North Texas Skeptic - Vol 11 No 09 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 11 Number 9
Date: September 1997
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

Articles

Condemned to repeat it (Part Two of two parts)

This issue continues a fictional courtroom drama by Mike Combs, picking up from the August edition. The story features Ruth Randall testifying on behalf of her husband, Jonathan, who is accused of abduction. Ruth claims Jonathan was with her all night, suggesting that 'Grays' might impersonate humans or that Jonathan astrally projected himself. The Prosecutor dismisses her testimony, proposing that abduction phenomena are more psychical than physical, with 'Grays' potentially being spiritual beings from another dimension. The Judge, identified as a Channeler-Judge and later as Sarius, Atlantean High-Priestess of the Mystical Order of Frod, ultimately finds Jonathan guilty and sentences him to be burned at the stake, issuing a restraining order against his guardian angel. The story concludes with the court adjourning.

A few notes for the reader...

These notes draw parallels between the fictional story and real-world phenomena, suggesting that the claims made in the story are not as insane as they might seem when compared to the history of the Inquisition, modern news, or New Age seminars.

Modern dinosaurs at MIOS

By John Blanton, this article reports on a talk given by Dr. Don R. Patton, a geologist, at the Metroplex Institute of Origin Science (MIOS) on "Topsy-Turvy Fossils." Patton challenges conventional geology, arguing that no single continuous geological column exists and that erosion often disrupts the record. He is presented as a creationist who uses these points to argue against an old Earth. Patton contends that evidence of human existence alongside dinosaurs has been found, citing the "finger" fossil from the Creation Evidences Museum as an example. The article also mentions a boot print fossil with a trilobite inside, suggesting trilobites did not go extinct before humans. The coelacanth, a fish thought extinct but later found alive, is used as an analogy to argue that the lack of live dinosaurs in zoos doesn't prove their extinction. Patton also discussed Anasazi petroglyphs depicting dinosaurs and cited a book by F.A. Barnes and Michaelene Pendleton. The article highlights artifacts like the "hammer-in-stone" and a "coal pot" found in a lump of coal, presented as evidence of rapid formation and overlap between human and geological history. A petrified cowboy boot with a leg bone is shown as an example of rapid petrifaction. Patton's recent trip to South America to investigate a pterosaur find is mentioned, though it proved fruitless. The article notes the creationist crowd's derision of NASA's Mars rover mission and their view of space exploration as an attempt to refute religion. It also mentions the American Physical Society's reaffirmed stance against creationism and a letter defending creationism in a classroom debate.

Flying Saucers — or Fiendish Spirits?

By Danny Barnett, this article explores the views of fundamentalist Christians on space exploration and UFOs. Bob Larson, a Christian talk radio host, is featured criticizing NASA's Mars mission and the movie "Contact," which he calls a "demoniac-inspired assault on the Bible." Larson believes UFOs are demons disguising themselves and that extraterrestrial life challenges humanity's unique relationship with God. He is planning a book titled "UFOs and the Alien Agenda." The article also mentions the radio ministry "Keep Looking Up," hosted by Pastor Roger Davis and his wife Marlene, who also interpret UFOs as demon manifestations based on biblical interpretations of where life can exist (heaven, Earth, or Hell). The article notes that the first modern UFO sighting and the Roswell incident occurred in 1947, the year before Israel became a nation, linking it to end-times prophecy. David J. Smith of Newswatch Magazine is also discussed, who believes UFOs are Satan's creation and that demons engage in gene-splicing to create mutants. Smith links UFOs to cattle mutilations and secret government projects, recounting an incident involving a laser tag on a saucer and a subsequent helicopter encounter. The article includes listener calls to Bob Larson's show, one from Loretta who believes UFOs disappear when commanded in Jesus' name, and another from Molly who sees "heavy Christian overtones" in "Contact" and suggests God can work through science. Larson expresses disappointment with Molly's perspective.

The skeptic friends network

This section, written by Paul Somerville Moore, introduces the "Skeptic Friends Network," a service offering advice from "real skeptics" for a fee. Hortense Grigsby shares an experience where her skeptic friend advised her that feelings are not testable hypotheses, though she later experienced a robbery and became a quadriplegic. Another caller credits their skeptic friend with helping them understand lottery odds and save money. The network is presented as an alternative to psychic hotlines, charging $2.00 per minute with the first ten minutes free. Credo Markwell, associated with the network, claims their advice is based on testable hypotheses and verifiable evidence. Ron Toggle recounts how his skeptic friend helped him end an abusive relationship. Mildred Donahoe-Herbert shares a story of marrying a mathematician based on her skeptic friend's advice, only for him to leave her later. Markwell expresses skepticism about this account due to the timeline. Lance Hansom, a struggling actor, received advice that he would likely not succeed in acting, leading him to return to his family's business. The network can be reached at 1 (800) GET-REAL.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptics, through this publication, consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, challenging pseudoscience, creationism, and religious interpretations of phenomena like UFOs. The magazine encourages critical thinking, reliance on empirical evidence, and scientific inquiry. The editorial stance is clearly against unfounded beliefs and in favor of rational explanations, as demonstrated by the articles on creationism, fundamentalist interpretations of UFOs, and the promotion of the Skeptic Friends Network as a source of reliable advice.