North Texas Skeptic - Vol 13 No 07 - 1999

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, dated July 1999, is the seventh number of Volume 13. It is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on critical examination of various claims, particularly those related to pseudoscience, questionable interpretations of scripture, and the validity of scientific arguments used in creationist debates.

Patenting the Preposterous

This article, written by Dr. Tim Gorski, critiques the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for granting patents to inventions that are arguably nonsensical or pseudoscientific. Gorski references a May 21st article in *Science* magazine by David Voss, titled "'New Physics' Finds a Haven At the Patent Office." A key point highlighted is that the USPTO does not require working models of devices, relying instead on the inventor's description of the invention as "novel, nonobvious, and reducible to practice." Gorski argues that these criteria are subjective and difficult to assess, especially given the USPTO's understaffing and the sheer volume of applications.

The article discusses several examples of questionable patents:

• Cold Fusion Devices: Despite initial rejections due to the absurdity of their principles, a Florida company was granted two patents (5,616,219 and 5,628,886) for a device claiming to produce energy from cold fusion. A reapplication that omitted the term "cold fusion" and focused on electrochemical devices was successful.
• Psychic Influence Device: Patent 5,830,064 was granted for a device that responds to psychic influences. The company, Mindsong, Inc., sells a $425 appliance that supposedly allows remote operation of electrical devices via psychic means.
• 'LifeGuard' Machine: Sandia National Laboratory tested a "LifeGuard" machine, patented by DKL Inc. (patent 5,748,088), which claimed to detect "entities" via "dielectrokinesis" up to 600 meters away. Sandia's tests found it ineffective and akin to a dowsing rod.

Gorski notes that USPTO examiners sometimes rely on the applicant's claims, as exemplified by an examiner who approved the "LifeGuard" patent because she "trusted them that it works as they claimed." Nicholas Godici, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Patents, is quoted as stating that the USPTO "assume[s] the information provided in an application is accurate" and that a patent is merely "a legal right to exclude others."

The article also touches on how patents can be used as marketing tools, lending credibility to even unproven products. A sidebar mentions Thomas Valone, a cold fusion enthusiast who attempted to "infiltrate" the USPTO by recruiting like-minded individuals.

Dr. Tim Gorski is identified as an M.D. and head of the DFW Council Against Health Fraud, as well as a Technical Advisor for the NTS.

The III John 2 Controversy

Written by Danny Barnett, this extensive article examines the interpretation and application of the biblical verse III John 2 ("Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.") by various faith healers and prosperity gospel proponents.

Barnett begins by presenting the full text of the Third Epistle of John, emphasizing the importance of reading scripture without verse divisions to grasp its context. He then contrasts the epistle's message with excerpts from a 1989 booklet by faith healer Robert Tilton and statements by Charles and Frances Hunter (the Happy Hunters). These figures, and many other evangelists listed (including James Andrews, Charles Capps, Billy Joe Daugherty, Creflo A. Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Hobart E. Freeman, Dwain Hobbs, J. Charles Jessup, Peter Popoff, Don Stewart, and Lee Sullivan), interpret III John 2 as a direct promise from God that He desires believers to prosper financially and be in good health.

Barnett questions this interpretation, noting that these individuals often identify God, rather than the apostle John, as the source of the quote. He suggests that this interpretation may be a form of "uneven Biblical scholarship" or, at worst, dishonest manipulation.

The article delves into the origins of the "Seed-Faith" movement, largely attributed to Oral Roberts. Roberts discovered III John 2 in 1975 and used it as a cornerstone for his ministry, believing it summed up God's wish for believers to prosper. Barnett points out that critics, such as James Morris in his 1973 book *The Preachers*, suggest that Roberts' approach may have roots in stichomancy (a form of divination by opening a book) and that the concept of Seed-Faith was advertised in the occult magazine *Chimes*. Jerry Sholes, a former Roberts associate, corroborated this, questioning whether Seed-Faith originated with Roberts or *Chimes*.

Barnett criticizes the emphasis on financial giving in Seed-Faith, citing Sholes' observation that the focus is subtly shifted from spiritual prosperity to material wealth. He provides details of Oral Roberts' affluent lifestyle (expensive suits, cars, country club membership) as evidence that the benefits of Seed-Faith may primarily accrue to the ministers themselves.

The article also discusses the broader phenomenon of prosperity ministries, citing Arthur Frederick Ide's description of the Happy Hunters encouraging listeners to pledge large sums of money. The Hunters are described as imitating Elmer Gantry.

Barnett then explores how fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible, often emphasizing "devotional" reading over historical-grammatical exegesis, can lead to the manipulation of scripture. Lowell D. Streiker, in his book *The Gospel Time Bomb*, is quoted on how revivalists encourage converts to seek God's will through scripture, leading to a subjective understanding of biblical authority.

Barnett challenges readers to search online for "III John 2" to see how it's used, noting that many sites quote it to support divine healing, even when it's not directly applicable.

The article concludes this section by listing several prominent figures associated with faith healing and prosperity ministries who have used III John 2, including Hobart Freeman (who died after refusing medical treatment), Oral Roberts (who faced financial decline and demanded $8 million), Peter Popoff (exposed by James Randi), and Robert Tilton (who faced legal battles and divorces).

Henry Morris says "No"

This article, by John Blanton, examines the creationist arguments of Dr. Henry Morris, founder and president emeritus of the Institute for Creation Research. Morris, in an article from *Back to Genesis*, claims that "evolutionary scientists sometimes say the most fascinating things" and quotes Robert L. Carroll's book *Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Paleontology* to support the idea that major taxa appear suddenly in the fossil record without obvious ancestors.

Morris quotes Carroll stating, "One of the outstanding problems in large-scale evolution has been the origin of major taxa, such as the tetrapods, birds, and whales, that had appeared to rise suddenly, without any obvious ancestors, over a comparatively short period of time." Morris interprets this as evidence against evolution.

However, Troy Britain, writing in the January/February 1999 issue of *Reports of the National Center for Science Education*, investigated the context of Carroll's quote. Britain found that the full context of Carroll's statement actually disputes Morris' interpretation. Carroll explains that increased knowledge of the fossil record has improved understanding of these transitions, and that "adaptive change, morphological change, and radiation can be decoupled," and that intermediate forms are not necessarily poorly represented. Britain concludes that Morris, like other creationists, is quoting scientists out of context to support his claims, a tactic that skeptics aim to expose.

What went wrong?

This concluding section by the unnamed author (presumably the editor or a regular contributor) reflects on the issues raised. The author states that while not necessarily dismissing belief in supernatural healing, they would require proof. However, if someone is running a healing or prosperity ministry and using III John 2 to justify claims of divine will for prosperity and health, the author would understand their motives. The author suggests that such interpretations, at best, represent "uneven Biblical scholarship" and, at worst, can be dishonest. The section warns that such claims might attract scrutiny from skeptics like James Randi.

References

The issue includes a detailed list of references for the articles, citing books and publications related to faith healing, prosperity gospel, biblical interpretation, and evolutionary science.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of claims lacking empirical evidence, the potential for misinterpretation and manipulation of religious texts for personal gain, and the debunking of pseudoscientific arguments. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and the exposure of flawed logic and dishonest practices, whether in patent applications, religious teachings, or scientific debates.