North Texas Skeptic - Vol 19 No 09 - 2005

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 19, Number 9, dated September 2005, is a publication from The North Texas Skeptics, a tax-exempt scientific and educational organization. The magazine covers a range of topics related to skepticism, science, and the debunking of pseudoscientific claims.

In Memoriam: Robert Baker

This section pays tribute to Robert Baker, who passed away on August 8th in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 84. Baker was renowned for his studies of false beliefs in ghosts and frequently collaborated with fellow skeptic Joe Nickell. Together, they co-authored "Missing Pieces: How to Investigate Ghosts, UFOs, Psychics, & Other Mysteries." Baker's early interest in the occult stemmed from witnessing religious extremism, and his father's assertion that "Religion makes some people crazy" influenced his views. His life experiences also contributed to his understanding of the absurdity of ghosts. Baker had a distinguished career, serving as an Army Air Force cryptographer during World War II and later earning a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford University in 1951. He retired from the University of Kentucky in 1988. His collaborations with Nickell extended to other works, including "Hidden Memories: Voices and Visions From Within" (1992) and "Mind Games" (1996). He also edited "Child Sexual Abuse and False Memory Syndrome" (1998) and "A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown and Other Essays for a Scientific Age" (1963). The article recounts a case Baker studied in the 1960s involving a Kentucky wife who believed she was seeing a "golden-haired 3-year-old girl." Baker's investigation revealed that only the wife saw the child and that the couple desperately wanted children. He urged them to consider adoption, after which the apparition reportedly disappeared.

In Memoriam: Philip J. Klass

This section, authored by Gary P. Posner, is an obituary for Philip J. Klass, a co-founder of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). Klass, who died at 85, was a leading UFO skeptic and a respected aerospace journalist. His work in journalism included early articles on inertial guidance technology, infrared missile guidance, and microelectronics. His book "Secret Sentries in Space" (1971) focused on spy satellite technology. Klass authored six books on UFOs, including "UFOs Explained" (1974), considered a seminal work in the field. Posner recounts his personal relationship with Klass, which began in 1977 after receiving a copy of "UFOs Explained." Posner details how he used Klass's book to rebut claims made by pro-UFOlogist J. Allen Hynek, leading to a strong endorsement from Klass, who described Posner as the first to "brazenly comment that the Emperor is NAKED!"

Events Calendar

The magazine lists upcoming events for September 2005:

• September Program: Saturday, September 10th at 2 p.m. at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas, featuring a talk on "Exorcism and Deliverance" by Danny Barnett.
• NTS Social Dinner and Board Meeting: Saturday, September 24th at 7 p.m. at Good Eats Grill in Dallas.

Web News

This section, by John Blanton, covers several news items:

Intelligent Design

The article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding Intelligent Design (ID) and its promotion by the Discovery Institute. It notes that the Discovery Institute, despite its efforts, is facing challenges in fully integrating ID into public school curricula. The article highlights the Discovery Institute's funding sources, many of which are religious foundations. It also critiques the scientific basis of ID, citing a science journalist's conclusion that the institute's funding is not yielding significant scientific results. The article mentions the "teach the controversy" slogan and the perceived shift in strategy by the Discovery Institute. It also references a New York Times series that portrayed ID as a religiously motivated, politically active, and scientifically bankrupt movement. The article points out that while the Discovery Institute claims to be promoting a scientific frontier, it struggles to present it as ready for students. It also notes that the institute receives funding for work unrelated to anti-evolutionism from secular foundations.

Politicized Scholars Put Evolution On The Defensive

This subsection refers to a New York Times article by Jodi Wilgoren that focuses on the Discovery Institute and its role in the "culture wars" surrounding evolution. It describes the institute's history, tactics, and composition, and notes its efforts to distance itself from lawsuits and legislation related to ID.

The war: presidential wannabes get “that old-time religion.”

This brief item mentions Senator John McCain's statements suggesting that "all points of view" should be available to students studying the origins of mankind, interpreted as a nod to Intelligent Design.

The poll: Intelligent Design is in the right Pew far right.

