North Texas Skeptic - Vol 16 No 07 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 16 Number 7
Date: July 2002
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, a newsletter focused on skepticism and critical thinking, delves into the practice of using out-of-context quotes (OOC quotes) by creationists to bolster their arguments against evolution. The publication also covers various scientific news items and commentary.

Out of Context

Author: John Blanton

The lead article, "Out of Context," by John Blanton, addresses the prevalent tactic of creationists using OOC quotes from prominent scientists to lend credibility to their claims. Blanton illustrates this with a fabricated anecdote involving the National Enquirer misrepresenting a neighbor's comment about a satellite dish as a UFO sighting. He explains that creationist scientists, lacking their own research, rely on misrepresenting the words of real scientists.

The article details how this practice is applied to scientific debates, such as the age of the Earth and evolution. Creationists often highlight a scientist's mention of a problem with radiometric dating while omitting the scientist's proposed solution. A significant example discussed is the book "The Genesis Flood" by John Whitcomb and Henry Morris. The authors are accused of using OOC quotes from geologists Ross and Rezak regarding the Lewis overthrust. Whitcomb and Morris allegedly presented a quote suggesting the Belt strata were undisturbed, omitting the subsequent text that clarified this was an outdated idea and that geological evidence actually supported complex folding and faulting.

Blanton further examines Henry Morris's defense against accusations of misusing quotes, where Morris claims brevity necessitates shortened quotes and that critics are overly diligent in finding fault. Blanton counters that the omission of crucial context, such as the word "million" in the Ross and Rezak quote, significantly distorts the original meaning. He argues that Whitcomb and Morris deliberately omitted text that explained the geological evidence for the Lewis overthrust, thereby misrepresenting the scientists' findings.

The article also touches upon the broader debate, noting that creationists sometimes accuse evolutionists of using OOC quotes. An example cited involves the Answers in Genesis website accusing Ian Plimer of misusing quotes from creationist Andrew Snelling regarding uranium deposits. Blanton concludes that the issue of OOC quotes is a complex and ongoing problem.

What's New

Columnist: Robert Park

This section provides brief updates on various scientific and technological developments:

• Free energy: The American Physical Society's Executive Board issued a statement expressing concern over proliferating claims of perpetual motion machines and unlimited free energy, citing their violation of fundamental laws of nature.
• Hydrino rockets: NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts is funding a study on the feasibility of powering rockets using the 'hydrino process,' a concept previously tested and found inconclusive by NASA.
• Global warming: The US acknowledged the reality of a warming climate, with the administration proposing adaptation strategies rather than emission cuts, citing the inevitability of continued temperature rise due to existing CO2 levels.
• Mars Odyssey: The article debunks media suggestions that water found on Mars could be easily used for rocket fuel, explaining that the water is in polar ice, deep underground, and requires significant energy (like a nuclear reactor and excavation equipment) to access and process.

Skeptical Ink

Authors: Prasad Golla and John Blanton

This section features a comic strip titled "A Pledge Parable" by Golla & Blanton, dated June 29, 2002. The comic humorously depicts a conversation about a daughter watching the movie 'Deep Throat' in a class on American film classics, with the conclusion that "the Majority rules in this country."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach to understanding the world. The editorial stance is critical of pseudoscience, religious fundamentalism that masquerades as science (particularly creationism), and the misrepresentation of scientific findings. The magazine champions critical thinking, scientific integrity, and the accurate reporting of scientific research. The recurring theme in this issue is the exposure of deceptive practices, such as the use of out-of-context quotes, to manipulate public understanding of science, especially concerning evolution and geology. The publication also engages with current scientific news, offering a skeptical perspective on claims that lack robust evidence or contradict established scientific principles.