North Texas Skeptic - Vol 06 No 07 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 6, Number 7
Date: July 1992
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic newsletter, published by The North Texas Skeptics, delves into a variety of topics with a critical and skeptical lens. The cover headline, "The third eye," introduces a theme of discerning truth from misinformation, particularly in areas of science and public discourse. The issue features articles on environmental controversies, alternative medicine, and creationist claims, alongside a skeptical cartoon.

The Third Eye

Author: Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder's column, "The third eye," emphasizes the importance of skeptical thinking and the dangers of accepting unproven conjecture as fact, especially when disseminated through the mass media by untrained reporters. Reeder contrasts the blatant nonsense found in supermarket tabloids with the more subtle, yet equally problematic, bad science that gains traction through repetition. He uses the "cold fusion" brouhaha and a hoax about a "medically-verified pregnant man" as examples of sensationalism. More significantly, Reeder critiques the politicization of science, citing the Earth Summit in Brazil as an instance where political influence corrupted scientific discourse. He identifies himself as an environmentalist but expresses concern that some politically-motivated environmental organizations twist facts to gain money and influence, ultimately harming the causes they represent. Reeder commends a Newsweek article titled "No More Hot Air: It's Time To Talk Sense About The Environment" for offering a rational perspective on environmental controversies, particularly "global warming." He highlights specific examples from the article that question the certainty of long-range climate predictions, noting historical instances where predictions of warming were followed by cooling, and vice versa. The article also points out discrepancies in computer models predicting global warming when fed historical data.

Reeder also addresses the "blatant nonsense" of the Robert Tilton ministry, quoting Texas Attorney General Dan Morales' strong condemnation of Tilton for preying on vulnerable people. Morales stated that Tilton is "raping the most vulnerable members of our society" by encouraging them to send money for healing. Reeder humorously embroider's Morales' quote into a sampler. The article notes that Tilton's lawsuits against Ole Anthony and attorneys representing his victims were thrown out of court.

The column concludes with a roundup of "news that's unfit to print," including a story about witches demanding the removal of "Hansel And Gretel" from classrooms and a protest by witches against the eviction of a "Gypsy Heaven" shop from a shopping center. It also mentions the regulation of astrologers in Atlanta and a woman displaying a potato as Elvis.

The Gerson Cancer Cure

Author: John Blanton

John Blanton's article, "Eat Your Veggies!," investigates the Gerson Therapy, an alternative cancer treatment developed by Max Gerson. According to the Gerson Institute, the therapy can cure or prevent a wide range of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Charlotte Gerson, Max Gerson's daughter, is presented as a living testament to the therapy's effectiveness, appearing healthy at age seventy, having been cured of bone tuberculosis by her father's treatment years ago.

The article describes Charlotte Gerson's lecture in Dallas, hosted by Unity minister Donald Curtis. Blanton notes that the Gerson Institute is often in conflict with the medical and government establishment, but they circumvent direct medical practice in the U.S. by selling lectures, literature, and videos, thereby utilizing freedom of speech protections. In Mexico, they do sell medical services.

The Gerson formula involves a strict diet of organic vegetables, no meat, and the elimination of sodium. Blanton explains the underlying theory: disease is caused by toxicity and deficiency. The therapy aims to correct deficiencies by eating healthy foods, which then releases stored toxins. Detoxification is crucial, often involving coffee enemas. The elimination of sodium is emphasized because it promotes cell division, and cancer is described as runaway mitosis.

Blanton recounts testimonials from individuals who claim to have been cured by the Gerson Therapy, including Marilyn Barnes, who was treated for stage 4 melanoma and cervical cancer, and Allison Sinclair, who claims her malignant tumor disappeared after Gerson treatment. However, Blanton expresses skepticism, noting that Sinclair may have overemphasized the criticality of her diagnosis and suggesting an independent physician's examination of her records would be necessary. NTS Technical Advisor Tim Gorski, M.D., is quoted as saying that a physician needs access to all medical records for a valid assessment.

Blanton also discusses the therapy's high grocery costs for participants and the difficulty of adhering to the diet without family participation. He touches upon the conversation with an unidentified doctor who, despite his medical background, expressed confidence in homeopathy, a topic Blanton finds perplexing due to its reliance on dilutions that mathematically result in pure water. The doctor suggested quantum mechanics as a possible explanation, but ultimately fell back on empirical results.

In comparing Gerson therapy to standard medical practice, Blanton notes that while Gerson claims to cure almost all incurable diseases, the emphasis is on cancer. He questions Charlotte Gerson's claim that cancer is the leading cause of death for Americans 17 and under, citing TV reports that attribute this to automobile accidents and gunshots. Blanton contrasts the Gerson approach with conventional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, which may extend life but do not guarantee a cure. He points out that Gerson therapy is not covered by insurance and can be expensive, especially if pursued in Mexico.

