The Skeptic

Magazine Overview

The Skeptic, Volume 4, Number 5, published by The North Texas Skeptics in September/October 1990, features a range of articles critical of pseudoscientific and creationist claims. The cover headline highlights "The Foundation for Thought and Ethics," indicating a primary focus on this organization.

The Foundation for Thought and Ethics

This article by John A. Thomas examines the Foundation for Thought and Ethics (FTE), a creationist organization based in Richardson, Texas. FTE, formed in 1980, is described as a "Christian think-tank" with a religious and educational agenda, aiming to promote creationism. The article notes that FTE holds the copyright for the book "Pandas and People," which presents an "intelligent design" version of the origin of species. Haughton Publishing Co., the publisher of "Pandas and People," is revealed to be the assumed name of Horticultural Printers, Inc., a printing firm with no in-house scientific expertise. FTE's president is Jon Buell, an ordained minister with a background in Campus Crusade for Christ, and its Director of Curriculum Research is Charles Thaxton, who co-authored "The Mystery of Life's Origin." Thaxton is also a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation. FTE's articles of incorporation reveal a purpose that includes "proclaiming, publishing, preaching... the Christian Gospel and understanding of the Bible." The organization has been effective in fundraising, raising over $828,000 by late 1988, with significant donations from individuals and churches. FTE has also sought to influence textbook adoptions, though its efforts in Alabama were unsuccessful. The article notes that FTE intends to shift its focus to a grass-roots approach, targeting local school boards, teachers, and parents.

The Shroud Comes to Plano

John Blanton recounts his experience attending an exhibit on the Shroud of Turin in Plano, Texas. The exhibit featured large transparencies of the cloth and lectures by speakers from the Shroud Society of Texas. The speakers, Larry and Chuck, presented arguments for the shroud's authenticity, including criticisms of the carbon 14 dating tests. They claimed the tests were flawed due to broken chain of custody and samples taken from rewoven areas. They also suggested the uranium-thorium process supersedes C-14 dating. Chuck introduced John Jackson's "vertical mapping" process, which he described as a "physics of miracles." Blanton notes that while the speakers claimed to provide objective information, they were unwelcoming to skeptics. The article also references skeptical viewpoints from Joe Nickell's book "Inquest on the Shroud of Turin" and an article by Marvin M. Mueller.

Supping With the Specters

Mark Meyer reports on his visit to the Catfish Plantation restaurant in Waxahachie, Texas, known for alleged ghost sightings. The restaurant, a converted house built in 1895, has a history of reported paranormal events, including cold spots, mysterious scents, stopped clocks, and sightings of spirits. A team of investigators identified three spirits. Meyer attended the restaurant on a day a news crew was filming, capturing footage of a swinging door. He also notes that a Dallas Morning News columnist described a dinner event there as an "adult version of kids sitting around the campfire telling tales." Meyer concludes that while the paranormal claims are unproven, they are not detrimental to the restaurant's business.

1990 International Conference on Creationism

Ron Hastings provides a detailed account of the Second International Conference on Creationism (ICC 90) held in Pittsburgh, PA. The conference's theme was the age of the earth, attracting both young-earth and old-earth creationists. Hastings notes the presence of a "new generation" of creationists who are more scientifically rigorous and less overtly anti-evolutionary than the older generation. He highlights Kurt Wise, who applied cladistics and statistics to develop creationist models, and Gregg Wilkerson, who presented evidence against Robert Gentry's polonium halos. The article criticizes the continued promotion of the "mantrack" claims at Paluxy River, Texas, by Hugh Miller and Don Patton, noting the bureaucratic obstacles faced by researchers like Glen Kuban who sought to debunk these claims. Hastings also mentions a presentation on a flood canopy model by Greg Jorgensen, which he found scientifically flawed. The keynote address by Henry Morris, president of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR), is described as reminiscent of an old-time Baptist revival meeting, emphasizing lip service to science over actual scientific practice. The conference also featured a presentation by Wakefield and Wilkerson on geological evidence challenging Gentry's claims about polonium halos.

Update On Texas Biology Textbook Adoptions

Scott Faust reports on the adoption of biology textbooks in Texas. He notes a significant improvement, with all submitted biology texts now covering evolution in a straightforward and accurate manner. The State Textbook Secondary Science Committee adopted eight texts for Biology I, with one text even labeling "creation science" as pseudoscience. Anti-evolutionists, such as the Gablers, recommended against adopting any of the texts, claiming they violated Texas law, and proposed substitute passages. The focus of their efforts is now on the State Board of Education.

Noteworthy

This section includes a quote from Bill Dear, a private investigator, expressing skepticism about the reliability of psychics in solving crimes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently adopts a skeptical stance towards claims lacking scientific evidence or relying on religious dogma presented as science. Recurring themes include the critique of creationism and intelligent design, the examination of paranormal claims, and the promotion of scientific literacy and critical thinking. The editorial stance clearly favors scientific methodology and evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the detailed analysis of creationist conferences and the reporting on textbook adoptions that favor evolutionary science.