North Texas Skeptic - Vol 05 No 03 - 1991

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 5, Number 3
Date: May/June 1991
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Website: www.ntskeptics.org

This issue of The Skeptic, the newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics, features a critical examination of various phenomena and belief systems, including crop circles, Scientology, faith healing, hypnosis, and cold fusion. The publication adopts a skeptical and evidence-based approach, aiming to debunk pseudoscience and expose manipulative practices.

MUFON's Circular Reasoning: No Ring of Truth in Grain Patterns

Mike Sullivan reviews a presentation by the "Center for Crop Circle Studies" (CCCS), featuring "The Earl of Haddington" and Professor George Wingfield. The presentation, hosted by the MUFON Metroplex chapter, drew approximately 200 attendees. Sullivan critiques the presenters' claims that crop circles are impossible to hoax, pointing out that the patterns are typically found in recently worked fields adjacent to roads, suggesting human involvement. Wingfield's arguments against hoaxing are deemed weak, and he offers no concrete theory on the cause of the circles, instead allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions, often leading them towards UFOs and New Age concepts.

Sullivan highlights Wingfield's reliance on unscientific methods, including the testimony of mediums like Rita Gould, who reported a "trilling noise" in a crop circle. Wingfield claims dowsing evidence is "so strong" and that circles align with "node points for Earth energy lines." The article notes that MUFON and CCCS employ dowsers, channelers, and psychics, undermining their claims of being scientific research groups. The presentation also included a story about Mary Freeman, who allegedly saw a UFO and was abducted, shown pictures of crop circles.

Wingfield's assertion that the circles are "very, very few" eyewitnesses to their formation is presented as proof of their authenticity, a logic Sullivan finds flawed. The article also mentions an attempt to film a circle being formed, dubbed Project White Crow, which yielded no results, yet Wingfield claimed a large circle appeared later, attributing it to the influence of Rita Gould. Wingfield also made an unsupported claim about the physical healing powers of crop circles.

Sullivan contrasts Wingfield's claims with the BBC's demonstration of how a crop circle can be easily hoaxed by shuffling feet. He criticizes Wingfield and Haddington for not providing verifiable physical evidence, such as scientific measurements, interviews, or agricultural analysis. The article concludes that the CCCS road show is run as a business, preying on the credulity of attendees.

Meeting News

March Meeting -- Faithhealing

Ole Anthony spoke at the March meeting about his investigations into faith healers, specifically Robert Tilton. He urged Skeptics to get involved in monitoring faith healers to ensure they do not violate laws. The article emphasizes the harm caused by faith healers, who divert money from useful causes, provide little return, and cause believers to forgo necessary medical treatment. Skeptics are interested in challenging faith healers to prove their ability to perform cures.

April Meeting -- Hypnosis Defined For NTS

Steve Reed, a clinical psychotherapist, discussed hypnosis, explaining that "daydreaming" is a form of light hypnosis. He clarified that individuals do not lose awareness under hypnosis and that there is no validated record of unwilling hypnosis or performing acts against one's will. Reed noted that people are more open to suggestion under hypnosis and can fantasize freely. He cautioned that past life regression or UFO abduction claims are not validated by hypnosis. Reed stated that effective clinical use of hypnosis requires intellectual honesty, and lamented the lack of a central certifying body for hypnotists. He uses hypnosis in about 10% of his practice, finding it useful for relaxation, smoking cessation, and pain relief.

May and June Schedule

John Blanton and Mike Sullivan were scheduled to attend the 1991 CSICOP Conference in Berkeley, California, and would present their findings at the May meeting on May 21st. The June meeting was tentatively scheduled for June 19th.

A Piece of Blue Sky: Scientology, Dianetics and L. Ron Hubbard Exposed

Mike Sullivan reviews Jon Atack's book, "A Piece of Blue Sky," which chronicles Atack's personal journey through the Church of Scientology and provides a documented history of the cult and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The book details how Hubbard, a pulp science fiction writer, founded Scientology based on "Dianetics." The cult is described as promoting itself as a science-based therapy while indoctrinating members through bizarre mental and physical drills and demanding fanatical devotion.

Atack, a former high-level Scientologist, exposes Hubbard's fabricated history, including claims of being a world explorer, nuclear physicist, and decorated Navy Commodore. The review reveals that Hubbard was a mediocre student, had a poor Navy record, and collected a disability check until his death. The book also details Hubbard's personal issues, including drug use, paranoia, and various ailments that Dianetics claimed to cure.