Blanton concludes that while Gerson therapy might offer hope, it's essential for patients to have clear information about their prognosis from legitimate doctors. He notes that the audience at Charlotte Gerson's lecture appeared to be middle-class and that many purchased books and videos, indicating a willingness to spend money on alternative treatments.

Baugh on Baugh

Author: Dan Phelps

Dan Phelps' article, "Baugh on Baugh," critically examines the claims of Reverend "Dr." Carl Baugh, a proponent of creationism. Phelps reports on Baugh's interview on the talk show "Mike Ryan Live," where Baugh reiterated his long-discredited arguments for a young earth and flood geology. Baugh's claims include the excavation of human footprints alongside dinosaur footprints, the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs, and the dating of dinosaur bones to 9600 years ago.

Phelps debunks Baugh's assertions, noting that the "mantracks" are likely erosional features or misinterpreted dinosaur tracks, and that the Caldwell Print, claimed to be a human footprint, is an obvious carving. He also questions Baugh's calculation of global population growth from eight people, suggesting it ignores factors like disease and shorter lifespans. Baugh's explanation for fitting all 35,000 vertebrate life forms on Noah's Ark by suggesting juvenile dinosaurs were small is also met with skepticism.

The article highlights Baugh's story about a 13-year-old girl from Mozambique who was 10 feet 4 inches tall and could bench press 300 pounds, citing The Denver Post as the source, which Phelps finds improbable. Baugh also suggests that predatory dinosaurs may have been vegetarians and discusses his "Creation Evidences Museum" and expeditions to find Noah's Ark, claiming it has been located via satellite under ice and snow.

Phelps visited Baugh's museum near Glen Rose, Texas, describing it as a place that compares "real science with the other kind." He notes that most of the fossils on display are casts and replicas, including a Pleistocene bison skull, a Dimetrodon skull, and a sabre-toothed cat skull. The museum features laminated displays illustrating creationist dogma, including a child's science fair project on rapid canyon formation. Phelps found the exhibits to be poorly labeled or unlabeled.

Baugh's presentation included the claim that all life forms in the fossil record are larger than their modern counterparts, supported by a bison skull replica. Phelps counters that many prehistoric organisms were smaller. Baugh also presented "out-of-place" fossils, such as a Silurian trilobite claimed to be found in Cretaceous limestone, which Phelps refutes by stating the specimen is not of local origin and is identical to trilobites found elsewhere.

Regarding the "sabre-toothed cat track," Phelps notes that it resembles a dinosaur footprint and that NTS Technical Advisor Ron Hastings suggests it is a fossil burrow. Baugh's "mantrack" claims are again addressed, with Phelps pointing out that the Caldwell Print is an obvious carving. Baugh's explanation for the size of these tracks involves examples of modern giants, including the improbable story of the girl from Mozambique.

An "antediluvian" hammer, presented as evidence, is described as a 19th-century-style hammer around which a siderite nodule has formed. Phelps notes that only a replica was on display.

Baugh's "Vapor Canopy Model" proposes a layer of water vapor in the upper atmosphere that caused Noah's Flood and an unusual greenhouse effect, enabling long lifespans. Phelps mentions that Baugh believes the earth is 7000 years old, supporting this with the discredited claim of an exponentially decaying magnetic field. Phelps points out that paleomagnetic studies show the field has reversed polarity many times and varied in strength.

Phelps recommends visiting Baugh's museum for a dollar to appreciate real science by contrast. He also suggests visiting the nearby state park museum for exhibits on geology and fossil footprints. Further information on Baugh and "mantracks" is available through NTS and local libraries, with specific references to books and articles provided.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

Author: Laura Ainsworth

This section features a single-panel cartoon by Laura Ainsworth. The cartoon depicts two birds on a branch. One bird asks the other, "SYDNEY, ARE NEWSPAPER HOROSCOPES REALLY FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY?" The second bird replies, "YES." A third bird then comments, "A DECENT WRITER COULD REALLY PUNCH THIS UP."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptics, through this newsletter, consistently promotes scientific literacy and critical thinking. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, alternative medicine without rigorous evidence, and the manipulation of science for political or financial gain. The newsletter aims to educate its readers by dissecting questionable claims, providing scientific counterpoints, and encouraging a rational approach to information. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between evidence-based science and unsubstantiated beliefs, whether they stem from sensationalized media, alternative healing practices, or creationist interpretations of natural history. The publication also highlights the importance of accurate reporting and the dangers of misinformation, particularly when it impacts public understanding of critical issues like environmental science and health.