North Texas Skeptic - Vol 17 No 03 - 2003

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 17, Number 3
Date: March 2003
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic presents a diverse range of articles, with a strong focus on critical thinking, debunking pseudoscience, and exploring cultural perspectives on belief systems. The cover story, "An Indian Perspective" by Prasad Golla, critically examines the prevalence of superstition and the exploitation of credulity by "false gurus" in India, contrasting it with the scientific approach.

An Indian Perspective

Prasad Golla's article begins by reflecting on his parents' credulity and his own journey to skepticism. He highlights a report from "India Today" (January 27, 2003) about the rampant trade in monkey skulls in Uttar Pradesh, India, driven by villagers' beliefs in their medicinal virtues and ability to ward off evil spirits. Golla questions the respect for such beliefs, especially when contrasted with the reverence for monkeys as avatars of the god Hanuman, and poses a hypothetical scenario involving human children's skulls to challenge his father's stance.

The article then details the case of a spiritual guru, Sri Sri Sri Sripada Srivallaba Venkata Visvanath (alias Rudhra Yaga Swamy), who was reportedly collecting millions of dollars for a "yagna" (fire worship) in Andhra Pradesh. The guru, with a history of petty theft and fraud, had allegedly disappeared with funds before, but this time a police case was filed. Golla notes the guru's alleged sexual atrocities on women disciples and subsequent blackmail. He observes an embarrassment among people to admit being duped, with a common response being, "Some gurus are cheats," to which Golla adds, "'all' are."

Another piece, "What's in an extra 'm'?", discusses the Ambani family's Reliance group and the addition of an extra 'm' to "Infocomm" based on the advice of astrologers and numerologists, highlighting how even wealthy individuals may take such chances when billions of dollars are at stake.

A Shoulder to Cry On

This section recounts an encounter with a man frustrated by his family's superstitions and the lack of outlets for his own rational views. The man, a carpenter and goldsmith, expressed his vexation while sitting by the river Krishna near Amaravathi, a Buddhist site. He lamented the waste of time and money on fruitless rituals and superstition, contrasting it with the value of hard work. Golla reflects on the ease with which like-minded individuals can connect online in developed countries, suggesting that many people in India likely share similar frustrations but lack such communities.

Spiritual Country This

Golla critiques the notion of India as a "spiritual country," pointing out the lack of evidence for phenomena like the 'soul' and the common reliance on mysticism, legend, and epics to explain natural events. He notes the prevalence of books on various pseudoscientific and superstitious practices sold at railway stations, such as aroma therapy, astrology, and Feng Shui, while science books are scarce. He criticizes the government's focus on foreign investment and loans while resources are wasted on "worthless crap."

Man's Service is Secondary

This section shares an anecdote about a medical doctor who abandoned her practice for a spiritual journey, building an expensive temple on her property. Golla attempted to reason with her, suggesting she could better serve the needy. She argued that spirituality had cured fatal illnesses and that ancient practices could lead to longer lifespans. When asked about the increase in Indian life expectancy, she attributed it to both spirituality and science, seeing a thin veil between them.

The Amazing Meeting

Bret Cantwell reports on the James Randi Educational Foundation's (JREF) "Amazing Meeting" held in Plantation, Florida, from January 31 to February 2, 2003. The conference, which grew from a JREF message board meetup, featured a wide array of speakers and entertainment. Highlights included:

• Jemy Ian Swiss: A magician who performed card tricks and mentalism.
• Jerry Andrus: Presented illusions and profound comments on the wonder of the world.
• Jack Horkheimer: Presented "Star Gazer," blending astronomy, history, and numismatics.
• Michael Shermer: Presented his work on "Why We Are Moral," part of his "belief" trilogy.
• LTC Hal Bidlack: Discussed the Columbia disaster and its gravity.
• Dan Garvin: Presented "Adventures In Scientology," detailing his 25 years in the cult.
• Dr. Phil Plait (The Bad Astronomer): Debunked "Planet X" claims.
• Col. Bidlack: Presented "Lessons from Washington: The Need for Standards In the War on Terrorism."
• Andrew Harter: Discussed "Teaching Critical Thinking" to teenagers.
• Panel Discussion: "Starting a Skeptics Group."
• Special Guest: Carlos (portrayed by Jose Alvarez), who performed a piece and presented a short film.
• Paper Presentations: Included topics like "The Age of the Earth," "Educating College Students about Skepticism," "Astronomy - The Ultimate Magic Show," and "Skeptics and Religion."
• Randi concluded the meeting by emphasizing its success and announcing plans for another in 2004, also sharing a demonstration from his book "The Truth About Uri Geller."

Skeptic Ink

This section features a comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, satirizing a television psychic, John Edward, and a guest's interaction with him, culminating in the guest declaring Edward a fake.

Letters to the Editor

This section includes a letter from William J. Gibbons responding to a critique of his article on the Mokele-mbembe. Gibbons defends his work, noting that his narrative reveals the flaws in "creation science." He discusses the Mokele-mbembe, a creature described by tribal groups in the Congo and Cameroon. Descriptions vary, with some approximating a hippopotamus with a long neck and lizard-like head, while others are enormous like a Diplodocus. Gibbons speculates on possibilities such as adult and juvenile forms, sexual dimorphism, or distinct species. He emphasizes that eyewitness testimonials are difficult to dismiss, as the tribespeople are not literate and have little contact with the outside world. He notes that when shown pictures of animals, they only recognized familiar African species and, when asked to draw the Mokele-mbembe, drew a sauropod-like shape. Gibbons presents a list of known characteristics of the Mokele-mbembe, including its size, diet, semi-aquatic nature, aggressive behavior, and unique description that doesn't match known species. He concludes by pondering whether Mokele-mbembe is a living dinosaur and how its existence would impact the creation/evolution debate, suggesting creationists would claim it survived Noah's Ark, while evolutionists would argue it found a niche.

NTS Board Meeting and Social Dinner

An announcement for an NTS Board meeting and social dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. at the Black-eyed Pea restaurant in Dallas.

Errata

An errata notice referencing Harold Saxton Burr and Kirlian photography, directing readers to the World Research Foundation website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to claims of the paranormal, pseudoscientific phenomena, and religious or spiritual beliefs that lack empirical evidence. The magazine actively debunks myths, exposes fraudulent practices (like those of "false gurus"), and encourages critical thinking. It provides a platform for discussions on topics ranging from cryptozoology and UFOs to the scientific method and the challenges faced by the skeptic movement. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method, while acknowledging the cultural and social contexts of belief systems.