The review highlights Scientology's methods of attracting and captivating members, draining their money, and disconnecting them from friends and family. Atack's account, along with court testimony and Church documents, provides chilling evidence of the cult's dark side. The book is presented as a case study of how a cult can ruin lives and serves as an inspiration for cult researchers. The article notes that Scientology continues to operate through Church Missions and that Bridge Publications promotes Hubbard's teachings as best-sellers.

FAIR CLEAR AND TERRIBLE...The Story of Shiloh

Laura Ainsworth reviews Shirley Nelson's book, "Fair Clear and Terrible...The Story of Shiloh." The book details the history of Frank W. Sandford, a preacher in the 1890s who established a fundamentalist ministry in Shiloh, Maine. Sandford proclaimed himself to be the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies and directed his followers to give everything they had to the church, promising divine provision. Followers were taught that doubt and logical thought were evil, and were expected to forgo medical treatment and inoculations, believing that their faith in God and Sandford would protect them.

The review describes the tragic consequences of this belief system, including outbreaks of smallpox and diphtheria, near-starvation, psychological torture, and physical abuse. Sandford, meanwhile, was cruising on his ministry's yacht. He was later convicted of negligence and served prison time. The article notes that Sandford blamed members' shortcomings or Satan for disease and death, and that even a child withholding a small amount of money could bring down God's wrath.

Nelson, whose parents and grandparents were members of Sandford's ministry, examines the techniques Sandford used to control his followers, including fasting, finger-pointing, and relentless demands, creating an atmosphere of constant anxiety. The review underscores the danger of apocalyptic visions and the tragedy of one personality controlling many others. It connects Sandford's story to modern-day fundamentalism and the victimization of people in the name of God.

Notes and announcements

Cold Fusion Controversy Continues

The article reports on experimental results from Navy researchers at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, which they claim match those of the Utah scientists who first reported tabletop fusion. However, a U.S. Department of Energy investigator expresses doubt due to inconsistencies in the data. The Navy team, led by Melvin Miles, claims to have produced excess helium-4 and excess heat energy. The findings are to be published in the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. The article notes that the Navy team, like Pons and Fleischmann, announced their findings before publication, a practice that casts a shadow on scientific research. The density of helium-4 found by the Navy is said to roughly match that found in normal atmosphere, and contamination is cited as a potential problem by the National Cold Fusion Institute.

Heavenly Cheerleader

This section quotes Terry Cole-Whittaker, a Seattle channeler, who attributes the Persian Gulf war to a "male-female struggle." She claims President Bush and Saddam Hussein are afraid of their feminine sides and are meat-eaters with a "killer instinct."

Astrologically Correct Garments

This brief report mentions Rita Hraiz, a London-based fashion designer who uses astrology to create clothes for her clients. Hraiz charges $200 for an initial consultation, which includes color vibration analysis, tarot card reading, and crystal presentation. Her designs, averaging $800, often feature sewn-on crystals or zodiac symbols. She provides astrological recommendations for clothing choices based on zodiac signs.

The Skeptics Challenge

The North Texas Skeptics offer a $2000 reward for anyone who can perform or prove a paranormal act under specific conditions. The conditions include submitting a written claim, undergoing a test designed by the Skeptics, and agreeing that both parties will own unrestricted rights to the results of the test, which the Skeptics promise to publish regardless of the outcome.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

A comic strip by Laura Ainsworth titled "Up a tree" presents a humorous take on alien abduction theories, with one character suggesting that birds can fly due to a genetic mutation from winged aliens mating with ancestors, while another character dismisses this as "nuts" and points out that aliens are known to have huge heads and skinny arms.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Skeptic are skepticism towards paranormal claims, cults, and pseudoscience. The editorial stance is clearly critical of unsubstantiated beliefs and manipulative practices, advocating for evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking. The newsletter actively seeks to expose what it considers to be fraudulent or misleading claims, whether related to UFOs, New Age phenomena, or religious manipulation. The publication also highlights the importance of scientific methodology and peer review, as seen in the critique of cold fusion research announcements. The Skeptics Challenge further underscores the publication's commitment to demanding empirical proof for extraordinary claims.