information indicates membership status: "00/00/00 Member" signifies a member in good standing with an expiration date on the label, while "Lapsed" indicates an expired membership, prompting a request for dues.

A membership form is included, inviting readers to support ART and receive the *Cincinnati Skeptic* and meeting notices. Options include "New Member," "Renewing Member," "Contribution," and "Gift membership for/by." The form requests name, street address, city, state, zip, phone (work and home), and e-mail.

The organization emphasizes keeping dues low despite rising costs and gratefully accepts additional contributions to support their work. Checks should be made payable to The Association for Rational Thought and mailed to P.O. Box 12896, Cincinnati, OH 45212. It is noted that contributions are not currently tax-deductible, but ART is working on this.

Online Presence and Skeptical Resources

The cover headline, "Skepticism and ART on the Electronic Media," points to a significant focus on digital outreach. Readers are encouraged to join SANE (Skeptical Area Network Effort) for weekly skeptical news via e-mail, featuring messages from CSICOP, James "The Amazing" Randi, and local skeptics. This serves as a means of staying in touch between newsletter issues.

ART's website, http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org, is highlighted as "NEW & IMPROVED." It offers "BLURBS" on various subjects, links to skeptical thinking resources worldwide, information on joining SANE, a basic definition of ART, its bylaws, details on how to attend meetings at James Tavern, other contact methods, and instructions for sending sample copies of the newsletter. David Wall is listed as the Web Site Manager, with the email address [email protected].

Preview of Coming Attractions

The newsletter provides details on upcoming ART meetings:

• Location: James Tavern at Cooper Road and Reed Hartman Highway, described as an accessible and pleasant venue for gatherings and social lunches. Coffee is available with a small donation.

• Sixth Meeting of the 1998-1999 Season:
• Date: Saturday, 13 February 1998
• Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (program), 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (lunch)
• Topic: ESP...or....Intuition?
• Speaker: A representative from Klein Associates, Inc., Fairborn, OH. The speaker, Gary Klein, PhD, is noted for his work in demystifying intuition and its role in expert decision-making under high-stakes settings. Klein Associates provides consulting services in this area.
• Note: The previous month's meeting was canceled due to severe weather.

• Seventh Meeting of the 1998-1999 Season:
• Date: Saturday, 13 March 1999
• Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (program), 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (lunch)
• Topic & Speaker: To be announced via mail.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting skepticism, rational inquiry, and scientific investigation of paranormal claims. ART positions itself as a resource for accurate information and critical thinking, actively engaging the public through meetings, publications, and online platforms. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and against unsubstantiated paranormal beliefs, as evidenced by its affiliation with CSICOP and its focus on scientific methodology. The emphasis on electronic media suggests a forward-looking approach to disseminating skeptical viewpoints in the digital age.