The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics," Volume 6 Number 1, dated January 1992, features a cover headline focusing on "The Third Eye" and includes articles on televangelism, media criticism, conspiracy theories, computer networks, and alleged cult activity.

The Third Eye

This section, written by Pat Reeder, offers commentary on the media, specifically praising ABC-TV's "PrimeTime Live" for its exposé on televangelists Robert Tilton, Larry Lea, and W.V. Grant. Reeder defends the use of hidden cameras and false identities as necessary to uncover the truth about these televangelists' operations, arguing that their secrecy necessitates such methods. He contrasts their alleged misuse of religious platforms for financial gain with the principles of legitimate ministry. The article details the aftermath of the exposé, including the televangelists' reactions, W.V. Grant's continued 'miracle' claims, Larry Lea's sabbatical, and Robert Tilton's lawyer, J.C. Joyce, threatening slander suits which were later dropped. Tilton is also criticized for suggesting postal workers stole prayer requests found in Tulsa dumpsters, leading to a humorous observation about his environmental commitment.

Oliver Stone and the JFK Film

Another segment discusses filmmaker Oliver Stone's movie "JFK," criticizing its factual accuracy and what the author perceives as Stone's distortion of history. The article notes that "Time" and "Newsweek" have begun to cover similar ground regarding the film's inaccuracies. It questions Stone's claim that the film stimulates truth-seeking while allegedly propagating lies, and expresses concern that younger audiences may accept the film's version of events as historical fact. The author points out the film's producers have prepared a "study guide" for schools, questioning what it might omit. The film is rated as having "Lone Assassin" historical accuracy on a one-to-four scale.

Quick News Items

• This section presents several brief, unrelated news items:
• The CBS-TV show "Secrets of the Unknown" is reported not to be a series, which is seen as good news.
• A local psychic advertised a "holiday sale on finding missing persons."
• The owners of Recycle Records found a valuable autographed album of sermons by Jim Jones in a used record bin.
• A defense attorney in Dover, Delaware, objected to a juror who claimed to be a professional psychic.
• Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has reportedly given up on lowering Washington D.C.'s crime rate through collective meditation, suggesting people visit only during "office hours."

Scientologists Attempt to Squelch Reader's Digest

By Mike Sullivan, this article reports that the Church of Scientology International has filed multiple injunctions in European courts to prevent "Reader's Digest" from reprinting a "Time" magazine exposé by Richard Behar on the cult. Despite Scientology's actions, "Reader's Digest," with its vast readership, planned to proceed with the reprint after verifying the facts with independent sources.

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Also by Mike Sullivan, this piece is described as a "VERY INCOMPLETE ROUNDUP OF COMPUTER-BASED CLAPTRAP." Sullivan, working in the microcomputer industry, discusses the explosion of computer networks and bulletin-board systems (BBSs). He notes that alongside legitimate information, there is a growing selection of "crackpot, pseudoscience, New Age and miscellaneous goofball computer message networks." He details his experiences on Echomail and the Internet, finding the UFO discussion areas filled with conspiracy theories, claims of government cover-ups, and arguments. He describes Echomail's UFO conference as a "small-town coffee shop" with "regulars" and cliques, where outsiders are met with hostility. On the Internet, he found discussions focused on bickering and rehashing old events, leading him to conclude that the UFO community there believes in a massive government cover-up and possesses "blockbuster proof" of alien visitation that is being suppressed. He also touches on CompuServe's "New Age forum," which he sees as a space for fringe topics and pseudoscience, and mentions skeptical BBS systems maintained by the Bay Area Skeptics and Georgia Skeptics. The article concludes by discussing a proposal for the North Texas Skeptics to sponsor a local BBS.

Purloined Pets Perplex Plano Police

Written by Mike Sullivan, this article investigates a series of missing and mutilated cats in Plano, Texas. Diane Randolph, a self-proclaimed Satanic cult investigator, believes the incidents are evidence of a cult, a suspicion echoed by Plano police detective Mark Box. However, Steve Smith of the Texas Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests that the number of missing pets might not be unusual for a town of Plano's size. The article details the initial discovery of mutilated cats, Detective Box's investigation, and the public response to a newspaper article seeking information. Despite extensive publicity, no eyewitnesses to cult activity have come forward, and Detective Box admits he has no active leads. He expresses a strong personal belief, based on his 25 years of police experience, that occult activity is involved, despite the lack of concrete evidence.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

A short, skeptical cartoon by Laura Ainsworth is included, humorously referencing W.V. Grant's claims of performing miracles on legs, contrasting it with a flamingo.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards claims of the supernatural, paranormal, and pseudoscientific, particularly as presented in media and fringe online communities. The North Texas Skeptics, through its articles, actively critiques sensationalism and unsubstantiated claims, whether from televangelists, filmmakers, or online forums. The editorial stance is clearly one of critical inquiry, advocating for evidence-based reasoning and a rational approach to understanding phenomena. The publication also touches on issues of media responsibility and the potential for misinformation. The investigation into the Plano pet disappearances highlights the tension between anecdotal evidence and statistical analysis, with a lean towards investigating even seemingly unlikely explanations when a credible source like a police detective suggests them.