This item cites a Pew Forum poll indicating that a majority of Americans favor teaching creationism alongside evolution, with a significant portion wanting to replace evolution with creationism.

The science advisor: is there a White House science advisor?

This section questions the existence and role of a White House science advisor, noting that President Bush eliminated the position. It highlights John Marburger's statement that "Evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology intelligent design is not a scientific concept."

The war: Senate leader joins president on intelligent design.

This item reports on Senator Bill Frist's shift in stance, siding with President Bush on Intelligent Design and calling for its inclusion in science classes alongside evolution.

The Vatican astronomer: Catholic church splits over evolution.

This piece notes a division within the Catholic Church regarding evolution, with Father George Coyne directly attacking Cardinal Schoenborn's position.

God's hand: Catholics don't have to believe in Adam and Eve.

This section discusses Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's statement that Catholics can believe in evolution as long as it is understood as guided by God, rather than by chance.

Creationism: ABC News and getting the dinosaurs on Noah's ark.

This item critiques ABC News for a segment that suggested dinosaurs could have been on Noah's Ark, linking it to the ongoing debate about teaching creationism and evolution in schools. It also mentions President Bush's remarks supporting the teaching of Intelligent Design.

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

This is a description of the committee's mission, which is to encourage critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims and to disseminate factual information.

The Skeptical Inquirer

Information on subscribing to The Skeptical Inquirer, the bimonthly publication of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.

Privileged religion: Smithsonian will show a faith-based film.

This item discusses the Smithsonian's initial plan to co-sponsor a film, "The Privileged Planet," with the Discovery Institute, which promotes Intelligent Design. The Smithsonian later withdrew its sponsorship due to the film not being consistent with its mission, though space for the event was still provided.

Intelligent Design: “This doesn't look like Kansas Toto."

This section discusses the Netherlands' science and education minister's attempt to stimulate a debate about Intelligent Design, which did not receive support. It contrasts this with the situation in Kansas.

Intelligent design: still debating the non-debate in Kansas.

This item reports on a lawsuit in Dover, Pennsylvania, challenging the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools. It also mentions Dr. John West of the Discovery Institute explaining ID as science, despite his university's grounding in the "gospel of Jesus Christ."

Skeptic Ink

This section features a cartoon with a dialogue about creationism and its relationship to the Bible and sin. The cartoon humorously depicts a character struggling to reconcile scientific evidence with religious beliefs.

Homeopathy: it doesn't work. but didn't we already know that?

This article discusses a study published in Lancet that compared 110 trials of homeopathy and conventional medicine. The study found that benefits attributed to homeopathy were merely placebo effects, leading the editors of Lancet to call for an end to further research on the subject.

Global warming: another dispute seems to have been resolved.

This piece addresses the scientific consensus on global warming, noting that while details are still debated, the overall understanding is established. It mentions a dispute over troposphere temperature records from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, which was later corrected, confirming that tropospheric warming aligns with surface measurements and computer predictions.

The miracle study: Columbia prays the scandal will go away.

This article details a controversial 2001 study from Columbia University Medical School that reported in-vitro fertilization was more likely to result in pregnancy if patients were prayed for without their knowledge. The study's lead author, Dr. Rogerio Lobo, has since removed his name, and another author is facing fraud charges. The university has not retracted the study, but has asked the journal to remove links to it.

The prince: wealthy British farmer looks to the moon for help.

This item discusses Prince Charles's embrace of alternative health practices like homeopathy and "biodynamics," which involves planting according to lunar cycles. It contrasts this with the democratic process of selecting leaders.

Future meeting dates

Upcoming meeting dates for The North Texas Skeptics are listed:

• October 8, 2005
• November 12, 2005
• December 10, 2005

All meetings are held at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas.

Application for Membership

The final pages provide an application for membership to The North Texas Skeptics, outlining membership benefits, subscription rates, and donation options.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims and pseudoscientific theories, a strong defense of scientific methodology and education (particularly regarding evolution), and a critical examination of organizations and individuals promoting non-scientific viewpoints. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of empirical evidence, critical thinking, and the scientific method, actively challenging what it perceives as the encroachment of religion and pseudoscience into public discourse and education.