North Texas Skeptic - Vol 10 No 02 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 10 Number 2
Date: February 1996
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic, published by The North Texas Skeptics in February 1996, delves into the phenomenon of Satanism, media oddities, and organizational news.

Satan Will Get You If You Don't Watch Out

This is the second part of a two-part article by Lonnie Roy, Raymond A. Eve, and Anson Shupe, focusing on a study conducted with over 400 students at The University of Texas at Arlington. The study aimed to understand the fear of Satanism and its relationship with religious conservatism and the desire for conservative Christian values in public life. Initially intended for a community in Texasville, the study was adapted due to local volatility surrounding Satanism, with a pretest on college students yielding surprising results.

The survey measured demographic, educational, and religious backgrounds, along with attitudes towards religious conservatism, the protection of Christian values, and fear of Satanism. Scales were developed to measure fear of Satanism, the desire to establish conservative Christian values, and religious conservatism. The study found that a majority of respondents believed Satanism was a real and immediate threat to American families and society, with many also believing it threatened their personal well-being and that more police protection was needed.

Surprisingly, students at a state university, often perceived as secular, scored high on measures of fear of Satanism. The study revealed a strong correlation between fear of Satanism and religious conservatism (r = 0.53). Ninety-four percent of fundamentalists reported high levels of fear, compared to 71% of moderates, 56% of liberals, and 30% of agnostics/atheists. Hypothesis One, stating that more religiously conservative individuals are more likely to express high fear of Satanism, was strongly supported.

Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was found between the fear of Satanism and the level of concern for conservative Christian values in public life (r = 0.65). Hypothesis Two, which posited that respondents' concerns about threats to conservative Christian values were strongly correlated with fears of Satanism, was also supported. Income and race showed no significant correlation with fear of Satanism, while educational level, age, and sex showed only weak correlations.

The discussion section posits that explaining religious conflicts in modernizing societies requires looking beyond mere religious conservatism or fundamentalism. The authors suggest that the fear of Satanism stems from a perceived attack on the traditionalist worldview by modernist trends such as urbanism, cosmopolitanism, and ethical relativism. They introduce the concept of 'vertical status cleavage' (stunde) to explain how this fear is centered on religious orientation and the defense of a threatened lifestyle, rather than traditional status ties like income or race.

The article concludes that the struggle between Christian traditionalism and modernism fuels moral crusades, with fear of Satanism symbolizing a threat to the cultural transmission of a conservative Christian lifestyle. The authors suggest that further research is needed, particularly with larger, non-student samples, to explore these issues in geographic or cultural subareas most threatened by modernist trends. They also offer an alternative explanation for widespread claims of Satanic crimes, suggesting they may be symbolic manifestations of anxiety rather than hard evidence, noting the lack of convictions despite numerous allegations.

The Third Eye: News and Commentary from the Weird World of the Media

This column by Pat Reeder covers a variety of unusual news items. It begins with a satirical take on 'global warming' being blamed for current weather phenomena. The column then reports on a claimed sighting of the 'Howick Monster' in South Africa by local businessman Bob Teeny, who also serves as the town's publicity spokesman. The article notes the upcoming movie about the Loch Ness Monster, featuring Ted Danson.

Next, the column discusses the alleged ghost of comedian Redd Foxx haunting the home of professional Elvis impersonator Jesse Garon. Garon reported paranormal activity, which a psychic attributed to Foxx's anger over IRS seizure of his property. The house is listed for sale with this 'celebrity ghost' included.

Hugh Aynsworth of The Washington Post is cited for reporting on a fraudulent 'high tech' device sold for tracing stolen cars, lost golf balls, and missing persons, which was largely purchased by police departments.

The column then addresses the Scientologists, who won a copyright case against an individual posting their religious texts online. German courts are noted for ruling that Scientology is a business, not a religion, leading to a government campaign against it in Germany.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not is mentioned in relation to Madonna's sperm donor advertisements and fertility totems displayed at Ripley's corporate headquarters, which some employees claimed led to pregnancies.

David Gold, a talk show host, is criticized for defending parents who allowed their diabetic child to die rather than administer insulin, citing their Christian Scientist beliefs. The article clarifies that studies on prayer for healing often involve positive thinking and relaxation, not intercessory prayer.

Bob Guccione's decision to cease publication of 'Longevity' and 'Omni' magazines is discussed, with a lament for 'Omni' as a publication that sometimes mixed science with pseudoscientific claims. The column ends with a humorous remark blaming 'global warming' for the demise of 'Omni'.

1996 NTS Directors and Officers Elections

This section reports on the annual business meeting of The North Texas Skeptics held on January 13, 1996. The members elected a new Board of Directors, increasing its size from five to seven. The new Board then elected officers for 1996: Virginia Vaughn (President), Joe Voelkering (Vice President), John Blanton (Secretary), and Mark Meyer (Treasurer). Mike Sullivan was retained as Newsletter Editor, Keith Blanton as Associate Newsletter Editor, and Greg Aicklen was appointed Webmaster.

Up a Tree: A Skeptical Cartoon

A short, three-panel cartoon by Laura Ainsworth titled 'Up a tree' is included. The cartoon features two birds, one stating "I'm a skeptic. I only accept hard evidence." The second bird responds, "Hai! I'm a former O.J. juror. I don't even accept that!"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards paranormal claims, media sensationalism, and the analysis of social phenomena like moral panics and the fear of Satanism. The publication consistently questions extraordinary claims and provides a rational, evidence-based perspective. The editorial stance is critical of unsubstantiated beliefs and highlights the importance of scientific inquiry and critical thinking, as demonstrated by the study on Satanism and the commentary in 'The Third Eye' column. The organization's internal news also reflects its ongoing operations and community engagement.